Video Game News:

Madden Smash!

If Electronic Arts' estimation of the sales success of Madden NFL 07 is accurate, this year's game could be headed to the Hall of Fame in no time. The publisher believes that more than 2 million copies of the game have been sold across all platforms in just its first week of release.

This year's first-week sales are up 12 percent over Madden NFL 06's 1.8 million units sold over the same period last year, says EA. Though the franchise has always performed well in retail during its 17-year career, EA's estimation makes Madden NFL 07 the best-selling game in the franchise's history of first-week performance.

Earlier today, Microsoft claimed that the Xbox 360 version had logged more than 2 million hours of online play over Xbox Live--the equivalent of 228 years in just one week.

Cure Cancer with your PS3...if you don't play it.

By K.C. Jones

TechWeb Mon Aug 28, 1:13 PM ET

Researchers at Stanford University have a new use for the Sony Playstation: cancer, Alzheimer's Disease and other illnesses.

They plan to use the cell processor power of Playstation3 to perform calculations for the Folding@Home project, which simulates protein behavior to give scientists clues about the disease process. The molecular simulation project allows researchers to study Alzheimer's Disease, Huntington's Disease and some cancers.

Sony demonstrated their Folding@Home client for the PS3 in Germany last week. Researchers described the development as a major advance in capabilities that were once possible only with supercomputers. While the cell microprocessor helps perform calculations to simulate protein folding, the graphic chip of the Playstation 3 system will show the protein folding process in real-time, using new image technologies, according to researchers.

Gary's Take: Well, PCs have been doing this for a while, and if I can't also help find aliens...meh. Plus Moms everywhere can now tell little Timmy to stop playing or he's helping the terrorists give us cancer.

Live Lives.

50 million pieces of downloads to date, 2 billion Microsoft Points sold, and the fastest downloaded item in Texas Hold 'Em...

Posted: 18:02 on 31 Aug 2006

By: Jon Wilcox

Microsoft has today announced a series of stats surrounding the success of Xbox Live, which include a large number of zeros after every figure.

Since its launch in November 2002, Xbox Live gamers have logged over two billion hours on the network, and since the Xbox 360 launched, the stats become even more overwhelming.

Gamers have spent two billion Microsoft Points since the next-gen system launched at the end of 2005, and over 1.3 million messages sent every single day. Over 60% of Xbox 360 gamers are connected to the service, and over 65% of those have downloaded from Xbox Live Arcade.

Staying on the theme of Xbox Live Arcade, Microsoft has announced that Texas Hold 'Em now has the one-day record for being the fastest downloaded item on Xbox Live - though the fact that it was free for the first 48 hours probably helped matters.

Electronic Arts' Madden NFL 07 has always hit the ground running, with North American gamers unlocking 600,000 Achievement Points and registering two million hours of Xbox Live game time in the first week. Microsoft helpfully converted two million hours into a ore palatable time period...of 228 years.

It seems that Microsoft has unlocked the key to online success in the latest iteration of Xbox Live...

Gary's Take: Although I agree with the assessment that MS found a magic sweet spot, it's still micrtransactions driving this forward. Stringent and prudent guidelines need to be enforced to make sure that developers and MS themselves don't fleece the consumer for things that should ship with the game itself.

New PSP?

PSM unveils two-thumbstick, 8GB PSP?

Source: Posts on Joystiq and Evil Avatar citing an article in the October issue of PSM.

The official story: Sony had not responded to requests for comment as of press time.

What we heard: This week's big rumor comes courtesy of a series of blogs, such as Evil Avatar and Joystiq. Both sites reported that the latest edition of PSM--which touts itself as America's only "independent" PlayStation Magazine--had rock-solid news of a PlayStation Portable redesign.

According to both sites, the October issue of PSM contained an article announcing that a new PSP will ship in March 2007, have eight gigs of built-in flash memory, sport a slimmer form factor, include a built-in camera, and have two--count 'em--two thumbsticks!

