-
Chahi talks genesis of comeback project.
It’s fair to say that the god game has fallen to earth somewhat since its early-’90s heyday, when the likes of Populous and SimEarth held heavenly sway over the PC charts.
Publishers haven’t offered gamers the opportunity to play the divine puppet master since Peter Molyneux’s Black & White 2 arrived to muted response back in 2005.
However, Another World creator Eric Chahi is confident that From Dust – his first game in more than a decade – can rekindle interest in the genre.
-
GameStop memo indicates new models of console will require cable format; Sony clarifies HDMI just for high-def movies as part of DRM compliance.
Source: A GameStop memo leaked to gaming blog Kotaku.
What we heard: The PlayStation 3’s built-in Blu-ray player is an irrefutable advantage that Sony has in the current-generation game console race. However, a new rumor suggests Sony will be complicating the PS3’s high-definition output for games and movies that make use of Blu-ray discs.
Yesterday, Kotaku reported that it had received an internal memo sent to GameStop employees indicating that Sony would be introducing a new PlayStation 3 SKU, called “K.” However, this SKU could be a downgrade of sorts, as it would require PS3 owners to hook up their machine with an HDMI cable–and not a component cable–to “play a game or watch a movie in high-definition.”
“Component cables will no longer be able to transfer a high-def picture,” the memo reads. It goes on to say that while older PS3 models “A-J” would not require the HDMI cable to view high-definition content, all future PS3 SKUs would. Further, GameStop urged employees to offer HDMI cables with new PS3 sales, stating “the HDMI cables will also help you drive add-on sales.”
The official story: As it turns out, the GameStop memo contains both a measure of truth and mistaken information. In a statement provided to Ars Technica, a Sony representative confirmed that while high-definition Blu-ray movie playback will require an HDMI cable, PS3 owners can continue to play games and stream content in high-definition with component cables.
“The new CECH-3000 series PS3 requires HDMI only for BD movie output in HD, in compliance with [Advanced Access Content System] standards,” Sony told the website. “PS3 continues to support component output for HD gaming and streaming content.” Sony had not responded to GameSpot’s request for comment as of press time.
Of note, Sony recently introduced the CECH-3000B SKU to Japan. The model, which boasts a 320GB hard drive, consumes less power–specifically from its original 230W to 200W–and weighs in at 2.6kg.
As Ars notes, the AACS standard is a digital-rights management standard that dictates that full high-def video resolutions must use either HDMI or DVI cables that support high-bandwidth digital content protection (HDCP). All Blu-ray players must phase out component ports by 2014 to comply with the AACS standard.
Bogus or not bogus: Bogus that gamers must use an HDMI cable to play high-definition games or stream high-definition content. Not bogus that those who use new PS3s for watching high-def Blu-ray movies now have a new DRM hurdle to contend with.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
“PS3 to require HDMI for HD movies, games?” was posted by Tom Magrino on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 15:56:13 -0700 -
Plus, new map pack for XBLA users.
Multiplayer FPS sequel Section 8: Prejudice finally lands on PlayStation Network on 27th July priced at £12.99, developer TimeGate Studios has announced.
To make up for the wait, the PS3 version has a few extra bells and whistles over and above the Xbox Live Arcade original released earlier this year.
According to the PlayStation Blog, Sony patrons will get two new game modes: Skirmish and Assault.
-
This week director Tetsuya Nomura talked to Famitsu magazine about Final Fantasy Versus XIII, giving a few details about its visual development. Unfortunately no new images were released to the public; according to Nomura, Square Enix would rather not draw too much attention away from their other up…
-
Civilization publisher president Christoph Hartmann says decision to make XCOM a shooter was to bring series in line with what modern gamers want.
Last year, 2K Games announced that it was bringing back the classic turn-based strategy series X-Com, but in the “re-imagined” guise of a shooter called XCOM. In a recent interview with MCV, 2K Games president Christoph Hartmann explained that the move was done to bring the series in line with current tastes.
“The ’90s generation of gamers all love X-Com and we own the IP, so we thought OK, what do we do with it,” Hartmann told the site. “Every studio we had wanted to do it, and each one had its own spin on it. But the problem was that turn-based strategy games were no longer the hottest thing on planet Earth. But this is not just a commercial thing–strategy games are just not contemporary.”
The executive went on to say that 2K’s goal with XCOM is to bring the franchise “in line with what this generation of gamers want,” while still managing to be true to the series. “It’s not a case of cashing in on the name,” Hartmann said. “We just need to renew it because times are changing.”
