Looks like we aren’t alone; REAL ALIEN (VIDEO IMAGE)
by vipeness on May 30th, 2008
Well guys… pack your stuff; but don’t move to Colorado! An image from the video has been released from the Alien caught on video from a guys house. If you haven’t been around; a guy caught a real life alien on video peering into his 2 daughters room for 2 minutes. Below, is an image of from the video that was released to the press today. The general public will not see the video until a month from now, but the press was shown it today and their jaws are on the ground.
*** found a higher resolution from thedenverchannel.com
Video professionals and universities have seen the video and are deeming the video to be real. It isn’t related to video game related, but this deserves credit if the credit is real. And from the sounds of it, we might not be alone after all.
The world is abuzz about the brief video which supporters say reveals a short, gray extraterrestrial peering into the second-story window of a rural Nebraska home in 2003.
What did they see?
A classic E.T.-like creature, about 4 feet tall, with a narrow chin, a broad forehead and almond eyes.
Some people claimed to see its eyes and muscles move during the roughly two-minute video, which was briefly screened for reporters and the public at the Auraria campus today.
A skeptic said the being has a suspicious similarity to "Gray," the creature depicted in the classic 1957 movie "Earth vs. The Flying Saucers."
UPDATE: Space alien video lands in Denver; Press Sees Video
UPDATE 2: Viewing E.T. film, expert is a believer
Photos by Barry Gutierrez © The Rocky
PlayStation Home Coming Oct-Dec 2008
by AJ on May 26th, 2008
According to the official PlayStation Home page over at uk.playstation.com, PlayStation Home is set for at the earliest an October release re-affirming the statements made by Kaz Hirai at PlayStation Day that Sony "Firmly believe they can deliver by this date".
PlayStation Home will enter Open beta stage around the end of June possibly early July for PlayStation users, we have no word on whether this is global or localised to a specific area.
Home was recently updated to version 0.8.3 and features more customisation features for your avatar within the world, along with an expansion to the environment in the form of an "Outside Space" moving away from the completely enclosed environment that Sony first showed us at GDC.
Home is certainly shaping up to be the first of many killer apps for PlayStation 3, if it launches alongside LittleBigPlanet i think it will push PlayStation 3 hardware sales way ahead of the Xbox 360.
If Sony fail to deliver Home, and announce another delay, they will lose much needed credibility within the PlayStation sector, something at this stage they simply cannot afford.
Strange Counter appears on Official Res Evil Website
by AJ on May 26th, 2008
A strange countdown timer has appeared on the Resident Evil website, at the moment its simply a video feed from a downed video camera.
Im presuming the owner of the camera was made into Zombie food.
The bottom of the two counters is going down steadily, no one knows what it is referring too, if anything at all.
Stay tuned for more information!
Site : http://www.residentevil.com/
COD4 : PC Map Pack "Soon"
by AJ on May 26th, 2008
As most of you will know, the "Variety Map Pack" for Call of Duty 4 was released on both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 sometime ago now, with gamers paying for the privilege of playing on these new maps.
But what about PC Gamers you ask, well, we have some good news for you.
We can tell you that the PC will get the same map pack that both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 have recieved, but the added bonus is that it will be free.
Yes thats right, 100% Free!
It is expected around the time of the next Patch which will bring the game to version 1.6
Revolutionary: Mario Kart Training Wheel
by obsoletepower on May 22nd, 2008
The Wii Wheel was supposed to make racing easy enough for anyone to jump right into a session of Mario Kart Wii with no prior experience with either traditional game controllers or the Wii Remote. When used properly, it works as expected. The trouble is that it’s not always used properly. Watching your parents try to get through Wario’s Gold Mine, you’ll notice that they’re sometimes holding the Wheel the wrong way, and it’s making them drive off the track into chasms of eternity. This observation led me to examine how Mario Kart Wii’s steering works and come up with a solution for keeping n00bs on track.
When I was writing the GlovePIE script for MotoGP 2, I wanted to be able to twist the Wii Remote for throttle, while tilting it to steer. I found a simple way to do that when I discovered that the Wiimote’s accelerometer is able to register linear changes on the Pitch axis while simultaneously being rotated on the Roll axis. I was curious if actual Wii games would use the flexibility of pitch sensing for steering in games, and found out that they do. Essentially, that means you can steer in Mario Kart Wii with the buttons facing skyward like Excite Truck, or play Excite Truck with the buttons facing your body, Mario Kart Wii-style.