Though news of such developments sounded like the answer to many frustrated PSP owners' prayers, it turns out it was premature. GameSpot's supersecret investigative unit took extreme measures and went out and actually bought a copy of PSM.

On page 34 (pictured) of the magazine is the article, titled "The Next PSP Comes Together," that many sites cited as gospel. However, the piece is actually largely speculative. It says that a new, camera-equipped PSP is "expected" next March, but doesn't give a source. It mentions "numerous reports in the semiconductor press" regarding Sony buying large amounts of 8GB flash-memory units--presumably the same reports mentioned in Rumor Control back in February. Nowhere does it say that the new PSP will have 8GB of memory, only that such a move is "likely." The addition of two thumbsticks is mentioned in a clearly marked "if we retooled the PSP" subsection listing changes the PSM editors would like to see in a PSP 2.0. However, the article itself says such an addition is unlikely.

The PSM article does cite "PSP developers who have been briefed on Sony's plans" as saying that the handheld will have "a high degree of connectivity" with the PlayStation 3--something Sony has stated publicly on numerous occasions. Also, "sources familiar with its development" confirmed the new PSP would be "thinner and lighter" than the current model. However, that’s all the article said was set in stone, and PSM is upfront about the rest being speculative--not that such distinctions make a difference in the blogosphere.

Bogus or not bogus?: Bogus.

Gary's take: Damn.

New DS Lite colors.

Onyx Black and Coral Pink DS lites to hit North America from September 13th...

Posted: 16:17 on 28 Aug 2006

By: Chris Leyton

Nintendo has today announced that North American gamers will be able to purchase the DS lite in two new colours from September 13th, Onyx Black and Coral Pink.

What I've been playing:

Dead Rising

Oblivion--new content out soon.

Brain Age

Convention Corner:

Dragon*Con this weekend. First year that we're not going, but VideoVGN will get us footage.

Screamfest--listen to win tickets on O-Rock.

Price Cut?

Patrick Klepek - 1UP Wed Aug 23, 9:19 AM ET

There has been speculation that Microsoft is heavily considering dropping the price of

Xbox 360 this Christmas in order to build a larger gap between its next-generation offering and Sony's PlayStation 3.

Microsoft has denied report after report, but price drops are happening, they just haven't been necessarily spurred by the company -- and we're not talking about the hardware's performance in Japan.

A Microsoft spokesperson speaking to Eurogamer confirmed several European retailers, with the publication pointing out Play.com as an example, have dropped the price of Xbox 360's Core package from 209.99 pounds to 199.99 pounds. No changes appear to have been made to the Premium bundling, so could the drop have been spurred by sales performance? No one's really saying.

"Retail price is set by our retail partners," said a Microsoft spokesperson. "Retailers are already selling Xbox 360 Core System from 199.99 pounds, which we believe is outstanding value to consumers."

Gary's Take: Historically, this precedes one of two things. One is an actual price cut by the hardware company, or two...an act of desperation from the retailers to stop carrying the product.

Signs point more favorably to number 1.

Madden sells like Mad..den.

US console charts: August 14-20

It's a mad, mad, Madden world as EA's exclusive football franchise dominates the Best Buy charts.

By Tor Thorsen, GameSpot

Posted Aug 24, 2006 12:20 pm PT

When Electronic Arts scored exclusive rights to make NFL games in late 2004, many football fans lamented the demise of the ESPN NFL 2K franchise. Given that the two series' fierce rivalry had spawned innovations on both sides, some doomsayers predicted EA's monopoly would lead its venerable gridiron property to stagnation.

Judging by the mixed-to-positive reviews of Madden NFL 07, the series' quality seems to have survived mostly intact. Not that it mattered at retail, though. Preorders of the game--which officially shipped on Tuesday--dominated the most recent Best Buy sales rankings.

The PlayStation 2 edition of Madden NFL 07 was the week's top seller, followed by the 360 version (second), and the Xbox version (third). Two Hall of Fame Editions of the game also made it into the top 10--the PS2 version in fourth and the Xbox 360 version in ninth. Right behind was the PlayStation Portable edition of the game, rounding out the top 10.

