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Help Wanted: News Editors
by Joey Davidson | 03/12/10 | 3:17 PM PST
Kombo is looking for News Editors. If you've been reading the site recently, you'll have noticed that our style for handling news has moved from quick recaps and blurbs to full-on news articles with editorialized opinion.
Interested? Hit the break for more information and instructions for application...
Help Wanted: News Editors
by Joey Davidson | 03/12/10 | 3:17 PM PST
Kombo is looking for News Editors. If you've been reading the site recently, you'll have noticed that our style for handling news has moved from quick recaps and blurbs to full-on news articles with editorialized opinion.
Interested? Hit the break for more information and instructions for application...
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THQ Enhancing Franchises Via Downloadable Games
by Joey Davidson | 03/12/10 | 11:07 AM PST
THQ will release up to six downloadable titles (a few of which will be based on their core franchises) over the next year. The developing activity will come from two houses within the publisher's stable: THQ Digital Studios Phoenix and THQ Digital Studios UK. All of this news comes from Joystiq.
The company was careful to stay away from specifics, but they addressed a few key components when talking to Joystiq about their downloadable strategy. THQ cited their new direction as aggressive, and noted potentially giving content away and using DLC to unlock content in full retail versions of their games (Think Fable 2's Pub Games).
THQ Enhancing Franchises Via Downloadable Games
by Joey Davidson | 03/12/10 | 11:07 AM PST
THQ will release up to six downloadable titles (a few of which will be based on their core franchises) over the next year. The developing activity will come from two houses within the publisher's stable: THQ Digital Studios Phoenix and THQ Digital Studios UK. All of this news comes from Joystiq.
The company was careful to stay away from specifics, but they addressed a few key components when talking to Joystiq about their downloadable strategy. THQ cited their new direction as aggressive, and noted potentially giving content away and using DLC to unlock content in full retail versions of their games (Think Fable 2's Pub Games).
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Check out this game's graphics! - God of War III
by Eric Frederiksen | 03/12/10 | 5:34 AM PST
Welcome to our newest weekly feature! Every Friday, we'll get all graphical and plot out the obvious in videogames in a visual fashion. Do you like math, spreadsheets, statistics and other nerd things? Then, please, turn around.
Otherwise, enjoy some ridiculocity (ridiculousness at breakneck speeds).
This week: God of War III. To celebrate the release of his newest title, we look at some of Kratos' exploits, including a not-so-successful foray into merchandise.
Check out this game's graphics! - God of War III
by Eric Frederiksen | 03/12/10 | 5:34 AM PST
Welcome to our newest weekly feature! Every Friday, we'll get all graphical and plot out the obvious in videogames in a visual fashion. Do you like math, spreadsheets, statistics and other nerd things? Then, please, turn around.
Otherwise, enjoy some ridiculocity (ridiculousness at breakneck speeds).
This week: God of War III. To celebrate the release of his newest title, we look at some of Kratos' exploits, including a not-so-successful foray into merchandise.
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NPDs: 360 Has Huge February; Industry Down Year-to-Year
by Jeff Grubb | 03/11/10 | 4:25 PM PST
For gamers, 2010 has certainly been a great year, but that won't be how the accountants explain February 2010. It is another month that the games industry is down year-to-year.
Stick around after the numbers for analysis.
Hardware:
Nintendo DS 613.2K
Xbox 360 422.0K
Wii 397.9K
PlayStation 3 360.1K
PSP 133.4K
PlayStation 2 101.9K
Software after the jump.
NPDs: 360 Has Huge February; Industry Down Year-to-Year
by Jeff Grubb | 03/11/10 | 4:25 PM PST
For gamers, 2010 has certainly been a great year, but that won't be how the accountants explain February 2010. It is another month that the games industry is down year-to-year.
Stick around after the numbers for analysis.
Hardware:
Nintendo DS 613.2K
Xbox 360 422.0K
Wii 397.9K
PlayStation 3 360.1K
PSP 133.4K
PlayStation 2 101.9K
Software after the jump.
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Lucky 7! Top Games of 2010!
by Tiffany Martin | 03/11/10 | 5:43 AM PST
If you're like me, you've flipped off through a year-end roundup of "Games of the Year" and made flippant remarks like "What! Really?" and "Where's my favorite awesome game?" We game journalists don't make these lists because you liked a game. Or even because we liked a game. It's peer pressure to have the most hardcore list of games possible, regardless of whether or not we're missing sleeper hits sometimes. Also, we already have these lists finished before the end of the year. It's true. We have this down to a science.