The problem that the Wii Wheel introduces is it makes you want to rotate it around the same imaginary pivot point, even when you aren’t holding it in the correct, upright position. If you relax your arms and start trying to steer like a bus driver, it won’t work, because the Wii Remote’s accelerometer cannot sense motion on the Yaw axis. You could remove the mental block by taking the Wiimote out of it’s Wheel shell, but the Wiimote’s B button isn’t as easily accessible as the Wheel’s B button.
Another issue is that Wii novices generally don’t realize that they can make subtle movements to control games. Mario Karts steer more like real cars than carnival bumper cars, but you wouldn’t know it from the way your aunt tries to play. So perhaps, in addition to keeping the Wheel upright, a little restraining tension may help.
I went to Wal-mart and picked up a couple of 36-inch bungie cords and a plastic crate for less than $10 total.
The Mario Kart DS lanyard is optional
Threading the bungie cords between the spokes of the Wheel and hooking it in place in the center of the crate’s open end gives you something that looks too nerdy for words, but it works as intended, keeping the Wheel pivoting on its proper axis and registering your intentions to steer your kart.
Too loose and it won’t hold in place; Too tight and it won’t pivot
I placed it on a table to get a good shot with the camera, but it’s light enough to sit comfortably on your lap.
Take care not to put your bungies on your buttons (like I’ve done here)
I did find it was too bulky for the quick flipping motions required to do aerial tricks, but the purpose of this rig is too train novices in Wii driving. Once they’ve got a handle on the basics of control, you can pull them out of it and give them the freedom to do those Wheel flips.
Subtle movements for the win!
I really thought I had Wii driving down before I began this project, but yesterday I loaded up Excite Truck for the first time in months and I was easily beating my old scores and times by large margins. Excite Truck was the first game I ever played on the Wii, and I thought I was pretty good at it, but a little training (in minutes a day) did wonders for me.
Source: NintendoWiiFanboy.com
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Microsoft Explains "Gaywood" Ban
by obsoletepower on May 22nd, 2008
Late last night, we learned the story of Richard Gaywood, the not-so-happy Xbox Live user whose gamertag was banned. Since "RichardGaywood" was both the user’s gamertag as well as his legal, honest-to-goodness given name, Kotaku contacted Microsoft to learn the reason behind the ban.
Hit the jump for their response:
"We want the Xbox LIVE community to have the freedom to express themselves, but we also have a responsibility to create an inclusive, safe environment," said Microsoft’s Stephen Toulouse. "While it may be clear to some that Gaywood is a legitimate surname, it may not be obvious to other Xbox LIVE members. In this case, a complaint was filed by a member of the community, requiring the Xbox LIVE team to examine the gamertag within the context of the Xbox LIVE Terms of Use. Based on the these guidelines, it was necessary for the gamertag to change."
Recall Toulose also referred to the XBL Terms of Use in explaining why user "TheGAYERGamer" received a ban, stating, "Gamertags are visible to everyone and it would be hard for me to defend to a parent of a young child who saw it that the name did not contain content of a sexual nature."
Finally, Microsoft confirmed to us that Mr. Gaywood’s gamertag, like any other found to be in violation of the Terms of Use, will not be reinstated. Hope no other XBL users have legal names that might have the ill fortune to appear "sexual."
Source: Kotaku.com
Jack Thompson Found Guilty!
by obsoletepower on May 22nd, 2008
The judge who presided over Jack Thompson’s Florida Bar trial late last year has recommended that the controversial attorney be found guilty on 27 of 31 professional misconduct charges. The Florida Supreme Court must now rule on those recommendations.
In a report issued last week, Judge Dava Tunis writes:
After considering the arguments presented by the Florida Bar and the Respondent (Thompson), observing the Respondent’s demeanor during the nine-day trial proceedings, and carefully reviewing the record consisting of four volumes of exhibits totaling 1700 pages and approximately 2400 pages of transcribed testimony, the Court finds that the facts, circumstances and evidence presented regarding the Respondent’s conduct, supports a finding of guilt as to certain Florida Bar rules…
Tunis made 21 recommendations of guilt in relation to Thompson’s participation in Strickland vs. Sony, an Alabama case in which the anti-game attorney represented the families of two police officers and a police dispatcher slain by 18-year-old Grand Theft Auto player Devin Moore.
Tunis also recommended that Thompson be found guilty on four out of five counts relating to his 2006 attempt to have Rockstar’s Bully declared a public nuisance in a case before Miami Judge Ronald Friedman. An additional two guilty counts stemmed from a non-video game matter.