If you weren't sacking quarterbacks this week, chances are you were smacking zombies. Dead Rising, Capcom's Xbox 360 horror survival game that lets you use everyday objects as weapons, was the fifth-best-selling game of the week. It landed just above a resurgent Xbox 360 edition of Tomb Raider: Legend, which owed its boost to its now-discounted price of $29.99.

The remaining two slots in Best Buy's top 10 both belonged to the Nintendo DS. Though not a new title anymore, New Super Mario Bros. jumped into ninth place, just two slots down from the ever-popular Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day.

What do they know?

Analysts Predict Massive Unit Reduction For PS3 Launch

Japanese analysts are predicting that issues in the manufacturing process could leave Sony far short of the magic six million...

Posted: 11:54 on 24 Aug 2006

By: Jon Wilcox

At E3 2006, Sony announced that around six million PlayStation3 units would be available between launch in November and the company's end of fiscal year, though analysts from Japan are reporting that the actual figure could be far less.

Representing Mitsubishi UFJ Securities, analyst Masahiko Ishino argued that Sony is facing problems obtaining the required quantities of certain parts for the next-gen system - and that only three million PS3s may be ready for the launch period.

As a result of Ishino-san's remarks, shares in Sony fell by over 3%.

Games is good.

by Glenn Chapman Fri Aug 18, 1:04 PM ET

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - Video games are being treated as serious medicine in the battle against health woes ranging from obesity to cancer and dementia.

Several hundred US game developers, medical workers and government policy makers were set to collaborate in Maryland in September at the Games for Health Project devoted to putting video games in the US medicine chest.

"We think there is a huge potential for games to be used for good," said Richard Tate of HopeLab, the company that created Re-Mission game for children being treated for cancer.

"It is just a matter of designing them thoughtfully and targeting what you want to achieve with the design."

Re-Mission combined biological accuracy with animated heroine "Roxxi," billed as "a gutsy, fully armed nanobot that seeks out and destroys cancer cells throughout the human body."

Patients that played the game were more apt to take their medicine, undergo needed therapy and believe they could beat cancer, according to HopeLab, which is based in Palo Alto, California.

HopeLab had filled more than 30,000 orders for the game from 55 countries since launching Re-Mission in April, according to Tate.

HopeLab is working on games to treat autism, depression, sickle cell anemia, and childhood obesity, according to Tate.

"We do think the model can be replicated," Tate said.

HopeLab planned to share what it learned about researching and designing the game at the Health Games gathering at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore.

The third annual conference was informally referred to as "the exergames" in the spirit of meshing exercise and play.

Among those expected to attend were representatives from the US

National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control, according to organizer Ben Sawyer.

What I've been playing:

Dead Rising. This games owns me.

Brain Age

Convention Corner:

"By now I am sure you have heard about the tragic event that took place on June 24th. The murder of Tracy Bennawit, owner of the Kinetix LAN gaming center, sent shockwaves through the gaming community of Central Florida, and in response the community would like to do something to honor her. If you would be interested in supporting an event in Tracy’s honor, in any way, please let me know and I will get you updated information about the direction the event is headed as soon as possible. Any support is welcome, and we are looking for this event to be, at its very least, community wide, so no effort is too big or too small."

So we're heading out to this event on Saturday, August 26th at about 6pm.

Location:

Gigabits LAN

12243 University Blvd.

Orlando, FL 32817

(407) 281 – 0020

Starts at 3pm.

It's for a good cause and is basically a gaming day event to celebrate this woman's life and have some fun.

They are arranging things still, so the particulars of the charity portion aren't as clear as I'd like, but I'll update when I get that info.

If you have some spare time, please come out and hang for a bit.