Well, this year is looking great for games, and I'd like to get a head start and declare my list EARLY! That way there will be no claims that my list is just a duplicate of other lists, or that I'm a hack journalist. It doesn't matter that I haven't played some of these yet-to-be-released titles, oftentimes end-of-the-year "Best of" lists include titles the list-writers haven't played either. I normally wouldn't endorse anything I haven't personally played and beaten, but that's all over now, this list is sweet.
So get your credit card limit increased, and start pre-ordering these games now. Or just buy the ones that are already out, starting with....
Lucky 7! Top Games of 2010!
by Tiffany Martin | 03/11/10 | 5:43 AM PST
If you're like me, you've flipped Well, this year is looking great for games, and I'd like to get a head start and declare my list EARLY! That way there will be no claims that my list is just a duplicate of other lists, or that I'm a hack journalist. It doesn't matter that I haven't played some of these yet-to-be-released titles, oftentimes end-of-the-year "Best of" lists include titles the list-writers haven't played either. I normally wouldn't endorse anything I haven't personally played and beaten, but that's all over now, this list is sweet.
So get your credit card limit increased, and start pre-ordering these games now. Or just buy the ones that are already out, starting with....
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White Knight Chronicles: A Game Sent to Die
by Eric Frederiksen | 03/10/10 | 5:35 AM PST
When White Knight Chronicles was announced for the PS3, role-playing game fans went nuts. Understandably so, too. Sony's first two consoles were the place to go for RPGs, absolutely no question. WKC was playable all the way back at the Tokyo Game Show in September 2007, and back then the game looked spectacular. Everyone thought it was the continuation of Sony's utter RPG dominance.
Indeed, the game did well in Japan upon release with a fairly positive review from Famitsu and solid sales. Surely it would fill the gap left by the oft-delayed and long-awaited Final Fantasy XIII while RPG fans waited, right? Only, it never came. White Knight Chronicles languished in localization hell for over a year after its Japanese release, finally dropping out of the cargo plane earlier this month and hitting the ground to mostly middling reviews.
White Knight Chronicles: A Game Sent to Die
by Eric Frederiksen | 03/10/10 | 5:35 AM PST
When White Knight Chronicles was announced for the PS3, role-playing game fans went nuts. Understandably so, too. Sony's first two consoles were the place to go for RPGs, absolutely no question. WKC was playable all the way back at the Tokyo Game Show in September 2007, and back then the game looked spectacular. Everyone thought it was the continuation of Sony's utter RPG dominance.
Indeed, the game did well in Japan upon release with a fairly positive review from Famitsu and solid sales. Surely it would fill the gap left by the oft-delayed and long-awaited Final Fantasy XIII while RPG fans waited, right? Only, it never came. White Knight Chronicles languished in localization hell for over a year after its Japanese release, finally dropping out of the cargo plane earlier this month and hitting the ground to mostly middling reviews.
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Analyst Says PS3 May Still Win Console War
by Brad Hilderbrand | 03/09/10 | 2:32 PM PST
While many believe it's a foregone conclusion that the Wii will be the top-selling console of this generation, analyst David Mercer sees things differently. Mercer claims that the Wii's hey-day has passed, and while Nintendo positioned their console for a sprint, Sony has been gearing up for a marathon.
"But the signs are that the Wii has peaked in terms of console sales, and its installed base will begin to decline after 2011," said Mercer. "Meanwhile, Sony's PS3 and Microsoft's Xbox 360 will continue to grow, so that the PS3 will become the largest platform globally by 2013. In terms of cumulative lifetime sales we expect the PS3 to hit 127 million units, compared to 103 million Wiis."
Read more of his heresy after the break.
Analyst Says PS3 May Still Win Console War
by Brad Hilderbrand | 03/09/10 | 2:32 PM PST
While many believe it's a foregone conclusion that the Wii will be the top-selling console of this generation, analyst David Mercer sees things differently. Mercer claims that the Wii's hey-day has passed, and while Nintendo positioned their console for a sprint, Sony has been gearing up for a marathon.
"But the signs are that the Wii has peaked in terms of console sales, and its installed base will begin to decline after 2011," said Mercer. "Meanwhile, Sony's PS3 and Microsoft's Xbox 360 will continue to grow, so that the PS3 will become the largest platform globally by 2013. In terms of cumulative lifetime sales we expect the PS3 to hit 127 million units, compared to 103 million Wiis."