Among the Florida Bar offenses for which Judge Tunis has recommended a guilty verdict:
- Knowingly making a false statement of material fact or law to a tribunal
- Knowingly disobeying an obligation under the rules of a tribunal
- Communicating the merits of the case with a judge before whom the proceeding is pending
- Using means that have no purpose other than to embarrass, delay or burden a third person
- Engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation
- Engaging in conduct in connection with the practice of law that is prejudicial to the administration of justice, including to knowingly or through callous indifference disparage or humiliate litigants or other lawyers
- Making statements that the lawyer knows to be false or with reckless disregard as to the truth or falsity concerning the qualifications or integrity of a judge
Judge Tunis’s full report to the Florida Supreme Court is due on September 2nd. In the meantime, a disciplinary hearing regarding possible sanctions against Thompson will be held before Judge Tunis on June 4th.
For his part, Thompson has made a number of allegations concerning Judge Tunis, including a complaint that state-mandated loyalty oaths were either not signed by the judge or were signed by others. Thompson also has filed federal lawsuits against the Florida Bar and Florida Supreme Court in relation to the Bar charges and other sanctions.
For all coverage of the Bar Trial of Jack Thompson, including transcripts, click here.
Source: GamePolitics.com
BioShock Confirmed for PS3 (Holidays 2008)
by obsoletepower on May 22nd, 2008
Cue the I-told-you-so’s — the everlasting rumor about last year’s Xbox 360 hit BioShock popping up on the PS3 turns out to be true. According to the July issue of EGM, publisher 2K Games has confirmed that the underwater shooter is making the transition to Sony’s shores.
Still don’t believe us? Well, if you catch yourself a copy of the July issue (hitting subscribers as we speak, and on newsstands on June 3), you’ll get the full scoop on how the Xbox 360 will translate (including some potential graphical improvements) in time for the 2008 holiday season.
Along with a chat with BioShock’s new creative director Jordan Thomas (taking over the sunken series from creator Ken Levine), EGM has the first screens and info, including some fishy details about the future of Rapture
Source: 1up.com
Alert! Microsoft Points scam sweeps Xbox Live
by vipeness on May 17th, 2008
AS POSTED EXACTLY FROM XBOX360FANBOY.com (THIS IS IMPORTANT NEWS)
While every major company in the world attempts to bang into your head that they will never ask for your account information sometimes people don’t listen.
Unfortunately a scam, which appears to have been around for some time, promises free Microsoft points when you log into your .net Passport account. This site, and any site that promises the same, is 100% fake and will only lead to a headache like the reader who sent this in who had 5000 MS points purchased with his credit card.
We know this isn’t the first, nor will it be the last, site to attempt to scam you but we hope to echo what you all should already know.
We won’t link the site itself, for fear of spreading the scam, but we would like to remind you of a few key things.
- Microsoft will only give points away during official contests that ALWAYS link directly back to a Microsoft site and those contests are always widely reported on X3F, Joystiq and other gaming sites
- Never, no matter what you’re promised, log into your account unless on officially sanctioned Xbox sites (Xbox.com, Bungie.net, ForzaMotorsport.net, etc.)
- Never give away your user name and password to anyone and remember Microsoft will never ask for this information
- Never give away your account details, including credit card information and mailing address
Do not get caught in a scam, who knows how deep the rabbit hole goes if you do.
Check out our visual guide to spotting fake Microsoft sites used in similar scams. This guide isn’t foolproof however, so just steer clear from anything that promises anything!
Activision’s Cabela’s Legendary Adventures to Bring Hunting’s Greatest Tales to Life
by vipeness on May 15th, 2008
Activision’s Cabela’s Legendary Adventures to Bring Hunting’s Greatest Tales to Life
SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 14, 2008: Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) announced today the upcoming release of Cabela’s Legendary Adventures for PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, and WiiTM. The latest title in the best-selling Cabela’s franchise will allow players to relive the greatest hunting stories ever told. The game will hit shelves in Fall 2008.
"In Cabela’s Legendary Adventures the missions are based on encounters with some of the most famous animals ever hunted in the wild," said Dave Oxford, Activision Publishing. "Focusing on these amazing once-in-a-lifetime stories has really allowed us to capture the essence of what hunting is all about - a quest for a legendary experience."
