Folks, 2012 is almost over and 2013 is almost here. The Wii U came out and we may be at the end of the 360 and PS3. But what will 2013 bring to us? What games will dominate 2013? What scandals will plague 2013? Will 2013 be the year of the Smartphone as it finally crushes consoles, handhelds and PCs? Or will we be seeing new hardware from Microsoft and Sony?
Stay tuned in 2013 for when we figure out what is at stake.
BTW, RIP Nintendo Power. You have always been at my side since 1992.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Not the end of the world
*Comes out of hiding from the previous NPD*
Did the world come to an end? Have gaming kind finally collapsed?
Oh no. It didn't. But what about the Wii U? Did it collapse on its feet compared to the sales of the 360 and PS3 when their respective system? Not exactly. The Wii U actually did better compared to the 360 and PS3's first month of sales.
Nintendo’s Wii U console has outperformed every other HD console launch sales since its debut 4 weeks ago.
The new console, which features a touchscreen controller, has obliterated the 4 week sales record of both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. In its first four weeks on sale, Nintendo have sold over 1.8 Million units.
Xbox 360 launched in November 2005 and sold 940,000 units in its first four weeks on sale. The less successful PlayStation 3 from Sony managed to ship only 540,000 units in the first four weeks on sale, following its November 2006 launch.
1.8 Million units. That is impressive. But alas, it fell short of the Wii's launch sales.
Nintendo’s previous console, Wii, managed to sell a very healthy 2.07 Million units in its first four weeks on sale, making Wii U almost as popular as the motion sensing phenomenon. The high demand for Wii U has taken its toll on stock levels, especially in North America, but the company are handling it much better than the Wii’s launch, which was out of stock for weeks and months on end.
It didn't reach 2.07 million? It means one thing. THE END OF NINTENDO IS COMING! RUNNNN!
All jokes aside, Nintendo's Wii U has already gotten off to a good start, despite investors continuing to egg on Nintendo. How well it will do depends on the next 4-5 years. Can Nintendo pull through? Stay tuned.
Works Cited: Aussie Gamer
Oh no. It didn't. But what about the Wii U? Did it collapse on its feet compared to the sales of the 360 and PS3 when their respective system? Not exactly. The Wii U actually did better compared to the 360 and PS3's first month of sales.
Nintendo’s Wii U console has outperformed every other HD console launch sales since its debut 4 weeks ago.
The new console, which features a touchscreen controller, has obliterated the 4 week sales record of both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. In its first four weeks on sale, Nintendo have sold over 1.8 Million units.
Xbox 360 launched in November 2005 and sold 940,000 units in its first four weeks on sale. The less successful PlayStation 3 from Sony managed to ship only 540,000 units in the first four weeks on sale, following its November 2006 launch.
1.8 Million units. That is impressive. But alas, it fell short of the Wii's launch sales.
Nintendo’s previous console, Wii, managed to sell a very healthy 2.07 Million units in its first four weeks on sale, making Wii U almost as popular as the motion sensing phenomenon. The high demand for Wii U has taken its toll on stock levels, especially in North America, but the company are handling it much better than the Wii’s launch, which was out of stock for weeks and months on end.
It didn't reach 2.07 million? It means one thing. THE END OF NINTENDO IS COMING! RUNNNN!
All jokes aside, Nintendo's Wii U has already gotten off to a good start, despite investors continuing to egg on Nintendo. How well it will do depends on the next 4-5 years. Can Nintendo pull through? Stay tuned.
Works Cited: Aussie Gamer
Thursday, December 20, 2012
NPD November 2012: End of the world edition
No time to explain. I've hidden myself away in a bunker as the so-called end of the world is upon us. Sure I can talk about how THQ has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy or how the War Z was taken down from Steam, or GoG.com's massive sale. But with the Mayan Prophecy coming to, I think I'd rather talk sales numbers.
At number 10, Fifa Soccer 2013 by Electronic Arts for the 360, SP3, Wii, PSVita, 3DS, Wii U and PSP. One last round of Soccer, I always say.
At number 09, WWE 2013 by THQ for the 360, PS3 and Wii. THQ's last hurrah?
At number 08, NBA 2013 by Take 2 Interactive for the 360, PS3, Wii, PSP, Wii U and PC. No more Shaq and Jordan?
At number 07, Need for Speed: Most Wanted by Electronic Arts for the PS3, 360, PSVita and PC at 509K. The gas will soon run out
At number 06, Skylanders Giants by Activision Blizzard for the Wii, 360, PS3, 3DS and Wii U. Spyro's land stand starts now
At number 05: Madden NFL 13 by Electronic Arts for the 360, PS3, Wii, PSvita and Wii U. No more Touchdowns after this?
At number 04: Just Dance 4 by Ubisoft for the 360, Wii, PS3 and Wii U. We ain't gonna dance again like the late Michael Jackson
At number 03: Assassin's Creed 3 by Ubisoft for the 360, PS3, Wii U and PC at 2.9M. Too bad his skills won't save Connor from the catalyst.
At number 02: Halo 4 by Microsoft for the 360 at 3.2M. The Master Chief can survive anything, except the end of it all
And at Number 01: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 by Activision Blizzard for the 360, PS3, PC and Wii U at 7.5M. If we're going down, we go down in a blaze of glory.
In terms of sales compared to previous Call of Duty titles, it did less than Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 which was the 2nd highest point and MW 3, which was the highest point. But still, anything is possible. As for Mario, his newest title did 243K, not great, but not bad ether.
As for hardware, everyone but the Playstation 3 has some numbers.
Xbox 360: 1.26 M (-25.9%)
Nintendo 3DS: 540K(-32.1%)
Nintendo Wii U: 425K
Nintendo Wii: 420K (-51.1%)
Nintendo DS: 370K (+5.7%)
PlayStation Vita: 210K-225K
The Wii U's debut marked it around 420K. Not bad for a new console. But with its supplies constraint, it didn't do as well as the 360, which dominated that month. The 3DS also did very well, though no reports of the PS3 were in. The DS is still hanging on hard, especially outselling the PS Vita.
I can't talk any more about sales. It's upon us. The Mayan prophecy is upon us. Save me, Video Games. SAVE ME
Works Cited
NeoGAF
At number 10, Fifa Soccer 2013 by Electronic Arts for the 360, SP3, Wii, PSVita, 3DS, Wii U and PSP. One last round of Soccer, I always say.
At number 09, WWE 2013 by THQ for the 360, PS3 and Wii. THQ's last hurrah?
At number 08, NBA 2013 by Take 2 Interactive for the 360, PS3, Wii, PSP, Wii U and PC. No more Shaq and Jordan?
At number 07, Need for Speed: Most Wanted by Electronic Arts for the PS3, 360, PSVita and PC at 509K. The gas will soon run out
At number 06, Skylanders Giants by Activision Blizzard for the Wii, 360, PS3, 3DS and Wii U. Spyro's land stand starts now
At number 05: Madden NFL 13 by Electronic Arts for the 360, PS3, Wii, PSvita and Wii U. No more Touchdowns after this?
At number 04: Just Dance 4 by Ubisoft for the 360, Wii, PS3 and Wii U. We ain't gonna dance again like the late Michael Jackson
At number 03: Assassin's Creed 3 by Ubisoft for the 360, PS3, Wii U and PC at 2.9M. Too bad his skills won't save Connor from the catalyst.
At number 02: Halo 4 by Microsoft for the 360 at 3.2M. The Master Chief can survive anything, except the end of it all
And at Number 01: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 by Activision Blizzard for the 360, PS3, PC and Wii U at 7.5M. If we're going down, we go down in a blaze of glory.
In terms of sales compared to previous Call of Duty titles, it did less than Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 which was the 2nd highest point and MW 3, which was the highest point. But still, anything is possible. As for Mario, his newest title did 243K, not great, but not bad ether.
As for hardware, everyone but the Playstation 3 has some numbers.
Xbox 360: 1.26 M (-25.9%)
Nintendo 3DS: 540K(-32.1%)
Nintendo Wii U: 425K
Nintendo Wii: 420K (-51.1%)
Nintendo DS: 370K (+5.7%)
PlayStation Vita: 210K-225K
The Wii U's debut marked it around 420K. Not bad for a new console. But with its supplies constraint, it didn't do as well as the 360, which dominated that month. The 3DS also did very well, though no reports of the PS3 were in. The DS is still hanging on hard, especially outselling the PS Vita.
I can't talk any more about sales. It's upon us. The Mayan prophecy is upon us. Save me, Video Games. SAVE ME
Works Cited
NeoGAF
Saturday, December 15, 2012
A champion has fallen
It's been some time since the Wii U has released in North America, Europe and Japan. But unfortunately, the focus isn't on the Wii U, it's on its handheld cousin the 3DS. In Japan, the unthinkable has happened and the PS3 is no longer the king there.
The Nintendo 3DS reached a milestone in Japan as its lifetime sales for the console have now exceeded those of Sony’s PS3.
The PS3 was released in November 2006 in Japan and has since accumulated over 8.7 million units sold. As for the 3DS, that only came out in March 2011 and has now sold over 8.8 million units. At this rapid pace, it could go on to be one of the best selling consoles ever in Japan.
8.8 3DS units over 8.7 PS3 units. Nintendo isn't just giving the PS Vita a run for its money, but also the PS3. But that's not the only case.
The original DS is the best selling console in Japan right now with sales over 32 million units. The next best selling console is the PS2 with over 21 million units. Depending on how long Nintendo will support the 3DS, the console might be able to exceed both of these milestones at this rate.
I mean, come on. That's not fair. Why did the DS outperform the PS2 in Japan? That's suppose to be Sony's territory 100%.
But at least the PS2 still sold more than the DS. Right? RIGHT?
The Nintendo DS has finally surpassed the PlayStation 2 and is now the best-selling video game platform. The Nintendo DS has sold 153.69 million units, while the PlayStation 2 has sold 153.68 million units. The Nintendo DS outsold the PlayStation 2 globally from the week ending December 8th. Let’s see if it can retain its position as the best-selling platform worldwide.
Ya know, I'm gonna go cry in a corner. While I do that, keep your eyes peeled on December 17th for Street Fighter X Mega Man at Capcom Unity. Also, coming soon to every Digital service ever, the Capcom Arcade Cabinet.
Works Cited
Just Push Start
My Nintendo News
The Nintendo 3DS reached a milestone in Japan as its lifetime sales for the console have now exceeded those of Sony’s PS3.
The PS3 was released in November 2006 in Japan and has since accumulated over 8.7 million units sold. As for the 3DS, that only came out in March 2011 and has now sold over 8.8 million units. At this rapid pace, it could go on to be one of the best selling consoles ever in Japan.
8.8 3DS units over 8.7 PS3 units. Nintendo isn't just giving the PS Vita a run for its money, but also the PS3. But that's not the only case.
The original DS is the best selling console in Japan right now with sales over 32 million units. The next best selling console is the PS2 with over 21 million units. Depending on how long Nintendo will support the 3DS, the console might be able to exceed both of these milestones at this rate.
I mean, come on. That's not fair. Why did the DS outperform the PS2 in Japan? That's suppose to be Sony's territory 100%.
But at least the PS2 still sold more than the DS. Right? RIGHT?
The Nintendo DS has finally surpassed the PlayStation 2 and is now the best-selling video game platform. The Nintendo DS has sold 153.69 million units, while the PlayStation 2 has sold 153.68 million units. The Nintendo DS outsold the PlayStation 2 globally from the week ending December 8th. Let’s see if it can retain its position as the best-selling platform worldwide.
Ya know, I'm gonna go cry in a corner. While I do that, keep your eyes peeled on December 17th for Street Fighter X Mega Man at Capcom Unity. Also, coming soon to every Digital service ever, the Capcom Arcade Cabinet.
Works Cited
Just Push Start
My Nintendo News
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Wii U sales and a surprise purchaser
It's been some time since the Wii U hit North America. But before we begin, there is something I wanna bring up. Nintendo will be releasing a smaller version of the Wii in Canada called the Wii Mini
The new gadget will apparently be a smaller version of the current-gen Wii, and will have far less capability than that of its predecessor. No internet? Check. No backwards compatibility for the Gamecube? Check. No SD card slot? Yup, that one, too.
No GCN support was one thing. But no Internet nor SD Card slot? That's taking us back to...
An era without the internet hooked up to video games. So what does this monstrosity look like? Well
Just slightly smaller than the Wii. And a different shade of color.
Meanwhile, on the sales of the Wii U, the system sold around 400,000 on its first week. Not too bad, but it was easily triumphed by the 360.
In a blog post, Larry Hryb — a Microsoft spokesperson who blogs under his gamer tag, Major Nelson — reported that the Xbox 360 sold more than 750,000 consoles in the U.S. last week, easily beating Wii U first-week sales of 400,000. What’s more, it exceeds the 700,000 units Nintendo sold of the Wii U and the original Wii combined.
In some ways, however, the two numbers are not really comparable.
The Wii U, which launched last Sunday, costs between $300 and $350, and Microsoft is selling the Xbox for a number of configurations starting at half that price. Additionally, sales of the Wii U were limited by the number of units Nintendo could manufacturer, with many retailers reporting that inventory was sold out.
Sold out inventory. The same excuse Nintendo pulled when the Wii sold out 6 years ago. It was that kind of spin that put Sony and Microsoft in a situation with the Wii outselling it. And I still pop a nerve every time I think of that era: CURSE YOU NINTENDO!
I'm sensing a bad omen here. Like gaming is on the verge of collapsing. But I think I've gone too much into Fox News mode. I mean, it's not like the boss of Sony has a Wii U.
Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios boss Shuehei Yoshida picked up a Wii U today.
“Got a Wii U,” Yoshida said on Twitter. “My Nintendo ID is ‘ShuYoshida’, pls send me a friend request so I see you on the Activity Feed.”
......
Works Cited:
The Examiner
All Things D
Gematsu
The new gadget will apparently be a smaller version of the current-gen Wii, and will have far less capability than that of its predecessor. No internet? Check. No backwards compatibility for the Gamecube? Check. No SD card slot? Yup, that one, too.
No GCN support was one thing. But no Internet nor SD Card slot? That's taking us back to...
THE DARK AGES
An era without the internet hooked up to video games. So what does this monstrosity look like? Well
Just slightly smaller than the Wii. And a different shade of color.
Meanwhile, on the sales of the Wii U, the system sold around 400,000 on its first week. Not too bad, but it was easily triumphed by the 360.
