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"We Interrupt This Deathmatch to Bring You the Following Announcement..."
by David Oxford | 11/20/09 | 11:13 AM PST
Some of you might be familiar with the Emergency Broadcast System or its successor, the Emergency Alert System, which tend to interrupt television shows and commercials with their shrill sound tests. And on occasion, they even warn you of imminent danger, too.
That is, unless most of the time your television spends on is used playing video games, in which case you'll be halfway to Oz before you know what's going on. That's why state officials in New York are planning to send the alerts issued by the Emergency Management Office over video game networks.
"We Interrupt This Deathmatch to Bring You the Following Announcement..."
by David Oxford | 11/20/09 | 11:13 AM PST
Some of you might be familiar with the Emergency Broadcast System or its successor, the Emergency Alert System, which tend to interrupt television shows and commercials with their shrill sound tests. And on occasion, they even warn you of imminent danger, too.
That is, unless most of the time your television spends on is used playing video games, in which case you'll be halfway to Oz before you know what's going on. That's why state officials in New York are planning to send the alerts issued by the Emergency Management Office over video game networks.
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Rebuttal: Is Infinty Ward Anti-PC?
by Matt Pearce | 11/20/09 | 6:16 AM PST
A few days ago we published an article under the title "Modern Warfare 2: The Battleground for PC Gaming?" in which one of Kombo's Editorialists, Eric Frederiksen, discussed the hardcore PC gamer's opinions regarding Infinity Ward's move to do away with dedicated servers for their latest release. Like Eric, I'm a huge PC gamer. I've been playing PC games since DOS, and I don't plan on quitting. I fondly remember Quake LAN parties and dialing-up friends for Warcraft 2 matches. I'm also sad to see that games are straying from dedicated servers. In fact, the only statement of Eric's that I directly disagree with is that Infinity Ward's decision to use matchmaking in Modern Warfare 2 is "...one of the loudest shots fired from the bow of a major publisher against PC gaming." Infinity Ward isn't anti-PC, they're anti-piracy. If they were anti-PC they wouldn't have spent the time and resources to port the game to the PC. I know piracy played such a huge role in the decision, because shortly after the first Modern Warfare was released, Kotaku dug up a blog post of Robert Bowling's (creative director of Infinity Ward and a major proponent of the new matchmaking system) in which he mentions a disturbingly large number of people playing pirated versions of the game on the online multiplayer. Mr. Bowling titled this blog post "They Wonder Why People Don't Make PC Games Any More". With that said, it can't be denied that Infinity Ward did, in fact, anger a lot of their hardcore PC fans with the decision to use matchmaking in Modern Warfare 2.
Rebuttal: Is Infinty Ward Anti-PC?
by Matt Pearce | 11/20/09 | 6:16 AM PST
A few days ago we published an article under the title "Modern Warfare 2: The Battleground for PC Gaming?" in which one of Kombo's Editorialists, Eric Frederiksen, discussed the hardcore PC gamer's opinions regarding Infinity Ward's move to do away with dedicated servers for their latest release. Like Eric, I'm a huge PC gamer. I've been playing PC games since DOS, and I don't plan on quitting. I fondly remember Quake LAN parties and dialing-up friends for Warcraft 2 matches. I'm also sad to see that games are straying from dedicated servers. In fact, the only statement of Eric's that I directly disagree with is that Infinity Ward's decision to use matchmaking in Modern Warfare 2 is "...one of the loudest shots fired from the bow of a major publisher against PC gaming." Infinity Ward isn't anti-PC, they're anti-piracy. If they were anti-PC they wouldn't have spent the time and resources to port the game to the PC. I know piracy played such a huge role in the decision, because shortly after the first Modern Warfare was released, Kotaku dug up a blog post of Robert Bowling's (creative director of Infinity Ward and a major proponent of the new matchmaking system) in which he mentions a disturbingly large number of people playing pirated versions of the game on the online multiplayer. Mr. Bowling titled this blog post "They Wonder Why People Don't Make PC Games Any More". With that said, it can't be denied that Infinity Ward did, in fact, anger a lot of their hardcore PC fans with the decision to use matchmaking in Modern Warfare 2.