Players will hunt in different eras in search of trophies such as white-tailed deer, Yukon moose, Alaskan brown bear and Roosevelt elk in over ten of North America’s top hunting locations, including Kodiak Island, the Yukon and the Rocky Mountains. Each location in Cabela’s Legendary Adventures is a visually stunning open outdoor environment that encourages exploration and tactical variation. Shooting mechanics have been developed to reflect modern as well as historical hunting technology, so players relive the hunts complete with detail from specific time periods.
Under Cabela’s guidance, the firearms, tactics and gear in Cabela’s Legendary Adventures are as true to real life as a game will allow. The title will also include a large variety of additional hunts featuring over 30 species of other big game, small game, waterfowl, upland birds and turkey.
Cabela’s Legendary Adventures is scheduled for release in Fall 2008. For more information visit www.activision.com.
Petroglyph Studios: Upcoming MMOG Interview with Studio Co-Founder
by vipeness on May 11th, 2008
Over at the tentonhammer.com website, they have posted some news the Petroglyth Studios will be creating a MMO based Free to Play game. Check out some of tid bits below…
Ten Ton Hammer: To start, the announcement that Petroglyph Studios is making a MMO is fairly big news, especially since that game has a very good chance of being in the real time strategy genre. Is it safe to assume that you’re making is an MMORTS, or is it too soon to tell?
Joe Bostic: While the game we’re making does cater to thousands of simultaneous players, it is not a typical MMO. Our focus is on the action of gameplay, sharing challenges with friends, and working together to achieve a combined goal. We like staying away from the MMO moniker because it is very strongly associated with World of Warcraft, and dozens of other games like it. The game we’re focused on with True Games Interactive is a real-time, action-based game that will stand apart from the large crowd of similar titles all competing for the same players.
Ten Ton Hammer: Why did you opt to make a micro-transaction based game rather than follow the subscription based model?
Joe: For many people, a forced subscription equates to not even giving the game a chance, whether because they don’t have the means to pay a monthly fee, or they have a personal dislike for such a thing. It also means that you have to decide whether you’re going to play the game enough to warrant that fee every month. With a free-to-play micro-transaction system, you pay only what you want to pay, which is much friendlier to a lot of people out there.
To read more, head over to the TenTonHammer.com article now..
Operation Sports Video: Fight Night Round 4 Motion Capture #1
by vipeness on May 11th, 2008
I was browsing around and found this lurking on a sports website just now… It’s behind the scenes and a presentation of EA’s in-game engine motion capture. Plus you get to see Peter Moore where a champs outfit like a goof.. lol
http://www.operationsports.com/videoview.php?id=19
video is in this link above
Indiana Jones LEGO DEMO date revealed??
by vipeness on May 11th, 2008
While browsing the net looking for the Blu-Ray version of the Indiana Jones movie collections, which they are re-releasing on DVD, but not Blu-Ray comes out on Tuesday, May 13th 2008. Along with the set, someone in the review comments is mentioning that there are game demos included in the packaging for the Special Edition. Does that mean we will see a game demo available for download on the the Xbox Live service and on the PSN Network on Tuesday? We’ll have to hold out and wait 2 days to find out…
Here is a link to where the user states the demos on the disks..
AMAZON LINK
Here is a permalink if there are more reviews so you can see the comment… PERMA LINK CLICK HERE
Blizzard Opens Digital Download Store
by misty on May 6th, 2008
Heres some good news for fans of Blizzard according to shacknews.com Warcraft and StarCraft developer Blizzard has begun offering direct downloads of select PC titles via a new portion of its online store. Although this is a working progress the beginning releases will catch plenty of peoples attention. At present, the store’s digital download section only contains three listings: the StarCraft Anthology, Warcraft III, and the WarCraft III Frozen Throne expansion.
Also to sweeten the deal owners of certain Blizzard efforts can now register their CD keys on the site to add the titles to their Blizzard Account and download them for free at any time, though Diablo II-related downloads are not yet ready.
A new beta lottery program is also available, allowing registered users to be automatically entered into a drawing for beta access. However, no public betas are known to be underway.
At present, the company is known to be working on StarCraft II as well as a title only referred to as "an unannounced Next-Gen MMO," which some speculate to be a new Diablo game.
A list of PC titles that can be registered and downloaded from the Blizzard Store follows, as well as a description of the beta lottery.