In a blog post, Larry Hryb — a Microsoft spokesperson who blogs under his gamer tag, Major Nelson — reported that the Xbox 360 sold more than 750,000 consoles in the U.S. last week, easily beating Wii U first-week sales of 400,000. What’s more, it exceeds the 700,000 units Nintendo sold of the Wii U and the original Wii combined.
In some ways, however, the two numbers are not really comparable.
The Wii U, which launched last Sunday, costs between $300 and $350, and Microsoft is selling the Xbox for a number of configurations starting at half that price. Additionally, sales of the Wii U were limited by the number of units Nintendo could manufacturer, with many retailers reporting that inventory was sold out.
Sold out inventory. The same excuse Nintendo pulled when the Wii sold out 6 years ago. It was that kind of spin that put Sony and Microsoft in a situation with the Wii outselling it. And I still pop a nerve every time I think of that era: CURSE YOU NINTENDO!
I'm sensing a bad omen here. Like gaming is on the verge of collapsing. But I think I've gone too much into Fox News mode. I mean, it's not like the boss of Sony has a Wii U.
Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios boss Shuehei Yoshida picked up a Wii U today.
“Got a Wii U,” Yoshida said on Twitter. “My Nintendo ID is ‘ShuYoshida’, pls send me a friend request so I see you on the Activity Feed.”
......
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Works Cited:
The Examiner
All Things D
Gematsu
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Wii U Touchdown: 200th Post celebration
Early today, the unthinkable happened. The Nintendo Wii U has hit North America. With the Wii fading into obscurity, the Wii U will now take the place of the Wii.
However, the first snag was hit with the Wii U. A firmware update. And it has to last for around 50 minutes or so. MAybe even 4 hours
Congrats! If you're reading this, you're one of the lucky people – or smart people – who either plopped down a preorder for Nintendo's Wii U or managed to score yourself a console after a bit of line waiting earlier this morning.
The bummer? You aren't going to get to do that much on your Wii U right out of the box, especially not if you connect your brand-new console up to your home network. Nintendo's officially released the console's first major update and, at roughly five gigabytes in size, you're in for a bit of a download process.
As reported by Kotaku's Owen Good, a number of new Wii U owners are taking to Twitter to complain about the lengthy download times built into the mandatory firmware update – anywhere from one to four hours, Good suggests, which can be a bit of a buzzkill for those looking to tap into everything their Wii U has to offer.
Worse, gamers who don't heed Nintendo's warnings (or their general common sense) about turning off the power to their Wii U consoles before the firmware update finishes are in for a bit of pain. In other words, don't be like the Los Angeles Times' Ben Fritz: When he pulled the plug on his Wii U mid-download, the act of impatience bricked his system.
So remember folks. If your Wii U is updating, let it update. Otherwise, you'll end up with a $250 to $350 paper weight.
However, for those of you who are in love with Digital Distribution, it seems the Wii U may be less restrictive than the 360 and the PS3.
Trine developer Frozenbyte has confirmed to IGN that the WiiU's eShop will not be subject to pricing regulation from Nintendo, meaning games don't have to adhere to strict monetary tiers as developers enjoy the freedom to charge what they like.
"We have the power to price our products as we please, with just some basic guidelines from the big guys," beamed marketing manager Mikael Haveri. "The step to this is purely from Nintendos's side and they clearly see that [their] previous installments have not been up to par. We can set our own pricing and actually continuing on that by setting our own sales whenever we want. It is very close to what Apple and Steam are doing at the moment, and very indie friendly."
Not only that, but patches applied to games will come at no additional charge. Meaning if you got a Wii U title on the eShop that needs patching, you pay NOTHING!
However, the first snag was hit with the Wii U. A firmware update. And it has to last for around 50 minutes or so. MAybe even 4 hours
Congrats! If you're reading this, you're one of the lucky people – or smart people – who either plopped down a preorder for Nintendo's Wii U or managed to score yourself a console after a bit of line waiting earlier this morning.
The bummer? You aren't going to get to do that much on your Wii U right out of the box, especially not if you connect your brand-new console up to your home network. Nintendo's officially released the console's first major update and, at roughly five gigabytes in size, you're in for a bit of a download process.
As reported by Kotaku's Owen Good, a number of new Wii U owners are taking to Twitter to complain about the lengthy download times built into the mandatory firmware update – anywhere from one to four hours, Good suggests, which can be a bit of a buzzkill for those looking to tap into everything their Wii U has to offer.
Worse, gamers who don't heed Nintendo's warnings (or their general common sense) about turning off the power to their Wii U consoles before the firmware update finishes are in for a bit of pain. In other words, don't be like the Los Angeles Times' Ben Fritz: When he pulled the plug on his Wii U mid-download, the act of impatience bricked his system.
So remember folks. If your Wii U is updating, let it update. Otherwise, you'll end up with a $250 to $350 paper weight.
However, for those of you who are in love with Digital Distribution, it seems the Wii U may be less restrictive than the 360 and the PS3.
Trine developer Frozenbyte has confirmed to IGN that the WiiU's eShop will not be subject to pricing regulation from Nintendo, meaning games don't have to adhere to strict monetary tiers as developers enjoy the freedom to charge what they like.
"We have the power to price our products as we please, with just some basic guidelines from the big guys," beamed marketing manager Mikael Haveri. "The step to this is purely from Nintendos's side and they clearly see that [their] previous installments have not been up to par. We can set our own pricing and actually continuing on that by setting our own sales whenever we want. It is very close to what Apple and Steam are doing at the moment, and very indie friendly."
Not only that, but patches applied to games will come at no additional charge. Meaning if you got a Wii U title on the eShop that needs patching, you pay NOTHING!
But truth be told. I have yet to get my Wii U in. As soon as it comes in, I will talk more about it. And BTW, every Wii U owner should go and get New Super Mario Bros U. Because for the first time since the N64, we finally have a proper Mario game at launch. And even more so, Sonic also has a game at launch since the SEGA Dreamcast.
Works Cited:
PC Magazine
"Destructoid
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
NPD October 2012: Post-Election, Pre-WiiU edition
As promised, I am here to post the new NPD numbers of last month. With 5 days left to the Wii U, let's get this out of the way.
First, the software
At number 10, the new Skylanders Giants game from Activision/Blizzard for the Wii, 360, PS3 and 3DS, with the Wii U version due out later this month. Spyro is working overtime in the Skylanders sequel
At number 09, Borderlands 2 by Take 2 Software for the 360, PS3 and PC. Because even life in space is as rough as being out in the Wild West
At number 08, Medal of Honor: Warfighter by EA for the 360, PS3 and PC. Dogfighting has never gotten better
At number 07, FIFA Soccer 13 by EA for the 360, PS3, Wii, PSV, 3DS, and PSP. The Playstation Portable still has some edge left in soccer games
At number 06, Madden NFL 2013 by EA for the 360, PS3, Wii and PSV. Careful you don't get slammed to the ground.
At number 05, Pokemon White 2 by Nintendo for the DS. Not as high as the last Pokemon game, but...
At number 04, Dishonored by Bethesda Software for the 360, PS3 and PC. They know how to develop games beyond Elder Scrolls and Fallout.
At number 03, Pokemon Black 2 by Nintendo for the DS. ...at least they still got it
At number 02, Resident Evil 6 by Capcom for the 360 and PS3. Even bad reviews won't tear this game apart
And at number 01, NBA 2K12 by Take 2 for the 360, PS3, Wii, PSP and PC. Time to shoot some hoops like Michael Jordan did, but not to go crazy like Dennis Rodman.
Interestingly, both Guild Wars 2 and World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria have disappeared from the Top 10. So have New Super Mario Bros 2. Is it in anticipation for the upcoming New Super Mario Bros U? However, when it comes to XCOM: Enemy Unknown, It was around 114K, but Take 2 mentioned that the game did well. I wonder when Digital Sales will be counted?
And what about Hardware?
For the 360, an exact number of 270K was given while the 3DS is somewhere between 213K and 250K. No word on the PS3, Wii or Vita. But for the Wii, it's a given since the Wii U will be out next week. Overall, a 25% drop in Hardware and Software due to the lack of big titles like Batman: Arkham City. But accessories rose due to the success of Skylanders: Giants.
November marks the debut of the Nintendo Wii U. And as such, we will add it to the list. How well will it do? And will Call of Duty dominate the market again? Or has Halo regained its crown? Find out next month.
Works Cited
NeoGAF
First, the software
At number 10, the new Skylanders Giants game from Activision/Blizzard for the Wii, 360, PS3 and 3DS, with the Wii U version due out later this month. Spyro is working overtime in the Skylanders sequel
At number 09, Borderlands 2 by Take 2 Software for the 360, PS3 and PC. Because even life in space is as rough as being out in the Wild West
At number 08, Medal of Honor: Warfighter by EA for the 360, PS3 and PC. Dogfighting has never gotten better
At number 07, FIFA Soccer 13 by EA for the 360, PS3, Wii, PSV, 3DS, and PSP. The Playstation Portable still has some edge left in soccer games
At number 06, Madden NFL 2013 by EA for the 360, PS3, Wii and PSV. Careful you don't get slammed to the ground.
At number 05, Pokemon White 2 by Nintendo for the DS. Not as high as the last Pokemon game, but...
At number 04, Dishonored by Bethesda Software for the 360, PS3 and PC. They know how to develop games beyond Elder Scrolls and Fallout.
At number 03, Pokemon Black 2 by Nintendo for the DS. ...at least they still got it
At number 02, Resident Evil 6 by Capcom for the 360 and PS3. Even bad reviews won't tear this game apart
And at number 01, NBA 2K12 by Take 2 for the 360, PS3, Wii, PSP and PC. Time to shoot some hoops like Michael Jordan did, but not to go crazy like Dennis Rodman.
Interestingly, both Guild Wars 2 and World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria have disappeared from the Top 10. So have New Super Mario Bros 2. Is it in anticipation for the upcoming New Super Mario Bros U? However, when it comes to XCOM: Enemy Unknown, It was around 114K, but Take 2 mentioned that the game did well. I wonder when Digital Sales will be counted?
And what about Hardware?
For the 360, an exact number of 270K was given while the 3DS is somewhere between 213K and 250K. No word on the PS3, Wii or Vita. But for the Wii, it's a given since the Wii U will be out next week. Overall, a 25% drop in Hardware and Software due to the lack of big titles like Batman: Arkham City. But accessories rose due to the success of Skylanders: Giants.
November marks the debut of the Nintendo Wii U. And as such, we will add it to the list. How well will it do? And will Call of Duty dominate the market again? Or has Halo regained its crown? Find out next month.
Works Cited
NeoGAF
Monday, November 5, 2012
NPD September 2012: Wreck It Ralph edition
Before I begin, lemme state this. Go see Wreck It Ralph in theatres while you still can. It's an enjoyable film for those who enjoy video games and the characters portrayed stays true to its 30+ year legacy.
With that out of the way, let's make this fast. First, Software:
At Number 10: Battlefield 3 by EA for the 360, PS3 and PC
At Number 09: Lego Batman 2: DC SuperHeroes by Warner Bros Interactive for the 360, Wii, PS3, PSVita, 3DS, and PC
At Number 08: NCAA Football by EA for the 360 and PS3
At Number 07: World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria by Activision/Blizzard for the PC
At Number 06: NHL 13 by EA for the 360 and PS3
At Number 05: Guild Wars 2 by NCSoft for the PC
At Number 04: New Super Mario Bros 2 by Nintendo for the 3DS
At Number 03: FIFA Soccer 2013 by EA for the 360, PS3, PSVita, Wii, 3DS and PSP
At Number 02: Borderlands 2 by Take 2 Interactive for the 360, PS3 and PC
And at Number 01:
Madden NFL 2013 by EA for the 360, PS3, Wii and PSVita
First off, it seems Guild Wars 2 have outranked the new World of Warcraft expansion, though that isn't saying much since Digital Sales were not accounted. Second, this month belongs to Electronic Arts as it not only dominates number 1, but also 4 other slots. But what about hardware? Sadly, that is only mentioned by the 360 and 3DS
Xbox 360: 270K
Nintendo 3DS: Above 213K
Both systems are hanging on with the Wii on its way out, but no sign of the PS3 or PSVita. The 360 is barely below 300K while the 3DS is catching up. Which of the two will dominate, all with the Wii U about to launch in November?
With Pokemon due out in October, stay tuned this week for the October 2012 NPD.
Works Cited:
NeoGAF
With that out of the way, let's make this fast. First, Software:
At Number 10: Battlefield 3 by EA for the 360, PS3 and PC
At Number 09: Lego Batman 2: DC SuperHeroes by Warner Bros Interactive for the 360, Wii, PS3, PSVita, 3DS, and PC
At Number 08: NCAA Football by EA for the 360 and PS3
At Number 07: World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria by Activision/Blizzard for the PC
At Number 06: NHL 13 by EA for the 360 and PS3
At Number 05: Guild Wars 2 by NCSoft for the PC
At Number 04: New Super Mario Bros 2 by Nintendo for the 3DS
At Number 03: FIFA Soccer 2013 by EA for the 360, PS3, PSVita, Wii, 3DS and PSP
At Number 02: Borderlands 2 by Take 2 Interactive for the 360, PS3 and PC
And at Number 01:
Madden NFL 2013 by EA for the 360, PS3, Wii and PSVita
First off, it seems Guild Wars 2 have outranked the new World of Warcraft expansion, though that isn't saying much since Digital Sales were not accounted. Second, this month belongs to Electronic Arts as it not only dominates number 1, but also 4 other slots. But what about hardware? Sadly, that is only mentioned by the 360 and 3DS
Xbox 360: 270K
Nintendo 3DS: Above 213K
Both systems are hanging on with the Wii on its way out, but no sign of the PS3 or PSVita. The 360 is barely below 300K while the 3DS is catching up. Which of the two will dominate, all with the Wii U about to launch in November?
With Pokemon due out in October, stay tuned this week for the October 2012 NPD.
Works Cited:
NeoGAF
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
The Playstation 3's biggest nightmare?
If it's not the Nintendo Wii or Microsoft X-Box 360 that's the problem, then there's something chewing at Sony's shoes: Hackers. In 2011, the PS3s were exploited thanks to Fail0verflow. Their motive?
Fail0verflow's explanation? Hackers want to run their own code on the hardware they buy and PS3 allowed them to do that from day one. Only when the Linux-stripped PS3 Slim appeared – which they say can run the OS just as well at the older model – and when OtherOS was removed from the "fat" console, were the hackers suitably motivated to expose the security shortcomings of the system.