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Wii & PC: The Ultimate Team
by Brian Langlois | 11/19/09 | 5:44 AM PST
After my recent game store encounter in which I encountered resistance and admonishment for my choice in gaming platforms, I started thinking. Is having just a Wii and a PC such an odd combination for a gamer? Maybe it is, but after consideration I have come to the conclusion that it is by no means a bad partnership. In fact, I'd say it offers a player a great scenario full of choice. Really, the Wii and PC could not be more different as platforms, which is perhaps why I gravitated towards PC gaming so I could have a unique experience, and learn some things along the way too. For me, the combination has worked out really well so far, with each system catering to a different aspect of my gaming needs.
Wii & PC: The Ultimate Team
by Brian Langlois | 11/19/09 | 5:44 AM PST
After my recent game store encounter in which I encountered resistance and admonishment for my choice in gaming platforms, I started thinking. Is having just a Wii and a PC such an odd combination for a gamer? Maybe it is, but after consideration I have come to the conclusion that it is by no means a bad partnership. In fact, I'd say it offers a player a great scenario full of choice. Really, the Wii and PC could not be more different as platforms, which is perhaps why I gravitated towards PC gaming so I could have a unique experience, and learn some things along the way too. For me, the combination has worked out really well so far, with each system catering to a different aspect of my gaming needs.
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Spike Announces 2009 Video Game Awards Nominees
by Eric Jones | 11/18/09 | 5:34 PM PST
Earlier today, Spike TV confirmed that Halo: Reach will be among the megaton world premieres headlining the network's 2009 Video Game Awards show. But what about the nominees for the actual awards?
Well, those are up too, and they reveal that Uncharted 2: Among Thieves goes in as the top pick with eight nominations. Batman: Arkham Asylum swoops in next, picking up seven nods, followed by a pair of big-time shooters, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Left 4 Dead 2, each with six noms apiece.
The full list is available after the cut, which I'll leave you guys to discuss the semantics of (like the need for Best Performance by a Human Male and Female categories when there's already a category for Best Voice). Hopefully we'll find out more info on the rest of the exclusives, musical guests, and who the hell is actually going to host this shindig before it airs live on December 12.
Oh yeah, and if you want to actually vote, click here.
Spike Announces 2009 Video Game Awards Nominees
by Eric Jones | 11/18/09 | 5:34 PM PST
Earlier today, Spike TV confirmed that Halo: Reach will be among the megaton world premieres headlining the network's 2009 Video Game Awards show. But what about the nominees for the actual awards?
Well, those are up too, and they reveal that Uncharted 2: Among Thieves goes in as the top pick with eight nominations. Batman: Arkham Asylum swoops in next, picking up seven nods, followed by a pair of big-time shooters, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Left 4 Dead 2, each with six noms apiece.
The full list is available after the cut, which I'll leave you guys to discuss the semantics of (like the need for Best Performance by a Human Male and Female categories when there's already a category for Best Voice). Hopefully we'll find out more info on the rest of the exclusives, musical guests, and who the hell is actually going to host this shindig before it airs live on December 12.
Oh yeah, and if you want to actually vote, click here.
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Can "We Pray" Hope to Match the Popularity of "Wii Play?"
by David Oxford | 11/18/09 | 3:31 PM PST
"We would like to... pray?"
No, that's not an Engrish joke, but the apparent idea behind Prayer Works Interactive's worship-themed game "Mass: We Pray," which features motion controls and two unique peripherals:
GameSpy points out that this is obviously fake*, and it certainly looks fake, but to be honest? I could easily see Ned Flanders and his kids playing this on The Simpsons. And apparently, I'm not the only one to think so (NSFW).