- Diablo II*
- Diablo II: Lord of Destruction*
- Diablo II Battlechest*
- StarCraft
- StarCraft Battlechest
- StarCraft Anthology
- Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos
- Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne Expansion Pack
*digital download coming soon
iRacing.com Enters Beta Test Phase: Web-based Racing Simulation Service Expected to Launch in June
by vipeness on May 5th, 2008
BEDFORD, MA (5 May 2008) — iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations co-principals John Henry and David Kaemmer today announced the transition from alpha to beta testing of the company’s new motorsport simulation and integrated internet racing service. The announcement marks the culmination of nearly four years of development work.
"For people who have been with us from the start, including the development team, testers and the racing enthusiasts anticipating our launch, it has been a long road," said Henry. "But the start of beta testing is an enormous milestone for us. Most importantly, for all those who have been so patient, it’s a sign that we’re nearly there. While we still have a lot of work to complete, we anticipate that beta will be measured in weeks rather than months."
Henry said that formal alpha testing of the service — which integrates new simulation software, web-based infrastructure and a professionally run sanctioning body — began a little more than a year ago, but testing of the concept began even before the company was formally incorporated in fall of 2004. "A core group of us had already started working on various aspects of the service, and in August of 2004 we recruited about 30 veteran simracers to help us test out our ideas and preliminary work. Given the complexity of this undertaking, it’s a testament to the quality of the people involved that we’ve made it to beta in less than four years."
Read more
About iRacing.com
iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations, headquartered in Bedford, MA, was founded in September of 2004 by David Kaemmer, co-founder of Papyrus Racing Games, and John Henry, principal owner of the Boston Red Sox. iRacing.com’s mission is to create the world’s most authentic, most sophisticated, most accurate PC-based racing simulations and advance a new branch of motorsport — known as internet racing — through globally sanctioned, real-time, online competition.
Haze and Korn (Contest)
by vipeness on May 4th, 2008
Haze and Korn are doing some promotions right now for Haze, by going to this link and creating a video. Go check it out!
GTA 4 Comparison Video 360 vs. PS3 and thoughts
by vipeness on May 4th, 2008
I was trying to record a video to show the users on the internet the random freezing I am receiving on the PS3; Playstation 3 version of Grand Theft Auto 4, but it didn’t. So what did I do instead, create a quick comparison video of the same path starting from the same spot and ending in the same spot to show off the game to users. Check out the video below…
Grand Theft Auto IV - Conan O’brien - A more friendly tamer
by vipeness on May 4th, 2008
Anti-GTA Video: Time to get the bull**** boots!
by obsoletepower on May 3rd, 2008
Okay, I get the fact that people are concerned about the future leaders of our countries but damn it man, politicians have got to stop blaming video games for our government’s gross incompetence in their ability to provide our kids with a good educations system and more!
Get this guy, if I heard correctly when he mentioned "Your son, husband, boyfriend, whatever," he only named people of the male gender so his head just oozes stereotype and mass-media influence!
For the last time! It is not the world’s responsibility to censor everything because sexually-active 16 year olds that can’t keep their genitals in their pants long enough to not have children are not able to properly take care of their offspring because they aren’t even old enough to care for themselves!
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GTA IV Lockup Solution: Disabling PSN?
by obsoletepower on May 3rd, 2008
Reader Captain Duck spotted a possible fix in the Something Awful forums: Disable your access to the Playstation Network. SA Goons (an accredited rank in GTA: Vice City) surmise that the game is looking for multiplayer connections "every two minutes or so," and if something is wrong there, voila, lockups.
Kotaku doesn’t vouch for the efficacy of this measure on all consoles but the SA commenters sure do:
"THIS TOTALLY Works."
"Yep, until they patch it, disabling internet access on the PS3 seems to do the job. It has worked fine for me, helped with a lot of the frustration I was having. Thanks guys"
Forums at GameFAQs and GameSpot seem to back it up too.
Looking at the date stamps to the comments, I realize this is about three days late, and I hope I’m not advertising something everyone already knows as breaking news. If you guys already figured this out in the comments, good on ya.
But … in the interest of useful info, there you go. Also, if anyone has different freeze problems or solutions, hit up the comments.
Freezes - in two flavours, "intro scene" berry and "random" bananarama [Something Awful forums]
Note: You’ll need a full account to see more than the first page.
Source: Kotaku.com
Wii fit is selling like gangbusters in Europe
by misty on May 2nd, 2008
Although Nintendo Wii Fit has not been released in the United States yet it has already proved to be a big hit in other countries.
According to engadget.com / Dixons.co.UK says it sold a Wii Fit every four seconds on Friday, and Amazon.co.uk says they sold out within 24 hours.