Now come on here, Fail0verflow. Video Game systems are something you don't crack open. They're something you cherish like the Playstation 1 and 2. None of that other stuff matters. And how dare you want to play Linux on the PS3. Heck, running Linux or even Windows is about stupid and they should be replaced with the Sony OS.
So how did Fail0verflow get their gritty mitts on the code? Well
However, the Fail0verflow team's work goes way beyond this traditional style of hacking. They have released the technique by which any kind of unauthorised code can be run on any PS3. Every PS3 executable file is encrypted, or signed, using private ciphers only available (in theory) to Sony itself. It has long been established that brute-forcing the keys would take hundreds of thousands of computers hundreds of thousands of years to complete.
However, despite this mathematical reality, Fail0verflow are now in possession of all of the encryption keys Sony uses. They can create DLC-style packages that will run on any PlayStation 3, and yes, they can create their own custom firmware upgrades. Their stated aim is to produce their own firmware update that boots directly into Linux on any PS3, but the methodology allows for any kind of custom firmware to be produced – and we all know what that means.
So how did Fail0verflow get the keys so quickly? Well, in creating the encrypted files, an important element of the mathematical formula is the use of a random number. The PS3 encryption scheme uses just a single random number that never varies between each signed file, while the proper way of carrying out the signing process is to use a different random number every time a file is signed. Armed with just two signatures, it is possible to mathematically reconstruct the encryption key thanks to this constant variable. In theory, it's as simple as that. In practice, some simple equation work is required.
In other words, it takes rocket scientists to crack the PS3, and it seems Fail0verflow are rocket scientists.
More than a year has passed since the worst came. Patch 3.6 blocks out the hacking completely, though something did manage to slip between the cracks. And this is for those who didn't update, this is where Sony is about to fall apart. But first, details on what 3.6 was suppose to do
The firm's response - firmware 3.60 - plugged many of the holes, neatly working around the entire root key problem, and even with the release of the new custom firmware, any console running system software 3.60 or higher is effectively locked out. Only hacked consoles, or those still running 3.55 or lower can run the new code unless expensive, difficult-to-install hardware downgrade devices are utilised on older hardware.
That meant if you wanted access to the PSN, you needed Patch 3.6, which locks you out of custom firmware. Those with Patch 3.5.5 and below were out of luck. Until recently, unfortunately.
Despite the effectiveness of firmware 3.60, PS3 has still had to contend with piracy issues, notably the JB2/TrueBlue dongle, but this hack still locked consoles to 3.55 and stopped compromised consoles gaining access to PSN - until recently at least, where the "passphrase" security protocol protecting PSN was leaked, giving hacked consoles full access to the service.
The release of the new custom firmware - and the LV0 decryption keys in particular - poses serious issues. While Sony will almost certainly change the PSN passphrase once again in the upcoming 4.30 update, the reveal of the LV0 key basically means that any system update released by Sony going forward can be decrypted with little or no effort whatsoever. Options Sony has in battling this leak are limited - every PS3 out there needs to be able to decrypt any firmware download package in order for the console to be updated (a 2006 launch PS3 can still update directly to the latest software). The release of the LV0 key allows for that to be achieved on PC, with the CoreOS and XMB files then re-encrypted using the existing 3.55 keys in order to be run on hacked consoles.
So just how did LV0 come to be released at all? The original hackers who first found the master key - calling themselves "The Three Tuskateers" - apparently sat on its discovery for some time. However, the information leaked and ended up being the means by which a new Chinese hacking outfit - dubbed "BlueDiskCFW" planned to charge for and release new custom firmware updates. To stop these people profiteering from their work, the "Muskateers" released the LV0 key and within 24 hours, a free CFW update was released.
Folks, this may be the biggest hack in the history of the Playstation legacy. What next, a hack that lets you revert to Patch 3.5.5? Stay tuned to see if Sony can get themselves out of this mess.
Works Cited: Eurogamer
Link 1
Link 2
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
The fall of prices
The holiday season is right around the corner, even though Halloween is close by. But it seems prices will drop around this time so more people can buy a new video game system.
First, let's talk about Microsoft. The 360 has confirmed a price drop to $250
How will the Xbox 360 compete with Nintendo’s Wii U for attention this fall? Not with a line up of blockbuster exclusives, and but with a price drop.
The Xbox 360 is quietly enjoying its retail dotage. November will mark the system’s seventh year on shelves, making it positively ancient by video game technology standards. It’s getting just two major exclusive release this fall in Forza Horizon, which will appeal primarily to a niche audience, and Halo 4, a game that isn’t attended by the manic hype that surrounded its predecessor in 2007. Microsoft is opening new services associated with the box, like Xbox Music, and laying the groundwork for the brand’s future with Windows 8, but the Xbox 360 is largely staying quiet going into the always-competitive holidays.
The Xbox 360 is getting a price drop this holiday though. Microsoft isn’t announcing a line wide price drop for all Xbox 360 packages, but its retail partners are. Best Buy, Kmart, GameStop, Amazon, and Target are all selling brand new Xbox 360 bundles that are $50 cheaper than usual. GameStop, for example, is selling a $250 box that comes with a 250GB Xbox 360, a copy of Forza Motorsport 4, and a download voucher for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, alongside another $250 package with a 4GB Xbox 360 and a Kinect. Other retailers are offering similar packages at the same price.
Microsoft isn't one to take it lying down. They are planning on going after the Wii U when it comes out and challenge it to a one on one duel. They also hope to help re-energize the video game industry, which has been lagging all month. Can they do it? Only time will tell.
But Microsoft isn't the only company doing a price drop. Nintendo, who is releasing the Wii U next month, is also doing a price drop on its Wii systems.
Nintendo has dropped Wii’s price to $129.99. A new bundle will include a black Wii along with both Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort on a single disc, as well as a matching black Wii Remote Plus and a Nunchuk controller. Nintendo says the new price is “in advance of the busy holiday shopping season” and is expected to be widely available by October 28th.
“Nearly six years after it launched, people are still attracted to the pure, inclusive fun of the Wii console,” said Nintendo of America executive vice president of Sales & Marketing Scott Moffitt. “A new suggested retail price and the inclusion of two great games make it an easy choice for families looking for a great value this holiday season.”
The new bundle replaces last year’s New Super Mario Bros. Wii bundle and once again includes the “newly reconfigured” Wii Family Edition, which sits horizontally rather than vertically. The system does not offer backwards compatibility for GameCube games or accessories and was first seen at Gamescom in 2011.
That's right. If you can't afford the Wii U, you still got the Nintendo Wii to back you up. Cheaper than even a 3DS, the Wii still provides tons of fun for the whole family, and those who like oldskool NES/SNES/N64/Genesis/MasterSystem/TurboGrafx/NeoGeo titles.
So what about Sony and its Playstation 3? Well while you will be getting a super slim model, it seems Sony won't be dropping the price anytime soon.
No PlayStation 3 model is getting a price cut this holiday season. Not the new ultra slim models. Not the old slim models.
Speaking with Engadget, Sony VP of marketing John Koller, said that the lack of a price drop at the suggested retail price level is because retailers are already running promotions that lower the price of the console significantly.
“There’s no price drop formally, but the thing that’s been happening in the market over the last year or so is that there’s been so many retail price promotions, and so many different gift card offers, and all those things, being done by all of us (Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony), that we’ve heard from our consumer, ‘Enough with all these weird price moves. What we really want is content and games and value,’” said Koller.
That’s right: Having two models of PlayStation 3 on shelves, in more than 5 distinct hardware and game bundles, priced everywhere between $250 and over $300, is exactly the sort of clear pricing and value that customers so badly want.
If you squint real hard, you can see a layer of logic in Sony’s decision to release the brand new PlayStation 3 models at higher prices than what’s already on shelves. The company is reeling from two years of profound financial losses, the mediocre launch of a new handheld gaming system, and the cost of purchasing Ericsson’s half of its mobile phone business and trying to relaunch the line in an Apple-dominated market. Kaz Hirai, former head of SCEA and new Sony CEO, needs the PlayStation division to make some cash. Releasing a new system designed to save on production costs at a lower price won’t earn Sony that paper.
Sony. What are you thinking? Not only will the 360 extend its lead, but the Wii U will crush you in the process. There's more on the line than just a new model, but you also got new competition to go against you.
So there you have it. Out of the 3 companies, only 2 will get a price drop. Who will win? Stay tuned this Holiday season where the debate will at least be more hectic than what Obama did early this month.
Works Cited:
Digital Trends
IGN
Digital Trends link 2
Monday, October 8, 2012
Kevin Butler under fire
It seems Sony isn't happy with Kevin Butler playing Mario Kart Wii on a Bridgestone commercial and has now filed a lawsuit against the actor Jerry Lambert of Wildcat Creek, and of Bridgestone.
Sony Computer Entertainment America filed a lawsuit against Bridgestone and Wildcat Creek, Inc. on September 11. The claims are based on violations of the Lanham Act, misappropriation, breach of contract and tortious interference with a contractual relationship. We invested significant resources in bringing the Kevin Butler character to life and he’s become an iconic personality directly associated with PlayStation products over the years. Use of the Kevin Butler character to sell products other than those from PlayStation misappropriates Sony’s intellectual property, creates confusion in the market, and causes damage to Sony.
As if Sony wasn't doing enough damage for itself. Now Kevin Butler may have done more damage to the Sony brand than they thought. But there is more to this story than meets the eye.
Actor Jerry Lambert, who plays the hilarious and arrogant Kevin Butler character in PlayStation commercials, is the president of Wildcat Creek according to Corporationwiki.com. SCEA claims that Bridgestone and Lambert violated one of Sony’s intellectual properties. Which one? Well, Kevin Butler.
In February of this year, Lambert began to appear in a series of Bridgestone promotions. You can see the actor mocking former NFL player Deion Sanders at the end of this ad:
Now, for those of you who are wondering what ad was it, well Venture Beat, who posted up the info, has shown off the ad that began Lambert's pursuit into Bridgestone right here
And as you are aware, there was an ad where Lambert and others were test driving the Nintendo Wii, which will be outdated and replaced with the Wii U next month. It was referred to as the GameOn promotion at Bridgestone
Bridgestone and Wildcat Creek are now running a “GameOn” promotion where customers can get a $70 American Express gift card or a Nintendo Wii console. A recent ad for this promotion — which the official Bridgestone YouTube account has removed from the video-sharing site — featured Lambert in a white lab coat appearing with the Nintendo console and a running copy of Mario Kart Wii.
Sony Computer Entertainment America filed a lawsuit against Bridgestone and Wildcat Creek, Inc. on September 11. The claims are based on violations of the Lanham Act, misappropriation, breach of contract and tortious interference with a contractual relationship. We invested significant resources in bringing the Kevin Butler character to life and he’s become an iconic personality directly associated with PlayStation products over the years. Use of the Kevin Butler character to sell products other than those from PlayStation misappropriates Sony’s intellectual property, creates confusion in the market, and causes damage to Sony.
As if Sony wasn't doing enough damage for itself. Now Kevin Butler may have done more damage to the Sony brand than they thought. But there is more to this story than meets the eye.
Actor Jerry Lambert, who plays the hilarious and arrogant Kevin Butler character in PlayStation commercials, is the president of Wildcat Creek according to Corporationwiki.com. SCEA claims that Bridgestone and Lambert violated one of Sony’s intellectual properties. Which one? Well, Kevin Butler.
In February of this year, Lambert began to appear in a series of Bridgestone promotions. You can see the actor mocking former NFL player Deion Sanders at the end of this ad:
Now, for those of you who are wondering what ad was it, well Venture Beat, who posted up the info, has shown off the ad that began Lambert's pursuit into Bridgestone right here
And as you are aware, there was an ad where Lambert and others were test driving the Nintendo Wii, which will be outdated and replaced with the Wii U next month. It was referred to as the GameOn promotion at Bridgestone
Bridgestone and Wildcat Creek are now running a “GameOn” promotion where customers can get a $70 American Express gift card or a Nintendo Wii console. A recent ad for this promotion — which the official Bridgestone YouTube account has removed from the video-sharing site — featured Lambert in a white lab coat appearing with the Nintendo console and a running copy of Mario Kart Wii.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
NPD August 2012: Pandas dancing around
Before I go talking about World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria, I better get some business out of the way with the NPD of August 2012.
BTW. It seems I'm putting in less and less info. Why? Because I may be limiting this blog to NPD reports or going all out completely. Anyway, enough is enough. Let's get this out of the way.
At number 10: Activision Blizzard's The Amazing Spider Man(360, PS3, NDS, 3DS, Wii), who's still holding on by a spider thread
At number 09: Activision Blizzard's Call of Duty: Black Ops(360, PS3, NDS, Wii, PC), though we wonder how well the sequel will do
At number 08: Warner Bros' Batman Arkham City(360, PS3, PC) with the Wii U version still on its way
At number 07: Activision Blizzard's Transformers: Fall of Cybertron(360, PS3) proving there's no rest for an Autobot or Decepticon
At number 06: SquareEnix's Sleeping Dogs(360, PS3), though that's betraying SquareEnix's dedication to over cheesy Japanese RPGs
At number 05: Warner Bros' Lego Batman 2: DC Superheroes(Wii, 360, NDS, PS3, 3DS, PSV, PC), which is becoming the de facto Batman game.
At number 04: Electronic Arts' NCAA Football 2013(360, PS3), a warm up for Madden.
At number 03: SquareEnix's Kingdom Hearts 3D(3DS), though that doesn't count as a cheesy Japanese RPG
At number 02: Nintendo's New Super Mario Bros 2(3DS), proving Mario still has what it takes to attract Nintendo fans everywhere.
And finally at number 01: THQ's Darksiders 2(360, PS3, PC), which means Death has ways to satisfy.
Finally for sales, this is all we could muster
X360:193K
3DS:Above 170K
PS3:Above last month, below 193K
For the first time, the best selling system didn't even reach 200K. However, the 360 maintains its lead of the competition for the 20th consecutive month in a row. The 3DS's XL launch represents 44% of the sales even though it was only released for a few days.
Will Madden bring a touchdown to the field? Or will September be intercepted? Stay tuned.
Works Cited: NeoGAF
BTW. It seems I'm putting in less and less info. Why? Because I may be limiting this blog to NPD reports or going all out completely. Anyway, enough is enough. Let's get this out of the way.