* ...or is it? As that second video points out, both IGN (in their "Cheats" section, no less) and GameTrailers have entries for this thing.
Well, if it's real, it will make a nice accessory to Super Noah's Ark 3D, Bible Adventures, and Left Behind. If not... then I applaud those who perpetrated this gag.
Can "We Pray" Hope to Match the Popularity of "Wii Play?"
by David Oxford | 11/18/09 | 3:31 PM PST
"We would like to... pray?"
No, that's not an Engrish joke, but the apparent idea behind Prayer Works Interactive's worship-themed game "Mass: We Pray," which features motion controls and two unique peripherals:
GameSpy points out that this is obviously fake*, and it certainly looks fake, but to be honest? I could easily see Ned Flanders and his kids playing this on The Simpsons. And apparently, I'm not the only one to think so (NSFW).
* ...or is it? As that second video points out, both IGN (in their "Cheats" section, no less) and GameTrailers have entries for this thing.
Well, if it's real, it will make a nice accessory to Super Noah's Ark 3D, Bible Adventures, and Left Behind. If not... then I applaud those who perpetrated this gag.
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Random Video of the Day: Konami Code (Paper Planes Parody)
by David Oxford | 11/18/09 | 12:06 PM PST
Black Nerd Comedy has put together a "song parody of Paper Planes by M.I.A. (MIA) about the best cheat in video game history... the Konami Code!"
Konami and Contra fan that I am, you just know I couldn't pass this up:
I hate to pick this apart, but Super C used another code, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II did as well; III's was a slight variation, swapping B and A. And Castlevania III was the only one with such a cheat, and that was used by entering your name as "Help Me."
Still, fun video, and kind of catchy. That it has its own little dance is a plus.
Random Video of the Day: Konami Code (Paper Planes Parody)
by David Oxford | 11/18/09 | 12:06 PM PST
Black Nerd Comedy has put together a "song parody of Paper Planes by M.I.A. (MIA) about the best cheat in video game history... the Konami Code!"
Konami and Contra fan that I am, you just know I couldn't pass this up:
I hate to pick this apart, but Super C used another code, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II did as well; III's was a slight variation, swapping B and A. And Castlevania III was the only one with such a cheat, and that was used by entering your name as "Help Me."
Still, fun video, and kind of catchy. That it has its own little dance is a plus.
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Former Visceral Games Staff to Head Up Sledgehammer Games, Run by Activision
by Eric Jones | 11/17/09 | 8:36 PM PST
Earlier this year, it was announced that Visceral Games heads Glenn Schofield and Michael Condrey would be leaving parent company EA for the shores of rival publisher Activision. Since then, we haven't heard a peep from the duo, until today. Activision has officially announced the formation of Sledgehammer Games, to be headed up by Schofield and Condrey.
Word is that the new developer is working on a game based upon an existing Activision franchise, so we'll have to wait and see what they're up to.
Former Visceral Games Staff to Head Up Sledgehammer Games, Run by Activision
by Eric Jones | 11/17/09 | 8:36 PM PST
Earlier this year, it was announced that Visceral Games heads Glenn Schofield and Michael Condrey would be leaving parent company EA for the shores of rival publisher Activision. Since then, we haven't heard a peep from the duo, until today. Activision has officially announced the formation of Sledgehammer Games, to be headed up by Schofield and Condrey.
Word is that the new developer is working on a game based upon an existing Activision franchise, so we'll have to wait and see what they're up to.
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EA Montreal's Schneider Asks Developers: "Who Do We Make Games For?"
by David Oxford | 11/17/09 | 5:07 PM PST
At the Montreal International Game Summit, EA Montreal's Reid Schneider put forth a question for developers to ponder: "who do we make games for?" While he says that one should make games for themselves, they should also remember who their market is. This led to an interesting analogy, as he recalls how he was charged with improving his fraternity's parties:
"The first unanimous request from the guys was that we needed to have more girls at our parties," he said. "I was in total agreement; this made complete sense to me. But the core problem is that our parties were about good beer and music that we liked. It was just for us. We were missing our audience. We were building stuff for ourselves."