Read more of his heresy after the break.
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WoW Will Never Come to Consoles… Probably
by Daniel Sims | 03/09/10 | 12:50 PM PST
The lead producer of World of Warcraft told G4 last month that it's unlikely the MMO will ever come to consoles, but the subject is still hotly debated at Blizzard Entertainment. A lot of obstacles stand between the game and an appearance on consoles.
"I think it's unlikely that WoW comes to the consoles," said J. Allen Brack at the DICE summit in February. "We talk about it all the time. How would we bring WoW to the console?"
With over 10 million subscribers across the Windows and Mac platforms, estimates put WoW's revenue at almost $2 billion each month. Why not add the install base of consoles to that?
WoW Will Never Come to Consoles… Probably
by Daniel Sims | 03/09/10 | 12:50 PM PST
The lead producer of World of Warcraft told G4 last month that it's unlikely the MMO will ever come to consoles, but the subject is still hotly debated at Blizzard Entertainment. A lot of obstacles stand between the game and an appearance on consoles.
"I think it's unlikely that WoW comes to the consoles," said J. Allen Brack at the DICE summit in February. "We talk about it all the time. How would we bring WoW to the console?"
With over 10 million subscribers across the Windows and Mac platforms, estimates put WoW's revenue at almost $2 billion each month. Why not add the install base of consoles to that?
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Method to the Madness: Why Sequels Struggle
by Bryan Roush | 03/09/10 | 5:47 AM PST
Gamers are used to having franchises turn into a series of titles over a period of time. Notable series have two (Assassin's Creed), others go up to five (Resident Evil) or even thirteen (Final Fantasy). But in an industry that is driven by multiple iterations, the general feeling on sequels is that they will not be good. Over time sequels have attracted the stigma that any successor to an original game would be bad. Why is it that we don't like the second game of a series as much as the first? Believe it or not, there is a method to the madness of bad sequels, as well as why gamers get nervous about continuations of their beloved games.
Sequels usually suffer from having so much success from a previous title that developers put too much into the next game to make it stay relevant, exciting and different. Sadly, adding too much to a game defeats all of these goals.
Method to the Madness: Why Sequels Struggle
by Bryan Roush | 03/09/10 | 5:47 AM PST
Gamers are used to having franchises turn into a series of titles over a period of time. Notable series have two (Assassin's Creed), others go up to five (Resident Evil) or even thirteen (Final Fantasy). But in an industry that is driven by multiple iterations, the general feeling on sequels is that they will not be good. Over time sequels have attracted the stigma that any successor to an original game would be bad. Why is it that we don't like the second game of a series as much as the first? Believe it or not, there is a method to the madness of bad sequels, as well as why gamers get nervous about continuations of their beloved games.
Sequels usually suffer from having so much success from a previous title that developers put too much into the next game to make it stay relevant, exciting and different. Sadly, adding too much to a game defeats all of these goals.
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Top Ten Mondays: The Games That Killed Their Creators
by Joel Windels | 03/08/10 | 6:36 PM PST
Some games have such a disastrous impact that they can even destroy those responsible for their existence. Listed below are ten tales of arrogance, hype, tragedy, stupidity and crushed dreams. These, ladies and gentlemen, are the games that killed their creators.
10/ Hellgate: London (2007)
Hellgate: London is a textbook example of biting off more than you can chew. The game was developed by Flagship Studios, a company that was founded by former Blizzard employees, many of whom had worked on the acclaimed Diablo series. With excessively high expectations and lofty ambitions, the game was destined to flop, likely in no small part to its PC-only release and its rushed development time. The well-meaning inexperience of the young company eventually manifested itself with Hellgate being released with technical issues and broken promises, its failure to live up to the hype surely contributing to mediocre reviews. The game was ultimately such a commercial disaster that Flagship was forced to file for bankruptcy soon after, with the servers taken down less than two years after they opened.
Top Ten Mondays: The Games That Killed Their Creators
by Joel Windels | 03/08/10 | 6:36 PM PST
Some games have such a disastrous impact that they can even destroy those responsible for their existence. Listed below are ten tales of arrogance, hype, tragedy, stupidity and crushed dreams. These, ladies and gentlemen, are the games that killed their creators.