At number 10: Activision Blizzard's The Amazing Spider Man(360, PS3, NDS, 3DS, Wii), who's still holding on by a spider thread
At number 09: Activision Blizzard's Call of Duty: Black Ops(360, PS3, NDS, Wii, PC), though we wonder how well the sequel will do
At number 08: Warner Bros' Batman Arkham City(360, PS3, PC) with the Wii U version still on its way
At number 07: Activision Blizzard's Transformers: Fall of Cybertron(360, PS3) proving there's no rest for an Autobot or Decepticon
At number 06: SquareEnix's Sleeping Dogs(360, PS3), though that's betraying SquareEnix's dedication to over cheesy Japanese RPGs
At number 05: Warner Bros' Lego Batman 2: DC Superheroes(Wii, 360, NDS, PS3, 3DS, PSV, PC), which is becoming the de facto Batman game.
At number 04: Electronic Arts' NCAA Football 2013(360, PS3), a warm up for Madden.
At number 03: SquareEnix's Kingdom Hearts 3D(3DS), though that doesn't count as a cheesy Japanese RPG
At number 02: Nintendo's New Super Mario Bros 2(3DS), proving Mario still has what it takes to attract Nintendo fans everywhere.
And finally at number 01: THQ's Darksiders 2(360, PS3, PC), which means Death has ways to satisfy.
Finally for sales, this is all we could muster
X360:193K
3DS:Above 170K
PS3:Above last month, below 193K
For the first time, the best selling system didn't even reach 200K. However, the 360 maintains its lead of the competition for the 20th consecutive month in a row. The 3DS's XL launch represents 44% of the sales even though it was only released for a few days.
Will Madden bring a touchdown to the field? Or will September be intercepted? Stay tuned.
Works Cited: NeoGAF
Monday, September 24, 2012
Wii U's Bayonetta backlash
First off, I once again neglected this blog. Too much preparation for the upcoming Mists of Pandaria.
A couple of weeks ago, The Wii U information, from pricing to release date, was finalized. Not only that, but the Wii U will also come with something that no previous system has: A means of watching TV.
Nintendo announced that its new Wii U game console will be available in the U.S. on Nov. 18, coming in two flavors. The white "Basic" bundle is $300 and comes with a GamePad and Wii U with 8 GB of memory. But it makes more sense to pick up the $350 black "Deluxe" bundle, which includes a 32 GB Wii U system, charger, stand and Nintendo Land. Nintendo Land is a pack of 12 mini games which use the GamePad and allow 5 people to play at once.
The Wii U systems also will have a new entertainment hub called Nintendo TVii. It takes all the video available from Netflix, Hulu and Amazon, and also taps into what's available on live TV from your cable provider. All that data is funneled into one menu that you can browse through on the GamePad screen. Search for a show, network or genera, and it'll show you all the options without having to hop between different apps and menus for each service. It also lets you set recordings on a TiVo DVR. Nintendo TVii also has a social feature where you can comment about what you're watching and see what you're friends are saying in real time. (Also, check out this analysis by Matthew Moskovciak: The Wii U is trying to succeed where Google TV failed.)
Finally. A means of watching Television through my video game system. Take that Google, Microsoft and Sony.
However, something got my attention when the price was announced and it wasn't pretty. No. This was the worst thing to happen to gaming since Final Fantasy VII was announced for the Playstation. And I don't mean exclusively, since no one likes an emo for a hero and a Mama's Boy for a villain.
The surprise announcement was made during the Japanese Nintendo Direct broadcast earlier today.
Yusuke Hashimoto, who was producer of the first game, has stepped up to directing. Hideki Kamiya is supervising production.
Atsushi Inaba will be serving as producer on the sequel. His previous efforts include God Hand, Okami and Vanquish. He's also working on Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance and The Wonderful 101 (formerly Project P-100).
Mari Shimazaki, designer of the titular protagonist returns as character designer. Hirono Sato is lead game designer, having wrapped up work on Anarchy Reigns, and Masami Ueda returns to compose the soundtrack.
Bayonetta 2. Come on. Why did you go with Bayonetta 2? I mean, come on. It's not like the game itself was announced, then cancelled
Bayonetta 2 has been the subject of intense rumour and speculation. The original was critically acclaimed, is highly-regarded among third-person character action game aficionados and oft-requested by fans.
Whispers of a sequel began in August last year, when Hideki Kamiya teased a Bayonetta 2 reveal in Famitsu. Kamiya quickly followed up his Twitter teasing by saying the statements quoting him were a mistranslation and Bayonetta 2 would not be announced.
After short period of silence talk Bayonetta 2 started up again when an unnamed Sega employee promised an announcement "fairly soon". Unfortunately, this was followed by a rumour that the game had been outright cancelled leaving those dreaming of a squel with little to cling to.
.......
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
They actually cancelled the game, and then uncancelled it.
Well, following the Bayonetta 2 announcement, a backlash followed. Many gamers threw a nasty fit and Destructoid's Jonathan Holmes had this to say.
Arguably the biggest surprise at yesterday's Wii U press event was the announcement of Bayonetta 2, and that the game will be a Wii U exclusive published by Nintendo. My first thought was "This will get people who think that Nintendo 'only cares about the casuals' to see that the publisher is making a real effort to broaden their appeal."
Turns out I was right. I just didn't expect that some people would be so angry about it. Below you'll find just a smattering of some of the comments from Bayonetta "fans" who are very upset over the news, including the usual death threats, plans for boycotts, and announcements that the announcement of a new videogame has "REALLY RUINED THEIR DAY."
Exclusivity always makes some people feel left out, and that sucks, but in this case we're talking about a game that is lucky to be getting a sequel at all. I expected fans of the original game to be universally pleased that Bayonetta's adventures will continue, even if it means that they may have to purchase a Wii U to be a part of them.
For years, people bashed Nintendo for not having more M-rated, "AAA" third-party exclusives. When they make an effort to change that, people complain. My guess is that these people just won't be satisfied with Nintendo until they go out of the videogame business entirely. They seem to enjoy hating the company, and it makes them unhappy when they are given reasons not to.
We hate Nintendo for not having more M-rated AAA games, and we hate Nintendo for having more M-rated AAA games. It's only logical, if you're a hardcore gamer. But Inaba had to go and throw salt on our wounds. You can take alook at the Destructoid Article 1 link to see some of our "Ahem" complaints.
He elaborates, "We are not viewing this as a change of platform. We were looking for a partner to create Bayonetta 2 and Nintendo was a strong, cooperative partner that was willing to create and grow Bayonetta 2 together [with us]. As a result the platform became the Wii U." There's really only one way to interpret this: Nintendo was the only company that demonstrated any significant interest in getting the game made.
No, they are not the only company. Though if it were on Steam, I'd still throw a crybaby fit because Sony is the only true gaming company, even though they have other stuff coming out. But I bet no one is gonna care about the Wii U. That system is gonna flop so bad that Nintendo will have no choice, but to be bought out by Apple.
A number of different GameStop stores told Polygon that the retailer's already reached its allocation for the pricer Wii U SKU company-wide, while another retailer Target has also stopped taking pre-orders for the model on its website.
According to one anonymous GameStop employee, reserves of the Deluxe edition were nearly half-full in the first few hours. The source did not indicate if GameStop will receive more Deluxe editions closer to launch.
Last week Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime claimed that early Wii U Wii U pre-orders were "extremely strong".
.........
You know, I think I'm gonna go cry now. You know what that sound is? That's the sound of Nintendo destroying my childhood love for video games.
Works Cited
CNET
Computer and Video Games Article 1
Destructoid Article 1
Destructoid Article 2
Computer and Video Games Article 2
A couple of weeks ago, The Wii U information, from pricing to release date, was finalized. Not only that, but the Wii U will also come with something that no previous system has: A means of watching TV.
Nintendo announced that its new Wii U game console will be available in the U.S. on Nov. 18, coming in two flavors. The white "Basic" bundle is $300 and comes with a GamePad and Wii U with 8 GB of memory. But it makes more sense to pick up the $350 black "Deluxe" bundle, which includes a 32 GB Wii U system, charger, stand and Nintendo Land. Nintendo Land is a pack of 12 mini games which use the GamePad and allow 5 people to play at once.
The Wii U systems also will have a new entertainment hub called Nintendo TVii. It takes all the video available from Netflix, Hulu and Amazon, and also taps into what's available on live TV from your cable provider. All that data is funneled into one menu that you can browse through on the GamePad screen. Search for a show, network or genera, and it'll show you all the options without having to hop between different apps and menus for each service. It also lets you set recordings on a TiVo DVR. Nintendo TVii also has a social feature where you can comment about what you're watching and see what you're friends are saying in real time. (Also, check out this analysis by Matthew Moskovciak: The Wii U is trying to succeed where Google TV failed.)
Finally. A means of watching Television through my video game system. Take that Google, Microsoft and Sony.
However, something got my attention when the price was announced and it wasn't pretty. No. This was the worst thing to happen to gaming since Final Fantasy VII was announced for the Playstation. And I don't mean exclusively, since no one likes an emo for a hero and a Mama's Boy for a villain.
The surprise announcement was made during the Japanese Nintendo Direct broadcast earlier today.
Yusuke Hashimoto, who was producer of the first game, has stepped up to directing. Hideki Kamiya is supervising production.
Atsushi Inaba will be serving as producer on the sequel. His previous efforts include God Hand, Okami and Vanquish. He's also working on Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance and The Wonderful 101 (formerly Project P-100).
Mari Shimazaki, designer of the titular protagonist returns as character designer. Hirono Sato is lead game designer, having wrapped up work on Anarchy Reigns, and Masami Ueda returns to compose the soundtrack.
Bayonetta 2. Come on. Why did you go with Bayonetta 2? I mean, come on. It's not like the game itself was announced, then cancelled
Bayonetta 2 has been the subject of intense rumour and speculation. The original was critically acclaimed, is highly-regarded among third-person character action game aficionados and oft-requested by fans.
Whispers of a sequel began in August last year, when Hideki Kamiya teased a Bayonetta 2 reveal in Famitsu. Kamiya quickly followed up his Twitter teasing by saying the statements quoting him were a mistranslation and Bayonetta 2 would not be announced.
After short period of silence talk Bayonetta 2 started up again when an unnamed Sega employee promised an announcement "fairly soon". Unfortunately, this was followed by a rumour that the game had been outright cancelled leaving those dreaming of a squel with little to cling to.
.......
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
They actually cancelled the game, and then uncancelled it.
Well, following the Bayonetta 2 announcement, a backlash followed. Many gamers threw a nasty fit and Destructoid's Jonathan Holmes had this to say.
Arguably the biggest surprise at yesterday's Wii U press event was the announcement of Bayonetta 2, and that the game will be a Wii U exclusive published by Nintendo. My first thought was "This will get people who think that Nintendo 'only cares about the casuals' to see that the publisher is making a real effort to broaden their appeal."
Turns out I was right. I just didn't expect that some people would be so angry about it. Below you'll find just a smattering of some of the comments from Bayonetta "fans" who are very upset over the news, including the usual death threats, plans for boycotts, and announcements that the announcement of a new videogame has "REALLY RUINED THEIR DAY."
Exclusivity always makes some people feel left out, and that sucks, but in this case we're talking about a game that is lucky to be getting a sequel at all. I expected fans of the original game to be universally pleased that Bayonetta's adventures will continue, even if it means that they may have to purchase a Wii U to be a part of them.
For years, people bashed Nintendo for not having more M-rated, "AAA" third-party exclusives. When they make an effort to change that, people complain. My guess is that these people just won't be satisfied with Nintendo until they go out of the videogame business entirely. They seem to enjoy hating the company, and it makes them unhappy when they are given reasons not to.
We hate Nintendo for not having more M-rated AAA games, and we hate Nintendo for having more M-rated AAA games. It's only logical, if you're a hardcore gamer. But Inaba had to go and throw salt on our wounds. You can take alook at the Destructoid Article 1 link to see some of our "Ahem" complaints.
He elaborates, "We are not viewing this as a change of platform. We were looking for a partner to create Bayonetta 2 and Nintendo was a strong, cooperative partner that was willing to create and grow Bayonetta 2 together [with us]. As a result the platform became the Wii U." There's really only one way to interpret this: Nintendo was the only company that demonstrated any significant interest in getting the game made.
No, they are not the only company. Though if it were on Steam, I'd still throw a crybaby fit because Sony is the only true gaming company, even though they have other stuff coming out. But I bet no one is gonna care about the Wii U. That system is gonna flop so bad that Nintendo will have no choice, but to be bought out by Apple.
A number of different GameStop stores told Polygon that the retailer's already reached its allocation for the pricer Wii U SKU company-wide, while another retailer Target has also stopped taking pre-orders for the model on its website.
According to one anonymous GameStop employee, reserves of the Deluxe edition were nearly half-full in the first few hours. The source did not indicate if GameStop will receive more Deluxe editions closer to launch.
Last week Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime claimed that early Wii U Wii U pre-orders were "extremely strong".
.........
You know, I think I'm gonna go cry now. You know what that sound is? That's the sound of Nintendo destroying my childhood love for video games.
Works Cited
CNET
Computer and Video Games Article 1
Destructoid Article 1
Destructoid Article 2
Computer and Video Games Article 2
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
NPD July 2012: Betrayal edition
Folks, before I get down into NPD July 2012, I am teed off right now. Kevin Butler, the guy who was the official spokesperson of the Sony Playstation, was recently caught playing a Nintendo Wii system.
I know it's a Bridgestone commercial, but come on, Kevin. Weren't you supporting the Playstation 3? I mean, who do we have to get to promote the system: Charlie Sheen?
Anyway, it's a bit of a downer for July 2012's NPD in which even DC and Marvel Comics aren't powerful enough to keep the industry from another low
At number 10: Deep Silver's Dead Island for the PC, 360 and PS3, because even Zombies want their vacation
At number 09: Activision/Blizzard's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 for 360, PS3, Wii and PC, proving that every gamer is a patriot on the inside.
At number 08: Take 2 Interactives NBA 2K12 for the 360, PS3, Wii, PSP, PS2 and PC, though I bet no one can jam like Michael Jordan did
At number 07: Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed: Revelations for the 360, PS3 and PC, as Ezlo is still a capable assassin.
At number 06: Activision/Blizzard's Call of Duty: Black Ops on the 360, PS3, DS, Wii and PC, all while its sequel is still being anticipated
At number 05: Warner Bros's Batman Arkham City for the 360, PS3 and PC with a Wii U version coming out later this year
AT number 04: Ubisoft's Just Dance 3 for the Wii, 360 and PS3, leading to a number of nerd rages
At number 03: Activision/Blizzard's The Amazing Spider-Man on 360, PS3, 3DS, NDS and Wii, though its lack of being first is enough to make Stan "The Man" Lee rant.
