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

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?

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

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.

Star Trek's holodeck slowly becoming reality

For those of you who are Trekkies, you are probabily aware of the Holodeck from Star Trek: The Next Generation The Holodeck, onboard the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701D, was well known for recreating environments and creating artificial intelligence for the user to interact with. It will be a long time before we can create actual environments to explore. But we seem to be closer to the Intelligence side than we thought. Have you ever had a conversation with a computer that wasn't one-sided? Virtual humans are the newest attempt to cross the uncanny valley and present individuals with computer-generated, interactive characters that can empathize, understand, and exhibit emotions. Artificial intelligence has come a long way, and research at the University of Southern California's Institute for Creative Technologies is pushing the limits of what's possible in modern computer science. I sat down with William Swartout, the Institute's Director of Technology, to discuss the future of virtual human interaction. He also let me play in their virtual saloon, where I got into a gunfight that was just a little too real. An actual gunfight in a virtual scenario. Now that's something to be cheering about. Who knows how long till the Holodeck technology becomes reality. Check out the works cited link for the entire interview on this technology. Works Cited Huffington Post

Microsoft and Motorola's mud fight

In case you haven't known, there's a feud going on between Microsoft and Motorola over Mobility Patents. Back on April 24th, an ITC Judge made a ruling against Microsoft over this. An International Trade Commission (ITC) judge has ruled that Microsoft violated several patents held by Motorola Mobility when it made its Xbox 360 console. ITC Judge David Shaw said that Microsoft infringed on four of five patents that Motorola filed on its complaint - International Trade Commission, No. 337-752. The patents in the complaint include technology like wireless connections to the Internet and video compression to speed up transmission of data, amongst others. Motorola Mobility has asked the ITC to bar importation of the infringing devices into the United States. The full commission will review Judge David Shaw's decision and issue a final ruling sometime in August. Microsoft issued a statement saying that it will ultimately prevail in the case: "We remain confident the commission will ultimately rule in Microsoft's favor," a company spokesperson told Reuters in an emailed statement. Motorola Mobility said it was pleased with the decision by the judge: "Microsoft continues to infringe Motorola Mobility's patent portfolio, and we remain confident in our position," the company said in a statement. "We look forward to the full commission's ruling in August." A final ruling in August. This could make or break Microsoft, but not just on the X-Box 360. It may also affect them on Windows 7, the OS that replaced Vista in 2009. But of course, in Germany, an injunction against Microsoft just went out and slapped the big company in the face. Motorola Mobility has been granted an injunction against the distribution of key Microsoft products in Germany. The sales ban covers the Xbox 360 games console, Windows 7 system software, Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player. It follows a ruling that Microsoft had infringed two patents necessary to offer H.264 video coding and playback. A US court has banned Motorola from enforcing the action until it considers the matter next week. The handset maker is in the process of being taken over by Google. Wait a minute. Did you see what's in bold? It seems the good ol US of A has Microsoft's back. But how did we manage that? Well look no further. A United States District Court has ruled that Microsoft can continue to sell Windows and Xbox 360 products in Germany - even if a German court rules in favor of an injunction request filed by Motorola. The dust up (as reported by Ars Technica) is related to a patented technology essential to the H.264 video standard, which Microsoft uses in its software products. To say the ruling is unusual would be an understatement because a U.S. Court is basically interfering in a region it doesn't have any jurisdiction over. Judge James Robart of the US District Court for the Western District of Washington granted Microsoft a temporary restraining order after agreeing with the company's argument that allowing the German Court's injunction to go forward might compel Microsoft to negotiate a license under German law. In turn, the US court would lose its opportunity to make its own ruling on similar licensing issues. Microsoft argued that the US court should be the one to rule on the issue because Microsoft filed its lawsuit against Motorola over the terms of a licensing deal before Motorola filed its lawsuit in Germany. This is just the American courts enforcing Good Ol Conservative values on Motorola and Germany. In fact, we should go tell Germany "It's just the free market doing its job," even if said market can interfere with another country's free market. Works Cited: Game Politics Link 1 BBC News Game Politics Link 2