EA Montreal's Schneider Asks Developers: "Who Do We Make Games For?"
by David Oxford | 11/17/09 | 5:07 PM PST
At the Montreal International Game Summit, EA Montreal's Reid Schneider put forth a question for developers to ponder: "who do we make games for?" While he says that one should make games for themselves, they should also remember who their market is. This led to an interesting analogy, as he recalls how he was charged with improving his fraternity's parties:
"The first unanimous request from the guys was that we needed to have more girls at our parties," he said. "I was in total agreement; this made complete sense to me. But the core problem is that our parties were about good beer and music that we liked. It was just for us. We were missing our audience. We were building stuff for ourselves."
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Confirmed: Pandemic Studios to Shut Down
by Eric Jones | 11/17/09 | 4:36 PM PST
UPDATE: Nick Earl, EA's Senior Vice President of the EA Games label, confirmed today in an internal memo picked up by Kotaku that Pandemic will be shut down, and approximately 200 employees will be let go, including CEO Andrew Goldman, President Josh Resnick, and Vice President of Product Development Greg Borrud. Earl said the closure was to "improve our cost structure, ensure quality and build schedule integrity for this studio."
However, a "core IP team" will be integrated into the company's Los Angeles office, plus the Pandemic brand and franchises will "live on", with new games based on the developer's franchises to be revealed "in the months ahead."
Original Story: With EA's profits not meeting standards, it's looking like cuts are planning to be made. The biggest cut will come from the EA-owned Pandemic studios, which was purchased alongside parent company Bioware in early 2008. Sources speaking with Kotaku have confirmed that the studio will be shuttered today, with all but some 200 employees laid off.
The developer is best known for their work on games like Full Spectrum Warrior, Star Wars: Battlefront, and Mercenaries, and was working on the upcoming WWII title The Saboteur. Development for that game will switch to EA Montreal (currently working on Army of Two: The 40th Day), while the few remaining employees will be integrated into EA's other teams.
Confirmed: Pandemic Studios to Shut Down
by Eric Jones | 11/17/09 | 4:36 PM PST
UPDATE: Nick Earl, EA's Senior Vice President of the EA Games label, confirmed today in an internal memo picked up by Kotaku that Pandemic will be shut down, and approximately 200 employees will be let go, including CEO Andrew Goldman, President Josh Resnick, and Vice President of Product Development Greg Borrud. Earl said the closure was to "improve our cost structure, ensure quality and build schedule integrity for this studio."
However, a "core IP team" will be integrated into the company's Los Angeles office, plus the Pandemic brand and franchises will "live on", with new games based on the developer's franchises to be revealed "in the months ahead."
Original Story: With EA's profits not meeting standards, it's looking like cuts are planning to be made. The biggest cut will come from the EA-owned Pandemic studios, which was purchased alongside parent company Bioware in early 2008. Sources speaking with Kotaku have confirmed that the studio will be shuttered today, with all but some 200 employees laid off.
The developer is best known for their work on games like Full Spectrum Warrior, Star Wars: Battlefront, and Mercenaries, and was working on the upcoming WWII title The Saboteur. Development for that game will switch to EA Montreal (currently working on Army of Two: The 40th Day), while the few remaining employees will be integrated into EA's other teams.
source: Kotaku
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ESA Says 42% of American Adults Planning on Video Game Presents This Holiday
by David Oxford | 11/17/09 | 3:33 PM PST
Are you an American adult who is hoping to receive, or perhaps planning to give a video game this holiday season? If so, then you're not alone, according to the Entertainment Software Association. They report that a poll conducted by KRC Research has found that 42 percent of American adults are in the same basket, with 52 percent of those who responded believing that games are a good source of family entertainment this holiday season, thanks to the economy.