At number 02: Warner Bros' Lego Batman 2 for Wii, 360, NDS, PS3, 3DS, PSV and PC, marking 2 Batmans on the list
And finally at number 01: EA's NCAA Fottball 13 for 360 and PS3, though that's gonna flounder compared to Madden.
And finally, hardware numbers(Or just the 360 and DS and 3DS)
360: 203K(-26.7%)
3DS: Above 124K
NDS: Above 120K
Though the 360 is still chugging above the competition, that ain't saying much since it can barely make above 200K. We can't say much about the Wii and the PS3, but the DS is still holding on and the 3DS is slightly above.
What will August bring? Can the new 3DS XL and New Super Mario Bros 2 give the 3DS a boost? Will Madden get the gaming industry a kick in the rear? Stay tuned. But first, a moment of silence. In a few months, City of Heroes and City of Villains will have all of their servers shut down. But you can take action. Below the Works Cited are two links for you to look at if you want to save City of Heroes and City of Villains
Works Cited:
NeoGAF
GamePolitics article on end of City of Heroes
The fight to save City of Heroes from Gamepolitics
I know it's a Bridgestone commercial, but come on, Kevin. Weren't you supporting the Playstation 3? I mean, who do we have to get to promote the system: Charlie Sheen?
Anyway, it's a bit of a downer for July 2012's NPD in which even DC and Marvel Comics aren't powerful enough to keep the industry from another low
At number 10: Deep Silver's Dead Island for the PC, 360 and PS3, because even Zombies want their vacation
At number 09: Activision/Blizzard's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 for 360, PS3, Wii and PC, proving that every gamer is a patriot on the inside.
At number 08: Take 2 Interactives NBA 2K12 for the 360, PS3, Wii, PSP, PS2 and PC, though I bet no one can jam like Michael Jordan did
At number 07: Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed: Revelations for the 360, PS3 and PC, as Ezlo is still a capable assassin.
At number 06: Activision/Blizzard's Call of Duty: Black Ops on the 360, PS3, DS, Wii and PC, all while its sequel is still being anticipated
At number 05: Warner Bros's Batman Arkham City for the 360, PS3 and PC with a Wii U version coming out later this year
AT number 04: Ubisoft's Just Dance 3 for the Wii, 360 and PS3, leading to a number of nerd rages
At number 03: Activision/Blizzard's The Amazing Spider-Man on 360, PS3, 3DS, NDS and Wii, though its lack of being first is enough to make Stan "The Man" Lee rant.
At number 02: Warner Bros' Lego Batman 2 for Wii, 360, NDS, PS3, 3DS, PSV and PC, marking 2 Batmans on the list
And finally at number 01: EA's NCAA Fottball 13 for 360 and PS3, though that's gonna flounder compared to Madden.
And finally, hardware numbers(Or just the 360 and DS and 3DS)
360: 203K(-26.7%)
3DS: Above 124K
NDS: Above 120K
Though the 360 is still chugging above the competition, that ain't saying much since it can barely make above 200K. We can't say much about the Wii and the PS3, but the DS is still holding on and the 3DS is slightly above.
What will August bring? Can the new 3DS XL and New Super Mario Bros 2 give the 3DS a boost? Will Madden get the gaming industry a kick in the rear? Stay tuned. But first, a moment of silence. In a few months, City of Heroes and City of Villains will have all of their servers shut down. But you can take action. Below the Works Cited are two links for you to look at if you want to save City of Heroes and City of Villains
Works Cited:
NeoGAF
GamePolitics article on end of City of Heroes
The fight to save City of Heroes from Gamepolitics
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Good-bye Nintendo Power
A few days ago, we were given the saddest of news from Nintendo. Since the summer of 1988, Nintendo Power has given us juicy news from many of Nintendo's systems. But effective after December of this year, Nintendo Power will be no more.
Gamers of a certain age likely remember the days when their main fix of information about new and upcoming video games came in the form of the monthly Nintendo Power magazine that was delivered directly to their mailbox. That experience is set to become yet another relic of a past era, as Ars Technica has learned that Future Publishing is planning to stop publishing the magazine.
Nintendo Power is one of the longest-running game magazines in the country, having been published continuously since the summer of 1988, when it started as a bi-monthly outgrowth of the previous Nintendo Fun Club newsletter. the magazine went monthly in 1990, with Nintendo producing articles that were often just thinly veiled marketing copy through late 2007, when it started contracting the brand out for a more independent angle from tech-and-game-focused Future Publishing.
And after only 5 years of possessing Nintendo Power, it seems Future Publishing has given up on it. Why is that?
But our source says that Nintendo, which was always "difficult to work with," was uninterested in renewing that contract or in taking part in a number of digital initiatives that Future saw as necessary for the long-term health of the brand. He added that Nintendo doesn't seem interested in taking over direct control of the magazine again (Nintendo and Future representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this story).
Nintendo Power editors and staffers were told of the magazine's impending shuttering last week, the source said, and are currently being transitioned to work on other Future properties, including GamesRadar and MacLife magazine. The move should not affect Future's other gaming magazines, which include official periodicals for the PlayStation and Xbox brands, as well as Best Buy's @Gamer.
It's unclear exactly how many more issues of Nintendo Power are planned after the recently published August issue (its 281st), or how current subscribers will be compensated. Nintendo Power enjoys a total monthly readership of 475,000, according to Future press materials.
Nintendo Power's shuttering comes during a time of continuing struggles for the US magazine industry, which saw overall circulation numbers decline 10 percent in the first half of 2012. Gamers have increasingly come to rely on online sources for more timely and less space-limited gaming coverage, leading the venerable GamePro magazine to stop publishing late last year after 23 years in print.
A sad day in the world of Nintendo. After the December 2012 issue, Nintendo Power will be no more. And in the age of the internet, where you can get your information off a website, is there no longer a need for a video game magazine?
There is at least one bright spot in the world of printed game magazines. Game Informer rose to become the third most popular magazine in the country this year, with nearly 6 million subscribers that were mostly gained through its point-of-sale relationship with mega-retailer GameStop.
Well, maybe so. But even the greatest can fall in the end.
Works Cited:
Ars Technica
Gamers of a certain age likely remember the days when their main fix of information about new and upcoming video games came in the form of the monthly Nintendo Power magazine that was delivered directly to their mailbox. That experience is set to become yet another relic of a past era, as Ars Technica has learned that Future Publishing is planning to stop publishing the magazine.
Nintendo Power is one of the longest-running game magazines in the country, having been published continuously since the summer of 1988, when it started as a bi-monthly outgrowth of the previous Nintendo Fun Club newsletter. the magazine went monthly in 1990, with Nintendo producing articles that were often just thinly veiled marketing copy through late 2007, when it started contracting the brand out for a more independent angle from tech-and-game-focused Future Publishing.
And after only 5 years of possessing Nintendo Power, it seems Future Publishing has given up on it. Why is that?
But our source says that Nintendo, which was always "difficult to work with," was uninterested in renewing that contract or in taking part in a number of digital initiatives that Future saw as necessary for the long-term health of the brand. He added that Nintendo doesn't seem interested in taking over direct control of the magazine again (Nintendo and Future representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this story).
Nintendo Power editors and staffers were told of the magazine's impending shuttering last week, the source said, and are currently being transitioned to work on other Future properties, including GamesRadar and MacLife magazine. The move should not affect Future's other gaming magazines, which include official periodicals for the PlayStation and Xbox brands, as well as Best Buy's @Gamer.
It's unclear exactly how many more issues of Nintendo Power are planned after the recently published August issue (its 281st), or how current subscribers will be compensated. Nintendo Power enjoys a total monthly readership of 475,000, according to Future press materials.
Nintendo Power's shuttering comes during a time of continuing struggles for the US magazine industry, which saw overall circulation numbers decline 10 percent in the first half of 2012. Gamers have increasingly come to rely on online sources for more timely and less space-limited gaming coverage, leading the venerable GamePro magazine to stop publishing late last year after 23 years in print.
A sad day in the world of Nintendo. After the December 2012 issue, Nintendo Power will be no more. And in the age of the internet, where you can get your information off a website, is there no longer a need for a video game magazine?
There is at least one bright spot in the world of printed game magazines. Game Informer rose to become the third most popular magazine in the country this year, with nearly 6 million subscribers that were mostly gained through its point-of-sale relationship with mega-retailer GameStop.
Well, maybe so. But even the greatest can fall in the end.
Works Cited:
Ars Technica
Monday, August 20, 2012
The Golden Rule of Mario
Yesterday, Nintendo fans and 3DS owners(Along with 3DS XL owners) were drowning in gold as New Super Mario Bros 2 released on the Nintendo 3DS. In addition to the usual retail purchase, 3DS owners also have the option of buying it digitally and downloading it to their system.
So what's New Super Mario Bros 2 about?
1) It's all about the Gold Coins. The Money. The Moolah. The Bling. Collect as many gold coins as you can throughout each stage. See if you can set records.
2) The Super Leaf from Super Mario Bros 3 returns again, this time returning to turning Mario in Raccoon Mario(As opposed to Tanooki Mario in Super Mario 3D Land)
3) Speaking of Gold, a new Gold Flower steps in, turning Mario into Gold Mario. Not only are his fireballs more powerful, but he can gain some coins for every enemy he defeats with these gold-infused fireballs
4) There are 6 main words and 2 optional worlds. Plus a bonus 9th world.
5) The 7 Koopalings are back: Roy, Iggy, Larry, Wendy, Morton, Lemmy and Lugwig
6) There is a new coin rush mode that lets you blaze through 3 randomly chosen stages.
7) And finally, there will be DLC.
And alongside New Super Mario Bros 2, is the new Nintendo 3DS XL. It's basically like the DSi XL, except it applies to the Nintendo 3DS. For $200, you can get yourself a much bigger Nintendo 3DS, which is still cheaper than a PSVita.
Anyway, with this, Mario still has one more 2D Mario game coming out this year: New Super Mario Bros U. Similar to New Super Mario Bros Wii, except new power ups, a much higher resolution, and you can even bring your Miis in. The game is due out around the time the Nintendo Wii U comes out.
So what's New Super Mario Bros 2 about?
1) It's all about the Gold Coins. The Money. The Moolah. The Bling. Collect as many gold coins as you can throughout each stage. See if you can set records.
2) The Super Leaf from Super Mario Bros 3 returns again, this time returning to turning Mario in Raccoon Mario(As opposed to Tanooki Mario in Super Mario 3D Land)
3) Speaking of Gold, a new Gold Flower steps in, turning Mario into Gold Mario. Not only are his fireballs more powerful, but he can gain some coins for every enemy he defeats with these gold-infused fireballs
4) There are 6 main words and 2 optional worlds. Plus a bonus 9th world.
5) The 7 Koopalings are back: Roy, Iggy, Larry, Wendy, Morton, Lemmy and Lugwig
6) There is a new coin rush mode that lets you blaze through 3 randomly chosen stages.
7) And finally, there will be DLC.
And alongside New Super Mario Bros 2, is the new Nintendo 3DS XL. It's basically like the DSi XL, except it applies to the Nintendo 3DS. For $200, you can get yourself a much bigger Nintendo 3DS, which is still cheaper than a PSVita.
Anyway, with this, Mario still has one more 2D Mario game coming out this year: New Super Mario Bros U. Similar to New Super Mario Bros Wii, except new power ups, a much higher resolution, and you can even bring your Miis in. The game is due out around the time the Nintendo Wii U comes out.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
The winds of the present
I'd like to have a talk about 2 games coming out. The first one is due out in a few days: New Super Mario Bros 2. I had a chance to play this game at the Comic-Con, though personally, when it comes between this and the upcoming New Super MArio Bros U, I actually did prefer the latter.
So what is this game about? It's the same 2D Mario experience you come to know.
Fire Flower, Super Leaf, Mini Mushroom, Mega Mushroom, and even the new Gold Flower will give Mario a new means of fighting back against Bowser and his Koopalings as he has to rescue the Princess once again. Seriously, have they ever thought about investing in a high tech security system?
This game is due out in a few days and will be the first game to be on Physical and Digital copies.
The next game I wish to talk about is World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria. The game continues where World of Warcraft: Cataclysm left off.
A new land to explore, a new race to play with, a new class to check out, Challenge Modes, Scenarios, Pet Battles, and oh yeah: The Alliance and the Horde are at each other's throats at the moment. Now you're saying "But they been at each other's throats." Well this time, it's more serious after the Horde BLEW UP THERAMORE! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria is due out September 25th. There will also be a Digital Deluxe version for those who want a mount and pet, as well as the $80 Collector's Edition.
Stay tuned. Later on, I'll try to do an early NPD report.
So what is this game about? It's the same 2D Mario experience you come to know.
Fire Flower, Super Leaf, Mini Mushroom, Mega Mushroom, and even the new Gold Flower will give Mario a new means of fighting back against Bowser and his Koopalings as he has to rescue the Princess once again. Seriously, have they ever thought about investing in a high tech security system?
This game is due out in a few days and will be the first game to be on Physical and Digital copies.
The next game I wish to talk about is World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria. The game continues where World of Warcraft: Cataclysm left off.
A new land to explore, a new race to play with, a new class to check out, Challenge Modes, Scenarios, Pet Battles, and oh yeah: The Alliance and the Horde are at each other's throats at the moment. Now you're saying "But they been at each other's throats." Well this time, it's more serious after the Horde BLEW UP THERAMORE! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria is due out September 25th. There will also be a Digital Deluxe version for those who want a mount and pet, as well as the $80 Collector's Edition.
Stay tuned. Later on, I'll try to do an early NPD report.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
NPD June 2012: Am I late again edition
As much as I wanna talk about the Comic-Con, I just realized that I am super late on the NPD again. So we gotta get that out of the way.
But before we do, next month: World of Warcraft Mists of Pandaria will be coming on the 25th. Now is your time to put down your pre-order. I know I did on the Collector's Edition.
Now let's get the NPD out of the way. First the software.
1.) Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heores (360, Wii, PS3, NDS, 3DS, PSV, PC) Warner Bros. - 450K
2.) Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier (360, PS3, PC) Ubisoft
3.) Diablo 3 (PC) Activision Blizzard
4.) Max Payne 3 (360, PS3, PC) Take-Two Interactive
5.) NBA 2K12 (360, PS3, Wii, PSP, PS2, PC) Take-Two Interactive
6.) Batman: Arkham City (360, PS3, PC) Warner Bros.