ARTCILE HERE Pocket-Lint goes more into details over what success Wii Fit is producing in sales stating that in the UK, it has already outstripped all previous records on Play.com by selling out the entire pre-order allocation in one day leaving the online retailer "overwhelmed" by demand.
That is just in the UK in Japan Wii Fit is flying off the shelves. Since its launch in Japan on 1 December 2007, Wii Fit has already sold in excess of 1.4 million units to date, making it one of the fastest selling Wii titles in Japan.
The United States will have to wait until May 21st for the launch date and it is recommended you get yourself a preorder or a nice spot in line if you plan on working that flab off anywhere near the May 21st launch date in the US.
I know I will be getting my pre-order pretty soon not only for the hyped up anticipation of the release but the curiosity of how they are planning on putting out the game. As a female I think its pure genius on Nintendo’s side to actually target a different gender instead of sticking to typical gamers. Although I believe this game will be bought for female in general I bet all will enjoy the opportunity to challenge themselves physically while playing a video game.
Mega Man in the Guinness Book
by misty on May 2nd, 2008
My opinion this can go either way as one an achievement, they did make it in the Guinness Book, or it makes the Mega Man series a little overused.
http://blog.capcom.com/archives/1165 The Mega Man franchise has been recognized as being milked like no other milking in the history of video game milking’s! The Guinness Book recognizes 46 games, but I’m pretty sure that the actual total is far more than twice that number (even Wikipedia lists more than 100 titles). According to IGN, Guinness says that:
There are 17 games in the “classic” series starring the original character. There are also 11 Mega Man X games, four Mega Man Zero games, two Mega Man ZX games, three Mega Man Legends games, six Mega Man Battle Network games, plus three Mega Man Star Force games
Let’s fix this number! For instance, off the top of my head, they are forgetting:
Mega Man Soccer (fun fact: Mega Man’s first appearance on the SNES!)
Mega Man Battle & Chase (only hit the US in the Mega Man Collection)
Mega Man Powered Up! (PSP remake of MM1)
Mega Man Rock Board (Japanese-only, Mega Man-themed board game)
Mega Man Power Battle (arcade game designed for kids)
Super Adventure Mega Man (Dragon’s Lair-stylee anime adventure, released in Japan around Mega Man’s tenth birthday)
I’m not that much of a gamer but even I think that the Mega Man series has been done to death. Congratulations to Capcom that has gone beyond a few sequels to making enough run offs to get into the Guinness Book of records for gaming. You do have to give them credit they were pretty creative with the releases and were able to keep customers interested enough to buy into the series.
GTA IV Message for PS3 Users or Firehouse Pride?
by obsoletepower on May 2nd, 2008
Well after Marc finally explained to this idiot how to find it, I did. I must agree this looks very odd. Sure, it’s on the firehouse, so it is supposed to stand for Fire Department of Liberty City. Right? No harm in that.
However, Rockstar and GTA developers are not morons. Something this big and prominent can’t just be a “accident”.
The big question is, and i can’t confirm it, is does this look the same on the 360 version? If so, then maybe, just maybe it is just an unfortunate similarity.
So is this just firehouse pride or is it a secret message to PS3 users about the bonus content the 360 is getting.
Here is the pic, you decide.
Source: Gaming Guru
Crytek: No more PC exclusive titles due to piracy
by obsoletepower on May 2nd, 2008
Piracy hit new highs with the release of the PC shooter Crysis, Frankfurt, Germany-based developer Crytek told Next-Gen on Wednesday.
November’s Crysis sold 1 million copies worldwide as of February this year, but Crytek is nevertheless struck by how many illegitimate copies are circulating.
Crytek engine business manager Harald Seeley said that he could not reveal specific internal figures pertaining to piracy of Crysis, but he added, "I can say the level of piracy was the highest of any I’ve experienced on a project."
This week, Crytek president Cevat Yerli said that piracy was so bad on the PC-exclusive Crysis, that the studio would no longer be making PC-exclusive titles.
“I believe that’s the core problem of PC Gaming, piracy… PC gamers that pirate games inherently destroy the platform. Similar games on consoles sell factors of 4-5 more," he said in an interview with PC Play. "It was a big lesson for us and I believe we won’t have PC exclusives as we did with Crysis in future. We are going to support PC, but not exclusive anymore.”
The question is how to curb piracy. Certain initiatives are happening in the PC games industry that are aimed at combating the piracy issue, but neither Crytek nor the recently-formed multi-company PC Gaming Alliance are talking specifics.