10/ Hellgate: London (2007)
Hellgate: London is a textbook example of biting off more than you can chew. The game was developed by Flagship Studios, a company that was founded by former Blizzard employees, many of whom had worked on the acclaimed Diablo series. With excessively high expectations and lofty ambitions, the game was destined to flop, likely in no small part to its PC-only release and its rushed development time. The well-meaning inexperience of the young company eventually manifested itself with Hellgate being released with technical issues and broken promises, its failure to live up to the hype surely contributing to mediocre reviews. The game was ultimately such a commercial disaster that Flagship was forced to file for bankruptcy soon after, with the servers taken down less than two years after they opened.
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Ubisoft Lies About DRM Server Hack
by Alex Osborn | 03/08/10 | 10:59 AM PST
Nobody likes a liar, though unfortunately it looks like Assassin's Creed publisher Ubisoft has joined the ranks of companies whose statements can't always be trusted. Yesterday, Ubisoft's DRM servers were down as a result of what they claimed to be "exceptional demand," which believe it or not, was not the case.
Read more after the break.
Ubisoft Lies About DRM Server Hack
by Alex Osborn | 03/08/10 | 10:59 AM PST
Nobody likes a liar, though unfortunately it looks like Assassin's Creed publisher Ubisoft has joined the ranks of companies whose statements can't always be trusted. Yesterday, Ubisoft's DRM servers were down as a result of what they claimed to be "exceptional demand," which believe it or not, was not the case.
Read more after the break.
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Random Access Memories: The Face of Fear
by Brian Langlois | 03/08/10 | 5:27 AM PST
I trust everyone had a good laugh at me for the story I recounted about the arcade and the near robbery-slash-carjacking. Hey, when you misspend your youth as an arcade rat things like that are bound to happen, but would you believe that it's not the scariest thing that ever happened to me in an arcade? Oh no, my friends, not even by a long shot. This time, we need to go back a little further, all the way back to when my age was single digits, and the horror I faced inside a certain mall arcade.
The Face of Fear
It was a dark place, akin to most others like it. The mall arcade looked like a shadowy land, filled with the soft glow and electronic din of the entertainment machines that inhabited it. To a young boy like me, it felt like a wonderland of endless possibilities and adventures, and my time spent there was the highlight of any shopping excursion. This wasn't my favorite arcade in the city, but it was serviceable. It had Solar Warrior, a game that ate plenty of my quarters to be sure. I used to hang out in here while my mom shopped and my big sister waited just outside in what passed for a food court here. Back then we didn't worry too much about unsavory types in the malls and unattended little children, as long as we didn't wander too far off. Of course, it wasn't a person that would cause me to fear this place so much. No, as much as I loved videogames, I would come to learn that the machines are not always your friends!
Random Access Memories: The Face of Fear
by Brian Langlois | 03/08/10 | 5:27 AM PST
I trust everyone had a good laugh at me for the story I recounted about the arcade and the near robbery-slash-carjacking. Hey, when you misspend your youth as an arcade rat things like that are bound to happen, but would you believe that it's not the scariest thing that ever happened to me in an arcade? Oh no, my friends, not even by a long shot. This time, we need to go back a little further, all the way back to when my age was single digits, and the horror I faced inside a certain mall arcade.
The Face of Fear
It was a dark place, akin to most others like it. The mall arcade looked like a shadowy land, filled with the soft glow and electronic din of the entertainment machines that inhabited it. To a young boy like me, it felt like a wonderland of endless possibilities and adventures, and my time spent there was the highlight of any shopping excursion. This wasn't my favorite arcade in the city, but it was serviceable. It had Solar Warrior, a game that ate plenty of my quarters to be sure. I used to hang out in here while my mom shopped and my big sister waited just outside in what passed for a food court here. Back then we didn't worry too much about unsavory types in the malls and unattended little children, as long as we didn't wander too far off. Of course, it wasn't a person that would cause me to fear this place so much. No, as much as I loved videogames, I would come to learn that the machines are not always your friends!
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Kill Screen 10: The Plague That is Bobby Kotick
by Tony DaSilva | 03/06/10 | 12:23 PM PST
Several of us are surprised by Activision's present day fiasco with Infinity Ward. Why? Bobby Kotick's the CEO of Activision, a CEO that hasn't tried to hide how he feels about his audience one bit. He's showed this on numerous occasions. For example, he tried to stop the release of Tim Schafer's Brutal Legend through a lawsuit (long story). He's also spoken in detail about his feelings on the gaming industry, people in it, and his company.
"The goal that I had in bringing a lot of the packaged goods folks into Activision about 10 years ago," Kotick said at the Deutsche Bank Securities Technology Conference in San Francisco, "was to take all the fun out of making videogames."