7.) Pokemon Conquest (NDS) Nintendo
8.) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (360, PS3, Wii, PC) Activision Blizzard
9.) Battlefield 3 (360, PS3, PC) Electronic Arts
10.) The Amazing Spider-Man (360, PS3, 3DS, NDS, Wii) Activision Blizzard
He is Vengeance. He is the Night. HE, IS, BATMAN, and he is number 1 on the charts with Lego Batman 2, just in time for the Dark Knight Rises. Tom Clancy is right behind the Dark Knight at number 2 while Diablo 3 fell to number 3, still holding strong. Max Payne 3 comes in at number 4 while NBA 2K12 is at Number 5. 1 Batman game isn't enough, so Batman Arkham City returns at Number 6 while Pokemon: Conquest, with special guest start Nobunaga. Call of Duty is still hanging on at number 8 while Battlefield 3 is at number 9. Rounding out the top 10: Amazing Spider-Man at Number 10.
Now what about Hardware? Well...
Xbox 360: 257K (-49.3%)
Nintendo 3DS: 155K (+8.4%)
Nintendo DS: 150K (-61.1%)
Wii: 95K (-65.2%)
The 360 is still doing some decent sales, while the 3DS is ahead of the DS and the Wii. But why aren't the PS3 sales being reported? Also it seems the DS is outselling the Vita and PSP combined. And judging by the Wii sales, the system is about to have its swan song soon for when the Wii U takes it place.
July is a sleeper month, so don't expect anything exciting.
Works Cited:
NeoGAF
But before we do, next month: World of Warcraft Mists of Pandaria will be coming on the 25th. Now is your time to put down your pre-order. I know I did on the Collector's Edition.
Now let's get the NPD out of the way. First the software.
1.) Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heores (360, Wii, PS3, NDS, 3DS, PSV, PC) Warner Bros. - 450K
2.) Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier (360, PS3, PC) Ubisoft
3.) Diablo 3 (PC) Activision Blizzard
4.) Max Payne 3 (360, PS3, PC) Take-Two Interactive
5.) NBA 2K12 (360, PS3, Wii, PSP, PS2, PC) Take-Two Interactive
6.) Batman: Arkham City (360, PS3, PC) Warner Bros.
7.) Pokemon Conquest (NDS) Nintendo
8.) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (360, PS3, Wii, PC) Activision Blizzard
9.) Battlefield 3 (360, PS3, PC) Electronic Arts
10.) The Amazing Spider-Man (360, PS3, 3DS, NDS, Wii) Activision Blizzard
He is Vengeance. He is the Night. HE, IS, BATMAN, and he is number 1 on the charts with Lego Batman 2, just in time for the Dark Knight Rises. Tom Clancy is right behind the Dark Knight at number 2 while Diablo 3 fell to number 3, still holding strong. Max Payne 3 comes in at number 4 while NBA 2K12 is at Number 5. 1 Batman game isn't enough, so Batman Arkham City returns at Number 6 while Pokemon: Conquest, with special guest start Nobunaga. Call of Duty is still hanging on at number 8 while Battlefield 3 is at number 9. Rounding out the top 10: Amazing Spider-Man at Number 10.
Now what about Hardware? Well...
Xbox 360: 257K (-49.3%)
Nintendo 3DS: 155K (+8.4%)
Nintendo DS: 150K (-61.1%)
Wii: 95K (-65.2%)
The 360 is still doing some decent sales, while the 3DS is ahead of the DS and the Wii. But why aren't the PS3 sales being reported? Also it seems the DS is outselling the Vita and PSP combined. And judging by the Wii sales, the system is about to have its swan song soon for when the Wii U takes it place.
July is a sleeper month, so don't expect anything exciting.
Works Cited:
NeoGAF
Sunday, July 22, 2012
How to be a Patent Troll
I actually want to talk about my experience at Comic-Con, but there's something I wanna bring up. It seems the developers of Minecraft are being sued. The patent in question? Patent number 6,857,067, which prevents unauthorized access to data stored on an electronic device.
But they aren't the only ones involved
This morning, Notch tweeted that he awakened and discovered he'd been sued for patent infringement. And while he expressed confidence that this was nothing more than a money-grab, he later railed against software patents, calling them "evil."
Mojang isn't the only target of plaintiff Uniloc, which also filed claims yesterday against Halfbrick, the makers of Fruit Ninja and Jetpack Joyride; Gameloft, an enormous publisher of mobile titles; Square Enix, the publishers of Final Fantasy and Hitman; Laminar Research, creators of the X-Plane flight simulator, and Electronic Arts, who brought you Need for Speed: The Run.
And you obviously know where this is filed at.
The fact these claims also were filed in East Texas, one of the friendliest federal districts for patent troll claims, also indicates this is a big celebrity shakedown. The patent in question was issued in 2005. It is for "a system and method ... for preventing unauthorized access to electronic data stored on an electronic device."
Ahh yes. Good ol Texas. Remember in 2004 when American Video Graphics of Marshall, Texas went to sue video game makers over a 3D Graphics patent?
The massive programme of legal action against alleged infringers of a series of patents covering graphics and other computing techniques has been extended to console hardware vendors Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo.
The news follows yesterday's revelation that 18 PC hardware companies had also been targeted, alongside 12 games software publishers.
In each case, the plaintiff is seeking a jury trial, and wants it the defendants to cough up legal costs, damages and both pre- and post-judgement interest on the damages.
With patent applications stretching right back to the mid-1980s, why has it taken so long for key hardware vendors and games software publishers to be sued for alleged infringement of a series of patents covering 3D graphics? Because the current owner of the intellectual property in question only took possession on 16 June 2004.
The current owner is one American Video Graphics, of Marshall, Texas. It's the company on whose behalf Dallas-based law firm McKool Smith - the name most associated with the current litigation - has filed complaints with the District Court for Eastern Texas against HP, Dell, IBM, Gateway, Acer, Sony, Toshiba, MPC, Systemax, Fujitsu, Micro Electronics, Matsushita, Averatec, Polywell, Twinhead, Sharp, Uniwill and JVC.
Games publishers on the receiving end of a writ include Electronic Arts, Take-Two, Activision, Atari, THQ, Vivendi Universal, Sega, Square Enix, Tecmo, Lucasarts, Namco and Ubisoft.
Ahh Texas. Land of telling those Video Game lords not to mess with em, even if you had nothing to do with em.
Works Cited:
Kotaku
But they aren't the only ones involved
This morning, Notch tweeted that he awakened and discovered he'd been sued for patent infringement. And while he expressed confidence that this was nothing more than a money-grab, he later railed against software patents, calling them "evil."
Mojang isn't the only target of plaintiff Uniloc, which also filed claims yesterday against Halfbrick, the makers of Fruit Ninja and Jetpack Joyride; Gameloft, an enormous publisher of mobile titles; Square Enix, the publishers of Final Fantasy and Hitman; Laminar Research, creators of the X-Plane flight simulator, and Electronic Arts, who brought you Need for Speed: The Run.
And you obviously know where this is filed at.
The fact these claims also were filed in East Texas, one of the friendliest federal districts for patent troll claims, also indicates this is a big celebrity shakedown. The patent in question was issued in 2005. It is for "a system and method ... for preventing unauthorized access to electronic data stored on an electronic device."
Ahh yes. Good ol Texas. Remember in 2004 when American Video Graphics of Marshall, Texas went to sue video game makers over a 3D Graphics patent?
The massive programme of legal action against alleged infringers of a series of patents covering graphics and other computing techniques has been extended to console hardware vendors Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo.
The news follows yesterday's revelation that 18 PC hardware companies had also been targeted, alongside 12 games software publishers.
The console makers are accused of infringing two patents, 5,109,520 and 4,734,690.
The latter essentially covers representing a dynamic 3D environment and
objects on a 2D display, and is the same patent the games publishers
have been alleged to have violated. The former is entitled 'Image frame
buffer access speedup by providing multiple buffer controllers each
containing command FIFO buffers', and is cited in the action against the
PC makers.
In each case, the plaintiff is seeking a jury trial, and wants it the defendants to cough up legal costs, damages and both pre- and post-judgement interest on the damages.
With patent applications stretching right back to the mid-1980s, why has it taken so long for key hardware vendors and games software publishers to be sued for alleged infringement of a series of patents covering 3D graphics? Because the current owner of the intellectual property in question only took possession on 16 June 2004.
The current owner is one American Video Graphics, of Marshall, Texas. It's the company on whose behalf Dallas-based law firm McKool Smith - the name most associated with the current litigation - has filed complaints with the District Court for Eastern Texas against HP, Dell, IBM, Gateway, Acer, Sony, Toshiba, MPC, Systemax, Fujitsu, Micro Electronics, Matsushita, Averatec, Polywell, Twinhead, Sharp, Uniwill and JVC.
Games publishers on the receiving end of a writ include Electronic Arts, Take-Two, Activision, Atari, THQ, Vivendi Universal, Sega, Square Enix, Tecmo, Lucasarts, Namco and Ubisoft.
Ahh Texas. Land of telling those Video Game lords not to mess with em, even if you had nothing to do with em.
Works Cited:
Kotaku
Thursday, July 19, 2012
My Time at the Comic-Con: Part 1
Last week, San Diego once again put up the sold out San Diego Comic-Con. And for those of you who didn't go, we have released a slew of juicy news out.
First up: Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed. It has been revealed that Wreck-it Ralph, from the upcoming movie of the same name that involves a Video Game villain wanting to be a hero, will guest star in the sequel to Sonic and SEGA All-Stars Racing. But that's not the only thing that comes out.
Wreck-It Ralph, star of the upcoming retro video game themed Disney animated movie, is in Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, Sega has announced.
And, conversely, Sonic makes an appearance in the film.
"Wreck-It Ralph's unique transformable vehicles and signature All-Star move will make for some of the best racing around when he lines up against other All-Stars such as Sonic, AiAi and Danica Patrick, in both single-player and multiplayer game modes," said Sega.
Wreck-It Ralph director Rich Moore added: "To have Wreck-It Ralph included in Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is a dream come true.
"The film pays homage to the video games I loved as a kid, including Sonic the Hedgehog in a special cameo, so being able to see Wreck-It Ralph in a real video game alongside Sonic and other iconic Sega characters is unbelievably exciting for me and should be a treat for fans!"
First Danica Patrick, and now Wreck-It Ralph? What's next, the Heavy from Team Fortress 2 for the PC version?
Also, Transformers: Fall of Cybertron. The game will be due out next month. But at Comic-Con was a special appearance of voice actors from the game: Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime, Gregg Berger as Grimlock and Nolan North as Cliffjumper and Bruticus
If anyone would have some insight into how the Transformers are being handled, it would be Peter Cullen, the longtime Optimus Prime voice actor. He says that in the course of the series' nearly 30 year history, Prime has remained popular with fans because of his truthworthiness.
Discussing the darker tone, Cullen says that he was confident in the booth about the lines and the role knowing the greater vision for Optimus Prime and the narrative of Fall of Cybertron. "It's like being involved in the show itself," Cullen gushed. "I was ultimately really surprised to see the finished product."
Grimlock voice actor Gregg Berger says that the appeal for his own character is the dinobot's singlemindedness, describing it as a "ready, fire, aim" mentality. "He's reactionary to whatever he hears and does," Berger explains, continuing "he's a fearsome ally to have in the cause." He says that the character is completely without a filter.
In terms of the changes between the G1 interpretation and Fall of Cybertron, Berger says that his character's grammar is perhaps a bit better than in past incarnations. Other changes, particularly in terms of Grimlock's history, Berger says all remain true to the basics of the character. He credited the game with allowing players to live the world of the Transformers instead of simply observing it.
Tieger followed up on this thread, saying that people like to play these characters because they're reflections of ourselves. Grimlock is our rage and anger, while Optimus is our basic decency.
Nolan North, playing both sides of the conflict as Cliffjumper and Decepticon Bruticus, talked about the disparity between the exuberance of the young Autobot and the weathered, battle wearniess of Bruticus. The Uncharted actor also joked that he appreciates being able use a voice that's not his own.
North also gave props to voice actor Troy Baker who plays the character Jazz in the campaign. He says the interaction between the two characters adds to the fun of the campaign, and he was happy to have the friendship that he has with Baker brought into the game. North attempted his own Jazz impression which sounds a lot like Scatman Caruthers.
As for Bruticus, he says that if Grimlock is the angry guy on the 405 Interstate, Bruticus is the one turning and saying "What are you lookin' at?" The character's gruff voice is all part of a character whow would rather bash his way through obstacles then figure things out.
Reminiscing about his G1 days, Cullen talked fondly about voicing Ironhide, while Berger talked about both Longhaul and Skyfire/Jetfire back in the 80's. With Prime, he says his favorite line for the character is "Hold on to your dreams. The future is made of dreams."
Amazing actors they are. This game is due out on August 21st. But that's not the only game High Moon Studios, and Nolan North, was working on. Introducing the Deadpool game from Marvel's Deadpool.
Better watch it Wolverine, because this has the potential of being the best game ever made.
Finally, for the 2nd year in a row, Nintendo occupies the Marriott with their Nintendo Gaming Lounge and shows off the Nintendo 3DS XL
The geek-fest that is San Diego Comic-Con has officially begun, and though most of the show will be dedicated to comic books, toys, movies and TV, video games have been steadily making their presence known over the past few years. This time around Nintendo's booth (#5135) will be largely dedicated to showing off the upcoming 3DS XL, but that's not all Nintendo has in store for San Diego.
In addition to their booth, Nintendo has planned several activities that will take place at the “Nintendo Gaming Lounge” in the San Diego Ballroom at the Marriot Marquis & Marina. Surprisingly that gaming lounge will not feature the Wii U, however, there will be loads of games to play for 3DS and the original Wii, and the best part is you don't even need a SDCC 2012 badge to get in!
Now that last line that says it won't feature Wii U, that's debateable. Why? Stay tuned because next post, I got a surprise.
Works Cited:
Eurogamer
MTV Multiplayer Blog 1
MTV Multiplayer Blog 2
First up: Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed. It has been revealed that Wreck-it Ralph, from the upcoming movie of the same name that involves a Video Game villain wanting to be a hero, will guest star in the sequel to Sonic and SEGA All-Stars Racing. But that's not the only thing that comes out.
Wreck-It Ralph, star of the upcoming retro video game themed Disney animated movie, is in Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, Sega has announced.