Also:

MLG Tournament Event

Orlando

August 25-27, 2006

Wyndham Orlando Resort

In the peak Summer months, MLG will head to the beautifully sunny lands of Orlando for its fifth and final Regular Season stop on the 2006 Pro Circuit tour. In addition to the $50,000 in cash prizes, this event will serve as the last chance for players to earn invitations for the Playoffs that will afford them the luxury of skipping the frantic and harrowing Wild Card portion of the New York event. With so much on the line, there is no doubt that the competition will reach ridiculous levels in a massive struggle for Pro Status and Playoff invitations.

Fight for Good.

By Marc Saltzman, Special for USA TODAY Tue Aug 15, 7:10 AM ET

Video games are not just about reaching high scores or blowing off steam after a long day at work or school. The $10 billion interactive entertainment industry is also finding that games can be a tool for good - from healing your mind and body to solving world problems.

The latest positive pursuits in games range from burning calories and fighting cancer to tackling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"We've known for a while that games can sharpen memory and improve hand-eye coordination, but they can also be used to teach problem-solving skills, increase our awareness of world issues, help with social phobias and can even treat those with serious illnesses," says Ben Sawyer, co-founder and director of the Games for Health Project, an organization that brings together medical professionals, researchers and gamemakers to explore new ways to improve health care practice and policy. "What we're realizing now is that gaming, as a medium, has become more than just entertainment."

Among the two dozen or more games scheduled to be on display at the Games for Health Conference, scheduled for Sept. 28-29 in Baltimore, are Re-Mission, a game that gives cancer patients a chance to blast malignant cells; Food Force, about the

United Nations' struggles in delivering food to needy parts of the world; and Peacemaker, a game about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"Gaming has the capacity to teach us that problems are multifaceted," Sawyer says. "This is a clear case of learning by doing. The U.N. game, for example, can show you what an organization is all about - and let's face it, it's far more effective than a pamphlet."

Video games clearly have a powerful effect on gamers, says David Walsh, president of the National Institute for Media and the Family.

"The really good ones tend to be very, very addictive. But these games can be good teachers. We just have to pay attention to what they are teaching," he says. "As the industry becomes more mature, hopefully the creative possibilities will be applied to more positive themes."

On popular video systems, games that exercise the mind and body have become big hits. Konami has sold more than four million Dance Dance Revolution games in North America since 2001. (Players connect a dance mat to a video game console, choose a song and step on the correct arrows according to the on-screen instructions.)

Nintendo has sold more than 4 million copies worldwide of Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day since its 2005 launch and more than 250,000 copies of Big Brain Academy in the two months it has been available in the USA.

These two games ($20 each) for the portable Nintendo DS system offer brain-sharpening activities that range from reading and counting exercises to word games and drawing challenges to Sudoku puzzles.

Their appeal? "Video games serve as relaxing getaways as you become temporarily entranced by them, melting away the days' stressors," says Dr. Carl Arinoldo, a Long Island, N.Y.-based psychologist.

Gary's Take: This plus news recently about ADD children finding focus from video games, and where do you hear about it? Not on the local news...

RUMOR CENTRAL:

There was a huge rumor going around that MS was going to force people to buy a HD-DVD add on to play certain games.

"Microsoft hasn’t determined whether to do Xbox 360 games in blue-laser HD DVD, but has ruled it out for "this holiday" when it ships its HD DVD drive for movie playback through the Xbox 360, said Dave Luehmann, gen. mgr.- Microsoft Game Studios."

Although MS quickly said no to this, it didn't stop fan boys from frothing at the mouth and making photoshops to their little hearts content in the effort to appear humorous.

UPDATE: Looks like we can put the issue to rest. Microsoft has, once again, officially denied they will be releasing games on the upcoming HD-DVD format, confirming the add-on will be movie-exclusive. The statement released from the company this afternoon makes that pretty clear, and they don't appear to be leaving room to budge:

We're seeing lots of speculation about our upcoming HD DVD Player, and whether we have plans to publish HD DVD games. The answer is no.