When asked how PC developers are going to solve to piracy issue, or if digital distribution is the answer, Seeley said he couldn’t answer the question "due to various NDAs."
"…There are multiple possible solutions to the problem but I can’t discuss any of them at this time, or even guess when or if these solutions will become public."
PCGA president and Intel gaming director Randy Stude said in an e-mail regarding piracy of Crysis and piracy in general, "The PCGA is not yet prepared to make an official comment on PC game piracy. Over the next several months we will be determining our position on this important topic."
Source: Next-Gen.biz
Xbox 360 Blu-ray console shipping by September?
by obsoletepower on May 2nd, 2008
For all of Microsoft’s denial, the Xbox 360 Blu-ray console rumors just will not die. In fact, they are getting more and more specific. The Chinese language Economic Daily News is reporting that Pegatron, an OEM subsidiary of ASUS, has won the order from Microsoft to assemble the Xbox 360 with Blu-ray Disc ROM drive — shipments are expected to being in Q3 of this year. Now come on Microsoft, just come clean on the matter, we won’t tell anyone.
Source: Digitimes.com
Grand Theft Auto IV: The 6.24% Review
by obsoletepower on May 2nd, 2008
Grand Theft Auto IV has been in my possession since midnight Monday in a Los Angeles mini-mall. Because the game is rated M for Mature, there were a few eager teens milling around in the parking lot, trying to bribe cool adults to get them a copy. What’s worse? Buying teens cheap vodka or immersive sociopathic sandbox crime simulators?
With about 20 hours of gameplay (6.24% of the story and a lot of multiplayer) under my belt, here are some first impressions:
If you like endless cut scenes and game chatter spoken in grating Serbian accents, this is the game for you. (Also, The Rockstar creative team’s love affair with the number 69 is unabated.)
Unless I’m mistaken, when you kill someone, you can no longer leave cute little red footprint trails of victim blood behind you. However, when you run people over, less cute super-realistic blood stains appear on your windshield. (Exactly one stain per victim.)
For a game whose overall benefit to society is always in debate, there is a drunk driving simulator that’s truly terrifying. Perhaps terrifying enough to make the teens who bribed cool adults to buy them both M for Mature video games and cheap vodka think twice before getting behind the real-life wheel. (Kids, try getting actually drunk, then driving drunk in the game, and see what happens.)
There seems to be a lot of time in the game allocated to text messaging, going on the Internet, and online activities. I wasted my life in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas pretending to work out; now I’m wasting my life in GTA: IV pretending to surf the web.
The online multiplayer experience is outstanding. Exciting, chilling, and oh-I-just-got-run-over-by-a-garbage-truck messed up. Racing, sniping, exploding, hiding — the diversity of attack strategies available allows for a ride that will never get boring. Ultimately, the multiplayer for GTA: IV is so engaging it might actually overshadow the story. When I wake up in the morning, exhausted and sick with self-loathing from playing till three in the morning the night before, multiplayer is what calls me back. It’s so good, I may never get to 7%.
Source: TIME.com
GTA IV Experience Continues During Sleep
by obsoletepower on May 1st, 2008
So, we hope everyone got a good sleep to refresh from Tuesday’s crazy day full of launch parties, multiplayer problems, system lock-ups and vast amounts of phone calls to Rockstar support line! Some of us had such an experience yesterday that our Grand Theft Auto IV experience carried right into "dreamland" as we have continued experiencing GTA even in our sleep.
VipeNess and I are just 2 of those lucky few who did not annoyingly have to take a break from GTA IV when going to bed. We dreamt of scenery and races and being Niko Belic for 8 hours in which time we got to meet some of his friends like Roman, Michelle and Little Jacob but also some of his enemies such as Vlad and other bosses that wanted our head! I am really mad that Funland was still closed in my dream….oh how I would have wanted to ride that Ferris Wheel…..sigh.
We have decided that it would be a shame if we didn’t have a way of sharing our unique first-hand experiences actually being inside the game, if we didn’t have some sort of way of collecting all that and neatly organizing it for you guys. You can leave comments about your own GTA IV dreamland experience and at the end we will pick the best one which will be featured in one of our episodes. You guys can vote on your post-GTA IV launch party experience at the link below.