And, conversely, Sonic makes an appearance in the film.
"Wreck-It Ralph's unique transformable vehicles and signature All-Star move will make for some of the best racing around when he lines up against other All-Stars such as Sonic, AiAi and Danica Patrick, in both single-player and multiplayer game modes," said Sega.
Wreck-It Ralph director Rich Moore added: "To have Wreck-It Ralph included in Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is a dream come true.
"The film pays homage to the video games I loved as a kid, including Sonic the Hedgehog in a special cameo, so being able to see Wreck-It Ralph in a real video game alongside Sonic and other iconic Sega characters is unbelievably exciting for me and should be a treat for fans!"
First Danica Patrick, and now Wreck-It Ralph? What's next, the Heavy from Team Fortress 2 for the PC version?
Also, Transformers: Fall of Cybertron. The game will be due out next month. But at Comic-Con was a special appearance of voice actors from the game: Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime, Gregg Berger as Grimlock and Nolan North as Cliffjumper and Bruticus
If anyone would have some insight into how the Transformers are being handled, it would be Peter Cullen, the longtime Optimus Prime voice actor. He says that in the course of the series' nearly 30 year history, Prime has remained popular with fans because of his truthworthiness.
Discussing the darker tone, Cullen says that he was confident in the booth about the lines and the role knowing the greater vision for Optimus Prime and the narrative of Fall of Cybertron. "It's like being involved in the show itself," Cullen gushed. "I was ultimately really surprised to see the finished product."
Grimlock voice actor Gregg Berger says that the appeal for his own character is the dinobot's singlemindedness, describing it as a "ready, fire, aim" mentality. "He's reactionary to whatever he hears and does," Berger explains, continuing "he's a fearsome ally to have in the cause." He says that the character is completely without a filter.
In terms of the changes between the G1 interpretation and Fall of Cybertron, Berger says that his character's grammar is perhaps a bit better than in past incarnations. Other changes, particularly in terms of Grimlock's history, Berger says all remain true to the basics of the character. He credited the game with allowing players to live the world of the Transformers instead of simply observing it.
Tieger followed up on this thread, saying that people like to play these characters because they're reflections of ourselves. Grimlock is our rage and anger, while Optimus is our basic decency.
Nolan North, playing both sides of the conflict as Cliffjumper and Decepticon Bruticus, talked about the disparity between the exuberance of the young Autobot and the weathered, battle wearniess of Bruticus. The Uncharted actor also joked that he appreciates being able use a voice that's not his own.
North also gave props to voice actor Troy Baker who plays the character Jazz in the campaign. He says the interaction between the two characters adds to the fun of the campaign, and he was happy to have the friendship that he has with Baker brought into the game. North attempted his own Jazz impression which sounds a lot like Scatman Caruthers.
As for Bruticus, he says that if Grimlock is the angry guy on the 405 Interstate, Bruticus is the one turning and saying "What are you lookin' at?" The character's gruff voice is all part of a character whow would rather bash his way through obstacles then figure things out.
Reminiscing about his G1 days, Cullen talked fondly about voicing Ironhide, while Berger talked about both Longhaul and Skyfire/Jetfire back in the 80's. With Prime, he says his favorite line for the character is "Hold on to your dreams. The future is made of dreams."
Amazing actors they are. This game is due out on August 21st. But that's not the only game High Moon Studios, and Nolan North, was working on. Introducing the Deadpool game from Marvel's Deadpool.
Better watch it Wolverine, because this has the potential of being the best game ever made.
Finally, for the 2nd year in a row, Nintendo occupies the Marriott with their Nintendo Gaming Lounge and shows off the Nintendo 3DS XL
The geek-fest that is San Diego Comic-Con has officially begun, and though most of the show will be dedicated to comic books, toys, movies and TV, video games have been steadily making their presence known over the past few years. This time around Nintendo's booth (#5135) will be largely dedicated to showing off the upcoming 3DS XL, but that's not all Nintendo has in store for San Diego.
In addition to their booth, Nintendo has planned several activities that will take place at the “Nintendo Gaming Lounge” in the San Diego Ballroom at the Marriot Marquis & Marina. Surprisingly that gaming lounge will not feature the Wii U, however, there will be loads of games to play for 3DS and the original Wii, and the best part is you don't even need a SDCC 2012 badge to get in!
Now that last line that says it won't feature Wii U, that's debateable. Why? Stay tuned because next post, I got a surprise.
Works Cited:
Eurogamer
MTV Multiplayer Blog 1
MTV Multiplayer Blog 2
Sunday, July 8, 2012
A very, very, late NPD May 2012
So you're wonder, why am I super late with the NPD? Well it seems my interest in game news is starting to decline. I seem way more interested in the situation with the economy, not to mention anticipation towards the Comic-Con coming up.
Speaking of which, I may end up qualifying for a chance to test out the Nintendo Wii U. If I do, I'll give you my opinion on it. Right now, let's do a quick NPD May 2012
1.) Diablo 3 (PC) Activision Blizzard
2.) Max Payne 3 (360, PS3, PC) Take-Two Interactive - 440K
3.) Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier (360, PS3) Ubisoft - 400K
4.) Prototype 2 (360, PS3) Activision Blizzard
5.) NBA 2K12 (360, PS3, Wii, PSP, PS2, PC) Take-Two Interactive
6.) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (360, PS3, Wii, PC) Activision Blizzard
7.) Sniper Elite V2 (360, PS3) 505 Games
8.) Battlefield 3 (360, PS3, PC) Electronic Arts
9.) Dragon's Dogma (360, PS3) Capcom - 92K
10.) Just Dance 3 (Wii, 360, PS3) Ubisoft
No matter if it requires online or not, Diablo 3 pushed ahead of the entire competition, earning number 1 on the charts. Max Payne 3 is right behind the Lord of Destruction at number 2. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier is right up there at number 3. Not to be the only Activision Blizzard game on the list, Prototype 2 is at number 4 with NBA 2K12 at number 5 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 at number 6. 505 Games' Sniper Elite v2 is at Number 7 and EA's Battlefield 3 is at number 8. Rounding out the Top 10 are Dragon's Dogma and Just Dance 3.
Unfortunately, Hardware numbers aren't doing so hot lately, with the 360 pulling at 160K with the 3DS at 113.5K. Nintendo is said to be around 285K in total hardware sales. Which makes us wonder: is the recession finally getting to the video game makers in their worst year ever?
Will June's NPD numbers prove better when it releases later this month? Stay tuned.
Speaking of which, I may end up qualifying for a chance to test out the Nintendo Wii U. If I do, I'll give you my opinion on it. Right now, let's do a quick NPD May 2012
1.) Diablo 3 (PC) Activision Blizzard
2.) Max Payne 3 (360, PS3, PC) Take-Two Interactive - 440K
3.) Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier (360, PS3) Ubisoft - 400K
4.) Prototype 2 (360, PS3) Activision Blizzard
5.) NBA 2K12 (360, PS3, Wii, PSP, PS2, PC) Take-Two Interactive
6.) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (360, PS3, Wii, PC) Activision Blizzard
7.) Sniper Elite V2 (360, PS3) 505 Games
8.) Battlefield 3 (360, PS3, PC) Electronic Arts
9.) Dragon's Dogma (360, PS3) Capcom - 92K
10.) Just Dance 3 (Wii, 360, PS3) Ubisoft
No matter if it requires online or not, Diablo 3 pushed ahead of the entire competition, earning number 1 on the charts. Max Payne 3 is right behind the Lord of Destruction at number 2. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier is right up there at number 3. Not to be the only Activision Blizzard game on the list, Prototype 2 is at number 4 with NBA 2K12 at number 5 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 at number 6. 505 Games' Sniper Elite v2 is at Number 7 and EA's Battlefield 3 is at number 8. Rounding out the Top 10 are Dragon's Dogma and Just Dance 3.
Unfortunately, Hardware numbers aren't doing so hot lately, with the 360 pulling at 160K with the 3DS at 113.5K. Nintendo is said to be around 285K in total hardware sales. Which makes us wonder: is the recession finally getting to the video game makers in their worst year ever?
Will June's NPD numbers prove better when it releases later this month? Stay tuned.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Not again
zzzzz. Wha? Did I miss out on telling everyone on more info on the 3DS titles and on the new 3DS XL?
Boy I must be falling asleep here. Anyway, I heard that there's this new Source Filmmaker which lets those who have Steam on their PC create all new films based off the Source Engine.
More info at http://www.sourcefilmmaker.com/
Zzzz.. Must...do...NPD May 2012.
Boy I must be falling asleep here. Anyway, I heard that there's this new Source Filmmaker which lets those who have Steam on their PC create all new films based off the Source Engine.
More info at http://www.sourcefilmmaker.com/
Zzzz.. Must...do...NPD May 2012.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Nintendo's panel in a nutshell: 8 days late
Aww darnit. Did I fall asleep at the keyboard again? Well lemme take about my take on Nintendo's E3.
First off, there were 2 press conferences. One focused on Wii U, the other on the 3DS
Perhaps the most important news of Nintendo is that Pikmin is finally getting a sequel after 8 years. And I thought I was late with the news
After Olimar was busy duking it out with a mustached plumber, an elfen boy, a girl in metal armor, a pink puff, a electric rat, an angel, the king of the koopas, an evil mustached guy, a secret agent and a blue hedgehog, it's great for him to finally return to his roots and have a little fun. Speaking of mustached plumber, guess who's finally getting a new game that is coming out on release date?
All complete with Baby Yoshis and Yoshi's Island graphics
Now for 3rd Party, we have Ubisoft demonstrating a couple of games. One of which is a new Rayman game made exclusive(for the time being) for the Wii U
And if Resident Evil isn't zombie enough, Ubisoft now has ZombiU coming out
And after finally messing with a number of franchises(Ex: Star Wars, Batman, Indiana Jones, Pirates of the Caribbean and Harry Potter), Lego takes you inside their city in a new GTA Clone
But nothing can prepare the gamer for the ultimate game coming out.
NINTENDO LAND(Trailer provided by ContraNetwork)
Yes, NintendoLand. A theme park for the Nintendo fanboy/Girl within. And most likely, it will be a pack-in title.
Later, I'm gonna talk about the 3DS games(If I Can remember) coming out. And stay tuned. For soon you will be able to link your 3DS to a Nintendo Network account.
First off, there were 2 press conferences. One focused on Wii U, the other on the 3DS
Perhaps the most important news of Nintendo is that Pikmin is finally getting a sequel after 8 years. And I thought I was late with the news
After Olimar was busy duking it out with a mustached plumber, an elfen boy, a girl in metal armor, a pink puff, a electric rat, an angel, the king of the koopas, an evil mustached guy, a secret agent and a blue hedgehog, it's great for him to finally return to his roots and have a little fun. Speaking of mustached plumber, guess who's finally getting a new game that is coming out on release date?
All complete with Baby Yoshis and Yoshi's Island graphics
Now for 3rd Party, we have Ubisoft demonstrating a couple of games. One of which is a new Rayman game made exclusive(for the time being) for the Wii U
And if Resident Evil isn't zombie enough, Ubisoft now has ZombiU coming out
And after finally messing with a number of franchises(Ex: Star Wars, Batman, Indiana Jones, Pirates of the Caribbean and Harry Potter), Lego takes you inside their city in a new GTA Clone
But nothing can prepare the gamer for the ultimate game coming out.
NINTENDO LAND(Trailer provided by ContraNetwork)
Yes, NintendoLand. A theme park for the Nintendo fanboy/Girl within. And most likely, it will be a pack-in title.
Later, I'm gonna talk about the 3DS games(If I Can remember) coming out. And stay tuned. For soon you will be able to link your 3DS to a Nintendo Network account.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Sony's Panel in a Nutshell, plus Watch Dogs
With Nintendo's Press Conference coming up, let's take alook at what Sony did before we get to them
And after spending last year as a guest character on Mortal Kombat, Kratos returns in a prequel to the original God of War
Welcome back, Kratos. Now let's see if we can convince you to vote Mitt Romney this year. But that's not the only game Kratos will appear in. He, alongside characters like Sly Cooper, Pa Rappa the Rapper, Nathan Drake and even a Big Daddy from Bioshock will play in the Smash Bros clone: Playstation All-Stars Battle Royale
Bright colors is the new brown. And boy does it look good
Also, from the creators of Heavy Rain brings us BEYOND: Two Souls
And finally, Survival is about to take on a whole new meaning with The Last of Us.
This, will revolutionize the survival genre.
Sony has more videos of E3 at its Youtube page http://www.youtube.com/user/PlayStation. I heard they also were talking about linking the Vita to the PS3 allowing cross platform play.
Before we conclude and stay tuned for the Nintendo Panel, let's take alook at Watch Dogs
And after spending last year as a guest character on Mortal Kombat, Kratos returns in a prequel to the original God of War
Welcome back, Kratos. Now let's see if we can convince you to vote Mitt Romney this year. But that's not the only game Kratos will appear in. He, alongside characters like Sly Cooper, Pa Rappa the Rapper, Nathan Drake and even a Big Daddy from Bioshock will play in the Smash Bros clone: Playstation All-Stars Battle Royale
Bright colors is the new brown. And boy does it look good
Also, from the creators of Heavy Rain brings us BEYOND: Two Souls
And finally, Survival is about to take on a whole new meaning with The Last of Us.
This, will revolutionize the survival genre.
Sony has more videos of E3 at its Youtube page http://www.youtube.com/user/PlayStation. I heard they also were talking about linking the Vita to the PS3 allowing cross platform play.
Before we conclude and stay tuned for the Nintendo Panel, let's take alook at Watch Dogs
Monday, June 4, 2012
Microsoft's panel in a nutshell
Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, E3 is here and among us.
Yesterday, Nintendo demonstrated what the Wii U's Gamepad was capable of and also decided to show off the new Wii U Pro Controller. We'll talk about that when we go into Nintendo's panel tomorrow.
First off, Microsoft's panel. ZOMG. HALO 4. HALO 4. HAL... Actually, screw Halo 4. Gears of War: Judgement sounds better. Wonder when that will come out? No wait. Ubisoft is getting my attention with Splinter Cell: Blacklist. Now let's see what else Microsoft has coo.... Wait. there is another thing. The all-new Smartglass. (Courtest of IGN) Now what the Smartglass is capable of is allowing new means of input using your at-home tablet, from the iPad to Android Tablets. Now you don't need a X-Box Gamepad. You have the tablet and your 360 controller at the same time. It even works on your Smartphone.