Bobby also hasn't been shy about his bottom line. At the same conference he spoke about the employee incentive program he had changed that "really rewards profit and nothing else."
During Activision Blizzard's Q2 financial results conference in 2009, Bobby was asked about the high priced controllers (music gaming instruments) in the market. Not only did he not show sympathy, but he went further.
"If it was left to me, I would raise the prices even further," Kotick said.
Kill Screen 10: The Plague That is Bobby Kotick
by Tony DaSilva | 03/06/10 | 12:23 PM PST
Several of us are surprised by Activision's present day fiasco with Infinity Ward. Why? Bobby Kotick's the CEO of Activision, a CEO that hasn't tried to hide how he feels about his audience one bit. He's showed this on numerous occasions. For example, he tried to stop the release of Tim Schafer's Brutal Legend through a lawsuit (long story). He's also spoken in detail about his feelings on the gaming industry, people in it, and his company.
"The goal that I had in bringing a lot of the packaged goods folks into Activision about 10 years ago," Kotick said at the Deutsche Bank Securities Technology Conference in San Francisco, "was to take all the fun out of making videogames."
Bobby also hasn't been shy about his bottom line. At the same conference he spoke about the employee incentive program he had changed that "really rewards profit and nothing else."
During Activision Blizzard's Q2 financial results conference in 2009, Bobby was asked about the high priced controllers (music gaming instruments) in the market. Not only did he not show sympathy, but he went further.
"If it was left to me, I would raise the prices even further," Kotick said.
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Kombo Fame Frag Featuring Evile! Streaming LIVE Today @ 2pm EST!
by Ken Cauley | 03/06/10 | 9:16 AM PST
If you can't get in a match against Evile, then watch the mayhem LIVE right here! We're streaming the entire event right here on Kombo.com. Watch live below or Click here to open a new browser window and watch Kombo Fame Frag Live in an expandable window.
Kombo.com Fame Frag
Featuring Evile!
Play Matt Drake (Rhythm Guitar & Vocals), Ol Drake (Lead Guitar), Ben Carter (Drums) and Joel Graham (Bass) of the band Evile! This is the only place where fans of Evile and Kombo.com can battle it out over Xbox Live.
Kombo Fame Frag Featuring Evile! Streaming LIVE Today @ 2pm EST!
by Ken Cauley | 03/06/10 | 9:16 AM PST
If you can't get in a match against Evile, then watch the mayhem LIVE right here! We're streaming the entire event right here on Kombo.com. Watch live below or Click here to open a new browser window and watch Kombo Fame Frag Live in an expandable window.
Kombo.com Fame Frag
Featuring Evile!
Play Matt Drake (Rhythm Guitar & Vocals), Ol Drake (Lead Guitar), Ben Carter (Drums) and Joel Graham (Bass) of the band Evile! This is the only place where fans of Evile and Kombo.com can battle it out over Xbox Live.
FEATURED GAME: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer, Deathmatch
WHEN: Saturday, March 6
TIME: 2-3pm EST / 3-4pm PST
WHO: Kombo staff and Matt Drake, Ol Drake, Ben Carter and Joel Graham of Evile!
HOW to GAME with FAME:
To participate, make sure your Xbox Live Gold membership is current and send a friend request to "FameFrag" right away. Then, be ready to play at least one-half hour before the event starts and don't forget your headset. If you get a game invite, get ready to Fame Frag!
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Sony Eyeing "Degradable" Demos
by Brad Hilderbrand | 03/05/10 | 11:30 AM PST
Sony has filed a patent for "degradable" game demos which would essentially allow players to access full games for free, only to have features such as weapons, powers and even full levels downgrade is disappear over time. Essentially, the program would allow publishers to set time or play limits on each demo, with feature sets slowly dropping out until players can basically go no further with the equipment or access they currently have. Players who then purchase the full version of the game would have their powers restored and, presumably, be able to pick up right where they left off during their "trial time."
Read more after the break.
Sony Eyeing "Degradable" Demos
by Brad Hilderbrand | 03/05/10 | 11:30 AM PST
Sony has filed a patent for "degradable" game demos which would essentially allow players to access full games for free, only to have features such as weapons, powers and even full levels downgrade is disappear over time. Essentially, the program would allow publishers to set time or play limits on each demo, with feature sets slowly dropping out until players can basically go no further with the equipment or access they currently have. Players who then purchase the full version of the game would have their powers restored and, presumably, be able to pick up right where they left off during their "trial time."
Read more after the break.
March 11, 2010