ESA Says 42% of American Adults Planning on Video Game Presents This Holiday
by David Oxford | 11/17/09 | 3:33 PM PST
Are you an American adult who is hoping to receive, or perhaps planning to give a video game this holiday season? If so, then you're not alone, according to the Entertainment Software Association. They report that a poll conducted by KRC Research has found that 42 percent of American adults are in the same basket, with 52 percent of those who responded believing that games are a good source of family entertainment this holiday season, thanks to the economy.
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RIDE Event with Tony Hawk
by Tony DaSilva | 11/17/09 | 10:02 AM PST
A train ride and a short walk brought me up to speed on the latest installment in skateboard gaming, through the eyes of the one and only ESPN donned, Birdman – Tony Hawk. Activision hosted an intimate event in New York City the night before the release to the first skateboard deck controller in the gaming world: RIDE.
A three hour "review period" of the game placed game stations throughout the room. Activision also brought in hordes of kids to grab a hold of free skateboards in a separate room, where they could take a break from the game and sticker up their new decks any way they like. Mix that in with free beers, tacos the size of your big toe served on see-through plates, or miniature grilled cheese sandwiches resembling the size your fingernail, and you've got one hell of an evening ahead of you. Oh and yes, Tony Hawk was there too.
So, enough about the luxuries of being at this type of event: What about the game right?
I've been a skateboarder and gamer for most of my life. This is one of those weird nights where both of my worlds came together. The skateboard controller felt surprisingly realistic underneath my feet. The concave of the nose and tail were pretty spot on to the real deal. Also, the way RIDE allows you to turn felt reminiscent of a real skateboard.
RIDE Event with Tony Hawk
by Tony DaSilva | 11/17/09 | 10:02 AM PST
A train ride and a short walk brought me up to speed on the latest installment in skateboard gaming, through the eyes of the one and only ESPN donned, Birdman – Tony Hawk. Activision hosted an intimate event in New York City the night before the release to the first skateboard deck controller in the gaming world: RIDE.
A three hour "review period" of the game placed game stations throughout the room. Activision also brought in hordes of kids to grab a hold of free skateboards in a separate room, where they could take a break from the game and sticker up their new decks any way they like. Mix that in with free beers, tacos the size of your big toe served on see-through plates, or miniature grilled cheese sandwiches resembling the size your fingernail, and you've got one hell of an evening ahead of you. Oh and yes, Tony Hawk was there too.
So, enough about the luxuries of being at this type of event: What about the game right?
I've been a skateboarder and gamer for most of my life. This is one of those weird nights where both of my worlds came together. The skateboard controller felt surprisingly realistic underneath my feet. The concave of the nose and tail were pretty spot on to the real deal. Also, the way RIDE allows you to turn felt reminiscent of a real skateboard.
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Check Twice Before Taking Advantage of This GameStop Offer
by David Oxford | 11/17/09 | 9:45 AM PST
It's always a good idea to read the fine print. Especially, it seems, when you're dealing with a GameStop offer.
In anticipation of the holiday's biggest releases, the retailer posted an offer on their website, wherein you trade two listed games and get New Super Mario Bros. Wii for $9.99, or one of a variety of Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 titles for $19.99. And they have a wide selection of games they say are eligible for the trade-in offer...
...except that in the black field below it, they list several games from the list which are "no longer eligible," resulting in a bit of double-speak. "Not sure if this technically qualifies as bait and switch," says Consumerist reader Jeremiah, "since they DO technically inform you that the title is ineligible...but it still seems kind of shady...and something I'm not surprised GameStop would try to pull."
So the question is, are they trying to pull something shady, or did they just get lazy?
Check Twice Before Taking Advantage of This GameStop Offer
by David Oxford | 11/17/09 | 9:45 AM PST
It's always a good idea to read the fine print. Especially, it seems, when you're dealing with a GameStop offer.
