Gaming, like all mediums in existence, is constantly evolving. The Internet is almost unrecognizable from just 10 years ago.
Television programming has changed greatly, including such technologies as TiVo (DVR) and the unfortunate rise of reality shows on nearly every channel except Nickelodeon.
May God help us all. In the meantime, there are some trends we have noticed appearing in a lot of our favorite videogames, and those trends show a bright future for our favorite hobby. Some may disagree that these are good things, but they are indeed a part of gaming these days for better or worse.
5. Instant Co-Operative Play
Back in the day, co-op modes would typically split the screen in two in order to allow one player to move independently of the other. Split screens, however, were never very popular as they cut out the potential field of vision for both players and were often seen as a necessary nuisance. Since the Sega DreamCast... More »
Recently user Rocktave posted on LittleBigWorkshop: "My level was moderated (read; deleted) and now I can't re-publish. There was absolutely nothing offensive whatsoever in the level at all and I was given no explanation as to why they moderated it or why they won't even let me republish, even after making changes."
Although not surprising to say the least, Media Molecule Dev Sam_Protagonist replied as follows: "We're reviewing the moderating system currently to provide better feedback on why levels are moderated.
Primarily, any level that is reported using the grief tool will be checked over by a moderator, at which point they'll examine it in line with the EULA. If a level is found to be in violation of the EULA it will be moderated and you'll receive a message to that effect.
We're moving towards a system where additional information is given, however for the time being if you don't want your level moderating avoid anything unsui... More »
At PlayStation Experience 2008, it was time for Round 3 of GamingIndians vs Atindriya Bose, Country Manager of Sony Computer Entertainment India.
This time around, he sheds some light on the new 80GB PlayStation 3 set to hit stores in December, the post warranty situation for the PS3, the long-awaited PSN launch, and news of Activision moving its PS2 game manufacturing to India.
To quote: GamingIndians: Can you tell me a bit about Sony’s policy towards post-warranty PlayStation 3s?
Atindriya Bose: Currently, we are giving you a new console at 50 per cent discount in case something goes wrong with your console after warranty has expired.
GamingIndians: Won’t there be a service facility?
Atindriya Bose: Not on an immediate basis. I think currently we are just touching figures of 20,000 with the PS3. Both the PS3 and PSP have quite complex service requirements, but at the moment, the PSP numbers allow us to go ah... More »
What's the point? SecuROM is there to make sure that you own the original CD for whatever it is protecting, but to put it in free trials downloaded off the Internet.. really what's the point?
Especially when you don't include that in the EULA. Read more at Slashdot and GamesPolitics.
I don't know about anyone else, but I've been holding onto two copies of Persona 3 for quite some time now. The original came in this nice box with an art book, and then FES came out and I just couldn't bring myself to give up to original. So there you go.
Will the same thing happen? Atlus says no.
"We are today able to announce that at no point in the future will we announce the release of a "FES" version of Persona 4," said Tim Pivnicny, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "The very finest, most definitive version of Persona 4 will be the one released on December 9, 2008."
Now if only we could convince them to quit letting places like amazon release awesome pre-order junk, I will be extremely happy. I want my tele-teddy darn it!
Press Release: Atlus Announces That There Will Only Be One (Very Awesome) Version of Persona 4
Unprecedented announcement-of-no-announcement shocks industry
Sony has announced it's online titles will host a variety of in-game Halloween events including EverQuest II's Nights of the Dead and more.
Press Release: GAMERS BEWARE: SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT OPENS ITS BAG OF TRICKS TO THE ONLINE COMMUNITY THIS OCTOBER
Online Titles to Host Variety of In-Game Halloween Events Including EverQuest® II 's Nights of the Dead and First-Ever Star Wars GalaxiesTM Galactic Moon Festival
WHAT:
Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) conjures ghosts, ghouls and goblins for the gamer community in a variety of in-game events themed around Halloween. This October, EverQuest®, EverQuest® II, Star Wars Galaxies, Legends of Norrath™, Vanguard Saga of Heroes™, EverQuest® Online Adventures and The Matrix Online players can celebrate All Hallows Eve by participating in themed quests, donning avatar costumes and masks, and trick-or-treating for loot and candy!
Chris Cao, Creative Director at SOE-Austin, has said that they want DC Universe Online to allow PS3-PC cross-platform play. Chris added that the problem is that when it comes to updating them it is much more troublesome when updating through the PlayStation Network.
To quote: He explained that with PCs, it’s easy to have players download enormous files, whereas on consoles, there are different requirements as to how much space the file can take.
Cao also said it was partly a production process issue. To allow for cross-platform play, the company has to make sure to get updates out for both platforms simultaneously.
“We don’t want the console guys to get [updates] earlier or later or either way,” he said. “And since they’re two such different systems, we really need to work on our side to make sure that [simultaneous updates] happen.
But I think if anybody is going to do it and make it simultaneously seamless for ... More »
A short while ago, Euro gaming Web site Eurogamer announced that they were offering 5800 keys for the LittleBigPlanet European BETA, and then they quickly disappeared under a raging tide of sack boy-hungry Europeans.
The sheer numbers have brought the Web site to its knees - with users trying to get there simply to get the link to entry page for the story and have had no luck whatsoever, and with the key offer requiring Eurogamer registration, both the front and and back end are getting completely slammed, bringing to mind a mental picture that I will quickly put out of my head.
Needless to say, all of the LittleBigPlanet keys are now gone, with this note: Sorry for all those who had trouble connecting during the stampede, and apologies to those who missed out.