GTA 4 Sells ~2.5 million in the Americas on Day 1
by obsoletepower on May 1st, 2008
VG Chartz announced that according to their early sell-through data, Grand Theft Auto 4 has sold a record 2.5 million units in its first day of sales. GTA IV has been universally acclaimed upon release and the titles day 1 sales places the title in the upper echelon of industry hits - those that are universally loved by both critics and by casual gamers.
Data for the first day of GTA IV sales shows that the game sold roughly at a 6:4 ratio in favor of Xbox 360 to PS3 in the Americas. While that means the game sold better on Xbox 360, it had a higher attach rate on PS3 - the same story was the case in the UK according to an earlier report by Chart Track.
At $60 per unit for the standard game and $90 for the special edition and around 1/4 of all games bought being at the higher price, Rockstar is looking at around $170 million in day one Americas revenue. For comparison, Microsoft stated that Halo 3 saw $170 million in sales revenue day one so it seems at this point the combined Xbox 360 and PS3 sales for GTA IV are about on par with Halo 3.
Super Smash Brothers Brawl recently sold over 900,000 units in the Americas day one and went on to sell almost 1.6 million units week one. A similar pattern for GTA IV would push the title to over 4 million units in the Americas for week one - we expect the title to have a drop off rate more akin to Smash Brothers Brawl than Halo 3.
Sales have also been brisk in Europe, along with Chart Tracks report of 600,000 copies sold in the UK in one day, VG Chartz estimates that around 1.7 million units were sold across Europe and others on day one - the format split is roughly a mirror image of the Americas, with around 60% of all European sales being on PS3.
Day one sales for Europe and the Americas combined bring GTA IV to 4.2 million units worldwide, a staggering number, both in units and in revenue.
Stay tuned for more sales updates as the week progresses.
Source: VGChartz.com
Team Fortress 2 Free Weekend
by obsoletepower on May 1st, 2008
From May 2 - 4 play the FULL GAME for free!
1. Install Steam > 2. Create an account > 3. Play TF2 for free
Stand near the cart, it moves forward.
Move it past all the capture points to win.
Gold Rush is an entirely new level featuring a new gameplay style called Payload. The level is split into three separate areas with intermediate capture zones inside of each major chapter. The teams are split between offense (Blu) and defense (Red) similar to Dustbowl. The goal for the Blu team is to push the bomb payload through the level until it reaches the next capture point, eventually destroying all three of Red’s major bases. Blu pushes the cart through the level by standing near it, with the cart moving faster when more people are close by. If no one has pushed the cart forward after 30 seconds, the cart will begin to move backward until it is pushed forward again.
Gold Rush is a map that specifically focuses on pacing so that the player feels like they are part of an overall campaign by the team. Each member of the team needs to focus on both the overall goal of either stopping or advancing the payload and also deal with local threats. As the payload moves through the map both teams need to be able to adjust their strategy depending on what approach the other is taking. Gold Rush has been designed taking all nine classes and their abilities in Team Fortress 2 into account, which means there is a spot for everyone and their favorite class to be useful.
For long-time Team Fortress fans it should evoke feelings of both Dustbowl, in terms of layout and team goals, and Hunted, as it has a central objective that forces the battlefield to move through the map dynamically.
When you’ve acquired a new item, you’ll get a message like this one. You can then go to the loadout screens to equip your new stuff.
This update will also mark the beginning of the most significant change we’ll be making to Team Fortress 2 over the next year. Beginning first with the medic, players will be able to earn three unique items by earning some or all of the new Medic achievements coming in this update. These three unique items will allow players to have new choices as to how they play the class, as well as have a new impact and benefit to the team they play on. After this initial release we’ll be quickly adding unique items for the remaining eight classes.
For players that earn one third of the 36 new medic achievements, they will be given a new syringe gun, called “The Blutsauger”. This new weapon no longer has the ability to score critical hits against an opponent, instead it will draw health from enemies each time a syringe hits — making it especially useful as a weapon to retreat away from the fight while staying alive. Once a medic has earned two thirds of the achievements, they will be granted “The Kritzkrieg” This new medigun uses its Ubercharge not for invulnerability, but to give its recipient 100% chance to fire critical ordinance. Medics and the player they are charging need to be careful though, because as much fun as it is to fire critical rockets as fast as you can, the other team will see what you’re up to and try to put a quick stop to your plan.
For the determined medic that has earned all 36 of the new achievements, they will find themselves the proud owner of “The Ubersaw” which will take damage dealt through melee attacks and convert it directly to Ubercharge. Four hits with this new weapon will fully charge whatever medigun the Medic has equipped.
Source: Steampowered.com