In anticipation of the holiday's biggest releases, the retailer posted an offer on their website, wherein you trade two listed games and get New Super Mario Bros. Wii for $9.99, or one of a variety of Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 titles for $19.99. And they have a wide selection of games they say are eligible for the trade-in offer...
...except that in the black field below it, they list several games from the list which are "no longer eligible," resulting in a bit of double-speak. "Not sure if this technically qualifies as bait and switch," says Consumerist reader Jeremiah, "since they DO technically inform you that the title is ineligible...but it still seems kind of shady...and something I'm not surprised GameStop would try to pull."
So the question is, are they trying to pull something shady, or did they just get lazy?
source: The Consumerist
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Weekly Poll Results: Are You Getting the PS3 or Xbox 360 Version of Modern Warfare 2?
by Ken Cauley | 11/17/09 | 8:10 AM PST
At the beginning of each week, we update our Weekly Poll. You can check out the results for last week's poll just below.
What we asked: Are you getting the PS3 or Xbox 360 version of Modern Warfare 2?
What you voted...
Weekly Poll Results: Are You Getting the PS3 or Xbox 360 Version of Modern Warfare 2?
by Ken Cauley | 11/17/09 | 8:10 AM PST
At the beginning of each week, we update our Weekly Poll. You can check out the results for last week's poll just below.
What we asked: Are you getting the PS3 or Xbox 360 version of Modern Warfare 2?
What you voted...
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Square Enix Creating First Global Game with Eidos Montreal
by Eric Jones | 11/16/09 | 7:27 PM PST
Eidos Montreal (or are they called Square Enix Europe Montreal now?) is hard at work at several other games right now, but that isn't stopping them from making a game for their new parent company.
At the recent Montreal Games Summit, Square Enix head honcho Yoichi Wada stopped by to reveal that the RPG giant is co-developing a game with the Montreal branch, marking the first time that Square Enix would be working hand in hand with a western developer.
Let's just hope there's some time and consideration put into this one, and not just the usual Square Enix tactic of putting an established franchise into a new genre.
Square Enix Creating First Global Game with Eidos Montreal
by Eric Jones | 11/16/09 | 7:27 PM PST
Eidos Montreal (or are they called Square Enix Europe Montreal now?) is hard at work at several other games right now, but that isn't stopping them from making a game for their new parent company.
At the recent Montreal Games Summit, Square Enix head honcho Yoichi Wada stopped by to reveal that the RPG giant is co-developing a game with the Montreal branch, marking the first time that Square Enix would be working hand in hand with a western developer.
Let's just hope there's some time and consideration put into this one, and not just the usual Square Enix tactic of putting an established franchise into a new genre.
source: Develop
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Gamer Holiday Cards Now Available From Valve
by Zach Carmichael | 11/16/09 | 2:41 PM PST
With many winter holidays just around the corner, Valve is kicking off the season by releasing festive, game-themed greeting cards. The company is selling greeting cards packages (fittingly titled the "2009 Holiday Card Collection" at $15.95 apiece that depict scenes inspired by some of its most popular titles: Left 4 Dead, Left 4 Dead 2, and Team Fortress. The picture above is one such example.
If you would like to purchase one of these, click here to visit Valve's store.
Gamer Holiday Cards Now Available From Valve
by Zach Carmichael | 11/16/09 | 2:41 PM PST
With many winter holidays just around the corner, Valve is kicking off the season by releasing festive, game-themed greeting cards. The company is selling greeting cards packages (fittingly titled the "2009 Holiday Card Collection" at $15.95 apiece that depict scenes inspired by some of its most popular titles: Left 4 Dead, Left 4 Dead 2, and Team Fortress. The picture above is one such example.
If you would like to purchase one of these, click here to visit Valve's store.
source: Valve
November 20, 2009