Hartmann’s suggestion that strategy games aren’t contemporary is surprising, considering that 2K Games owns Firaxis, the turn-based strategy development house responsible for last year’s critically acclaimed Civilization V. The studio has been taking its famed strategy series into more contemporary waters with a Facebook iteration called Civ World. Additionally, in April, a Firaxis developer’s online resume indicated that a sequel to the turn-based Civilization Revolution had been cancelled. However, another resume spotted at the same time indicated that the studio was actively working on a new strategy game for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC using the Unreal Engine.
For more on XCOM, check out GameSpot’s previous coverage.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
“Strategy games ‘not contemporary’ – 2K Games exec” was posted by Brendan Sinclair on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:41:08 -0700 -
Civilization publisher president Christoph Hartmann says decision to make XCOM a shooter was to bring series in line with what modern gamers want.
Last year, 2K Games announced that it was bringing back the classic turn-based strategy series X-Com, but in the “reimagined” guise of a shooter called XCOM. In a recent interview with MCV, 2K Games president Christoph Hartmann explained that the move was done to bring the series in line with current tastes.
“The ’90s generation of gamers all love X-Com and we own the IP, so we thought OK, what do we do with it,” Hartmann told the site. “Every studio we had wanted to do it, and each one had its own spin on it. But the problem was that turn-based strategy games were no longer the hottest thing on planet Earth. But this is not just a commercial thing–strategy games are just not contemporary.”
The executive went on to say that 2K’s goal with XCOM is to bring the franchise “in line with what this generation of gamers want,” while still managing to be true to the series. “It’s not a case of cashing in on the name,” Hartmann said. “We just need to renew it because times are changing.”
Hartmann’s suggestion that strategy games aren’t contemporary is surprising, considering that 2K Games owns Firaxis, the turn-based strategy development house responsible for last year’s critically acclaimed Civilization V. The studio has been taking its famed strategy series into more contemporary waters with a Facebook iteration called Civ World. Additionally, in April, a Firaxis developer’s online resume indicated that a sequel to the turn-based Civilization Revolution had been canceled. However, another resume spotted at the same time indicated that the studio was actively working on a new strategy game for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC using the Unreal engine.
For more on XCOM, check out GameSpot’s previous coverage.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
“Strategy games ‘not contemporary’ – 2K Games exec” was posted by Brendan Sinclair on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:41:08 -0700 -
TimeGate Studios’ download-only $15 shooter arriving on Sony’s online platform in two weeks with new multiplayer game modes.
The well-received Section 8: Prejudice landed on Xbox Live Arcade in April, followed by a PC bow in early May. Now, the sci-fi shooter has been dated for release on Sony’s PlayStation 3: Wednesday, July 26.
In a post on the PlayStation Blog, TimeGate Studios’ community manager announced the release date and also shared news that the PS3 iteration of Section 8: Prejudice will come bundled with new items and game modes.
Section 8: Prejudice for the PS3 will include two new multiplayer game modes: Skirmish and Assault. Additionally, those who purchase the game during its debut week will score the Blitz Armor pack and the Overdrive map pack for free.
Further, the first 1,000 PlayStation Plus subscribers to purchase Section 8: Prejudice will be awarded the in-game Hunter Armor, as well as a digital copy of the well-received original Section 8.
For more on Section 8: Prejudice, check out GameSpot’s review of the Xbox 360 version.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
“Section 8: Prejudice landing on PSN July 26” was posted by Eddie Makuch on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:12:49 -0700 -
Attributes publisher’s early success to Sega.
The original founder of enormo-publisher EA has denounced Nintendo for ushering in a “feudal dark age” for the games industry and stifling third parties’ chance of success.
Speaking at the GamesBeat conference in San Francisco today, Trip Hawkins, who now runs social gaming outfit Digital Chocolate, criticised Nintendo’s closed approach for limiting creativity.
“Look at the world wide web and how many great companies have been built on that open platform,” he said, as reported by Gamasutra.
-
Cody Conners is the Director of Operations for Sixjax Gaming, one of North America’s premier Starcraft 2 teams, and a freelance writer for IGN.com. He has spent a lot of time around eSports and is a prominent member of the StarCraft II eSports community…
-
And new tech won’t focus on visuals.
Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony won’t have the next generation of console hardware all to themselves, reckons THQ boss Brian Farrell.
Speaking at the GamesBeat conference in San Francisco earlier today, as reported by GamesIndustry.biz, Farrell predicted that the old guard will face stiff competition from the likes of Apple and Google.
“We believe Apple is going to be there, Google is going to be there,” he said.