Next up, I'll be talking about Sony's panel alongside Ubisoft and their newest game "Watch Dogs"
First off, Microsoft's panel. ZOMG. HALO 4. HALO 4. HAL... Actually, screw Halo 4. Gears of War: Judgement sounds better. Wonder when that will come out? No wait. Ubisoft is getting my attention with Splinter Cell: Blacklist. Now let's see what else Microsoft has coo.... Wait. there is another thing. The all-new Smartglass. (Courtest of IGN) Now what the Smartglass is capable of is allowing new means of input using your at-home tablet, from the iPad to Android Tablets. Now you don't need a X-Box Gamepad. You have the tablet and your 360 controller at the same time. It even works on your Smartphone.
Next up, I'll be talking about Sony's panel alongside Ubisoft and their newest game "Watch Dogs"
Thursday, May 31, 2012
NPD April 2012: Week before E3 edition
Folks, E3 is just around the corner. Which means I will be talking about what's coming out. But in the meantime, it's NPD time again.
So how did Xenoblade do? In fact, how did sales do that month? Unfortunately, it's a lose-lose situation
1.) Prototype 2 (360, PS3) Activision Blizzard - Less than 236K, perhaps significantly.
2.) Kinect Star Wars (360) Lucasarts
3.) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (360, PS3, Wii, PC) Activision Blizzard
4.) Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 (360, PS3) Electronic Arts
5.) NBA 2K12 (360, PS3, Wii, PSP, PC, PS2) Take-Two Interactive
6.) The Witcher 2: Assassin of Kings (360, PC) Warner Bros. Interactive
7.) Mario Party 9 (Wii) Nintendo
8.) Mass Effect 3 (360, PS3, PC) Electronic Arts
9.) Just Dance 3 (Wii, 360, PS3) Ubisoft
10.) MLB 12: The show (PS3, PSV) Sony
What just happen here? The best game, Prototype 2 sold less than 236K That's the most pathetic month ever. Right behind is Kinect Star Wars with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 at number 3. Tiger Woods is still slamming in at Number 4 with NBA 2K12 at Number 5. The Witcher 2 is right ahead of Mario's 9th Party and the Mass Effect is still jamming away at number 8. At number 9 and 10 are Just Dance 3 and MLB 12: The Show.
Which makes us wonder: What happened to Xenoblade?
Acclaimed Wii RPG Xenoblade Chronicles was a retailer exclusive, so is excluded from NPD's monthly report.
Oh SNAP! Talk about exclusion from the NPD club. And what about the Hardware? It's also not looking good as well. While the 360 is number one again, that isn't saying much
Xbox 360 - 236K (-20.5%)
All of the other numbers are unavailable, but this makes April 2008's NPD look good. Heck, even the 3DS in Japan is doing better than this. Will the Always On Cloud Diablo 3 go against the machine and win number 1? Find out in May. This NPD concludes with a preview of Injustice: Gods Among Us for 360, PS3 and Wii U Works Cited NeoGAF Go Nintendo
1.) Prototype 2 (360, PS3) Activision Blizzard - Less than 236K, perhaps significantly.
2.) Kinect Star Wars (360) Lucasarts
3.) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (360, PS3, Wii, PC) Activision Blizzard
4.) Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 (360, PS3) Electronic Arts
5.) NBA 2K12 (360, PS3, Wii, PSP, PC, PS2) Take-Two Interactive
6.) The Witcher 2: Assassin of Kings (360, PC) Warner Bros. Interactive
7.) Mario Party 9 (Wii) Nintendo
8.) Mass Effect 3 (360, PS3, PC) Electronic Arts
9.) Just Dance 3 (Wii, 360, PS3) Ubisoft
10.) MLB 12: The show (PS3, PSV) Sony
What just happen here? The best game, Prototype 2 sold less than 236K That's the most pathetic month ever. Right behind is Kinect Star Wars with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 at number 3. Tiger Woods is still slamming in at Number 4 with NBA 2K12 at Number 5. The Witcher 2 is right ahead of Mario's 9th Party and the Mass Effect is still jamming away at number 8. At number 9 and 10 are Just Dance 3 and MLB 12: The Show.
Which makes us wonder: What happened to Xenoblade?
Acclaimed Wii RPG Xenoblade Chronicles was a retailer exclusive, so is excluded from NPD's monthly report.
Oh SNAP! Talk about exclusion from the NPD club. And what about the Hardware? It's also not looking good as well. While the 360 is number one again, that isn't saying much
Xbox 360 - 236K (-20.5%)
All of the other numbers are unavailable, but this makes April 2008's NPD look good. Heck, even the 3DS in Japan is doing better than this. Will the Always On Cloud Diablo 3 go against the machine and win number 1? Find out in May. This NPD concludes with a preview of Injustice: Gods Among Us for 360, PS3 and Wii U Works Cited NeoGAF Go Nintendo
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Is the X-Box 360 doomed to an early grave?
The X-Box 360 lately has been enjoying a nice success the Wii had early this generation. But it seems Motorola's lawsuit against Microsoft's X-Box 360 over a patent violation may end up shaking Microsoft. But what patent?
A judge has recommended that the Xbox 360 be banned in the US.
Courthouse News reports that Judge David Shaw said the International Trade Commission should use a cease and desist order to ban imports of the Xbox 360 Slim 4GB and 250GB models into the US because, in his view, they infringe on four patents owned by Motorola.
He also wants Microsoft to post a bond equal to seven per cent of the value of unsold Xbox 360s in the US.
The patents at the heart of the dispute revolve around how the Xbox 360 decodes video content. Motorola claims ownership on the tech powering this.
Video Content. It's all about Video Content. Besides, who plays a video game system for video games nowadays? But here is Microsoft's rebuttal.
Reacting to this latest decision, Microsoft argued the ban would not serve the public interest because it would leave consumers with only two home console options: the PlayStation 3 and the Nintendo Wii. But the judge rejected the claim, saying it was more important to enforce intellectual property rights. Plus, he wasn't convinced Sony and Nintendo wouldn't be able to meet increased demand.
Come on David Shaw. What are you doing getting in the way of the free market principle? Microsoft has a clear excuse and you chose to feed it to your pet bear. But it seems there's more to Motorola's lawsuit than meets the eye. As it stands, Motorola is suing another client: Apple over its iPhone systems.
Microsoft said the suggested seven per cent bond was unnecessary, and recommended it be reduced to 2.5 per cent. Motorola wants it increased to a whopping 100 per cent of the value of the unsold Xbox 360s.
100 Per Cent? What is this, the Motorola X-Box 360? I thought it was done by Good Ol Microsoft. Next thing you'll know, Windows will become a Motorola product.
So, it seems a Judge's ruling says that "Microsoft is under a violation and must be banned in America for the sake of Motorola. Now what?
So what happens next in this long-running, complex patent dispute? If the ITC makes the judge's recommendation final, President Barack Obama will then have 60 days to review the decision. After that period expires, the next step is the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
NOOOO! Not Obama. Anyone but Obama.
Finally, one other Judge had this to say.
Earlier this month a US judge accused the warring factions of using the US District Court as "a pawn in a global, industry-wide business negotiation".
Judge James Robart said both sides were clearly "driven by an attempt to secure commercial advantage". "To an outsider looking at it, it has been arbitrary, it has been arrogant and frankly it has been based on hubris," he said.
Aww come on now. That's no way to treat the Free Market.
Works Cited:
Eurogamer
Apparently, there was a lawsuit against Apple by Motorola. You can rea some info on why it was sued at Foss Patents
And although Apple countered with its lawsuit
They're firing again with an even bigger lawsuit. Boy, aren't Lawsuits grand?
Monday, May 21, 2012
My thoughts on Diablo 3, and a nasty attack going on
Folks, despite it's Always-on DRM(Which ironically stores most of the data server side. You get only a small client), it seems I have tasted Diablo 3 and despite its problems with having to be online to play at all, I actually enjoy this little trinket. And I only had to have a WoW Annual Pass just to get the game.
What I like about this game- Compared to Diablo 2, the game is actually much more flexible. It's much easier to navigate compared to Diablo 2, and the means of pulling off attacks. Players can create their own builds on each of the 5 classes: Barbarian, Monk, Witch Doctor, Wizard and Demon Hunter. I have yet to test the Auction House. Also, what I liked was that you could invite your own friends over or get into a Public game with others.
My beefs with the game- Other than the Always-on requirement, there are some other issues I had. One is that in order to get access to your customization, you have to be at a higher level. Not much of a biggie. Also, the game is punishing for those who never played Diablo 1 and/or 2. So if you're new to this, be prepared to get your ass handed to you.
Overall, it's not actually a bad title. Those of you who want to taste it, jump right it. But like I said, be aware of the always-on requirement. And it's more than just a DRM, since its data files are server side.
Now, onto some bad news. Word has it that some Diablo 3 fans are having their stuff hacked. And worst off, they don't need your information.
Eurogamer has this to report.
A quick glance online shows multiple reports of Diablo 3 accounts being hacked, suggesting it is a growing issue. Players have seen the loss of items stored in character inventory and stash, and gold removed as their accounts are stripped bare. Blizzard has been working to "roll back" affected characters to a point before accounts were compromised, but some progress is lost.
The reports coincided with the EU Diablo 3 servers going offline on Sunday afternoon for around four hours, preventing players from logging in (error 33). It has been suggested that the EU servers were taken offline following a SQL injection attack, but this remains unconfirmed.
Blizzard offers an Authenticator designed to provide extra security to your account. Donlan did not have the authenticator before the hack, but reports suggest accounts have been compromised even with this enabled.
One theory suggested by players on the Battle.net forum revolves around hijacking session identifiers, which would allow hackers to take over accounts without alerting Blizzard's authentication server. Again, this remains unconfirmed.
Whatever the cause, Blizzard will be keen to address the situation quickly, especially in light of the upcoming release of the real money auction house and the growing complaints from players. Blizzard said last week it was set for release at the end of the month.
That's scary. But what's really scary is what I pointed out, they only need your username. Your password and Authenticator means moot when they can kick you off and take over, drain your gold and gear, and drink all of your soda.
So what's Blizzard been doing? sleeping on the job again? Focusing more on WoW: Mists of Pandaria? Well...
Hey guys,
We are very aware of these reports and are taking them very seriously. Please keep an eye on the General Discussion forums as Community members will be posting something soon.
If you have been hacked, please contact Customer Service as soon as you can. In addition, using an Authenticator can help secure your account even more.
Convincing, but stay tuned. We'll see more about what's going on.
This report brought to you by Steam Cards from GameStop. Because Impulse isn't enough to satisfy GameStop's thirst for money.
Works Cited
Eurogamer
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Diablo rising
Folks, in 2 days, the most anticipated game on the Personal Computer, Diablo 3, will finally hit North America with a wave of vengeance. Players who are going after the game had the following Options
1) Retail purchase, ether through normal or the ultra rare Collector's Edition(Which came with a copy of Diablo 2 for those who missed out)
2) Digital purchase
3) The WoW Annual Pass(The offer expired at the beginning of the month)
So what do we know about Diablo 3? Well, the classes for start
1) Barbarian- From what I heard, this is the only class from Diablo 2 returning with a vengeance. There is also word that this is the same Barbarian from Diablo 2 looking for a little payback with Diablo. Instead of Mana, the Barbarian now utilizes Rage, the same rage from World of Warcraft's Warrior. They use abilities to generate Rage and spend it on even more powerful abilities. Good for slicing and dicing all those evil demons, or fresh carrots and cabbage for your nightly stew. And being strong as steel, they wield the most powerful weapons of the game.
2) The Demon Hunter- You thought the Diablo 1 Rogue and the Diablo 2 Amazon were bad to the bone, the Demon Hunter was born to be wild. They switch from being tactical to going all out with the fling of the bow with 2 resource bars: Discipline and Hatred. Hatred allows the Demon Hunter to go all-out with ranged weapons while Discipline gives the hunter more defensive abilities. To double cross this Demon Hunter is liking getting his with a mach truck with arrows being flung in your face.
3) The Monk- The era of the Paladin is over and taking its place is the new Monk class. They don't use powerful weapons. They rely on their fists and the holy spirit that flows as their resource. String up combos to get their Spirit up and unleash a powerful attack to really rip into an enemy. When things get rough, the Monk can provide defenses or heal to keep themselves or their companions alive. The will of the Monk is not one to be tested, lest you want a thousand fists in your face
4) The Witch Doctor- Consider this the new Necromancer, though it bares some similarities to the Warlock of World of Warcraft. In addition to casting deadly spells to cripple the enemies with deadly toxins and fire with the use of a Mana Bar, they can also summon up monsters from the netherrealm to cause chaos upon their enemies. They can even scare, confuse or turn enemies into chickens fit enough to throw into the fryer. This is one doctor that will cover my insurance.
5) The Wizard- Behold, the Wizard. Beware their powers. Diablo 1's Mage and Diablo 2's Sorcerer pales in comparison to what the Wizard can do. The Wizard, unlike the Mage and Sorcerer(And unlike the Witch Doctor), relies on Arcane energy to cast deadly spells. And while most classes use single target abilities, the Wizard goes all out with Area of Effect abilities that will roast, freeze, and twist multiple enemies like Snap, Crackle, Pop. She can even fire beams of energy to rip the foes apart. But with her Arcane powers diminishing, she can rely on twisting time or teleports to stay alive. The path of the arcane is a hard path. Will you choose the Wizard or go to another class?
In addition, you will be accompanied by 3 followers with skills of their own
1) The Templar- A holy paladin of justice. Like the Barbarian and the Paladin before, the Templar attacks up close and personal. And much like the Paladins of old, they are also capable of healing those who are hurt. For Witch Doctors, Demon Hunters and Wizards, Templars are perfect for those who need to take the attention of the mob while you deliver the damaging goods.
2) The Enchantress- She ain't no evil enchantress for sure. While no Wizard, the Enchantress can deliver a barrage of spells to deal damage all while the Monk or Barbarian rips the enemy in the front lines. They can even charm enemies and force them to fight for you. Talk about having a back up plan.
3) The Scoundrel- Han Solo, he's not. But like the Demon Hunter, they are capable of long range attack. Regardless of what class you are, you may want to consider having this guy around you as you can defend them with a Monk or Barbarian, gun up with them as a Demon Hunter, or go all out with the Witch Doctor and the Wizard while they get the mobs' attention.
Are you gamed for Diablo 3? Stay tuned. Meanwhile, watch this page as I talk about April's most disappointing NPD and why iOS may not be a good alternative ether.
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