XBOX Live to allow user created games

August 14, 2006

BREAKING: Microsoft To Enable User-Created Xbox 360 Games

BREAKING: Microsoft To Enable User-Created Xbox 360 Games Talking on the eve of its Gamefest event in Seattle, Microsoft has revealed XNA Game Studio Express, a new product which will allow indie developers and students to develop simultaneously on Xbox 360 and PC, and share their games to others in a new Xbox 360 'Creators Club'.

The details of the new tech are as follows: XNA Game Studio Express will be available for free to anyone with a Windows XP-based PC, and will provide them with what's described as "Microsoft's next-generation platform for game development." In addition, by joining a "creators club" for an annual subscription fee of $99, users will be able to build, test and share their games on Xbox 360, as well as access a wealth of materials to help speed the game development progress.

[UPDATE - Further information on the new XNA product has been released by Microsoft as part of an official XNA FAQ, including plenty of specific details on how and when the service will debut, and what pre-requisites to game sharing and collaboration are included.]

In an official statement related to this major announcement, Microsoft suggested that the new product "...will democratize game development by delivering the necessary tools to hobbyists, students, indie developers and studios alike to help them bring their creative game ideas to life while nurturing game development talent, collaboration and sharing that will benefit the entire industry."

The games created with XNA Game Studio Express will not initially be available to regular Xbox 360 users, but a longer-term goal is to create a less restricted distribution market using Xbox Live - the company has commented that "Eventually, you’ll be able to distribute that code to other Xbox 360s, opening up a unique publishing avenue which will democratize game development on consoles."

In the meantime, a second XNA toolset named Game Studio Professional, originally scheduled tentatively for an early 2006 release, is now due in spring 2007, and is intended to cater more directly to professionals aiming for Windows and XBLA game releases.

ALSO

Genesis collection revealed

Sega reveals full list of games from 16-bit system to be included in upcoming retro compilation for PS2, PSP.

By Brendan Sinclair, GameSpot

Posted Aug 17, 2006 2:39 pm PT

Last week, Sega announced that it was bringing a retro compilation of Genesis games to the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable later this year. The publisher confirmed that Golden Axe, Sonic the Hedgehog, Shinobi III, Altered Beast, and a Phantasy Star game would be among the included titles.

After a week of speculation, Sega has provided gamers with a full list of 28 Genesis titles that will be included in the collection. The rest of the originally promised "more than 30" games should be accounted for by unlockable arcade games.

It turns out each of the previously confirmed franchises (except Altered Beast) will be represented by multiple games, with Phantasy Star and Golden Axe each seeing installments included in the compilation. Joining that list of Sega luminaries will be a number of lesser-known (but still fondly remembered) games like Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle, Ecco the Dolphin, Kid Chamelon, and Vectorman.

The full list of Genesis titles included in the collection follows:

Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle

Altered Beast

Bonanza Bros.

Columns

Comix Zone

Decap Attack starring Chuck D. Head

Ecco the Dolphin

Ecco II: The Tides of Time

Ecco Jr.

Kid Chameleon

Flicky

Gain Ground

Golden Axe

Golden Axe II

Golden Axe III

Phantasy Star II

Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom

Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millenium

Ristar

Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi

Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master

Sonic the Hedgehog

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Super Thunder Blade

Sword of Vermilion

Vectorman

Vectorman 2

Virtua Fighter 2

Bully being bullied

By K.C. Jones

TechWeb Mon Aug 14, 8:11 PM ET

A Florida lawyer said Monday that he is on a mission to stop the release of Bully, a video game scheduled to come out in October.

Developer Rockstar claims the game will teach young people how to navigate through the tricky and sometimes brutal social pitfalls of high school. Bully puts the player in the position of a new kid who has to confront bullies, deal with teachers, get the girl and avoid detention at a corrupt boarding school. Though it has not been released yet, a sneak peek reveals that the main character, Jimmy Hopkins kicks and wields a baseball bat during his journey.

Attorney Jack Thompson, who has appeared on 60 Minutes, CNN and ABC World News Tonight, has crusaded against violent lyrics and video games for years. He called the yet-to-be-released game a "Columbine simulator."

Thompson represented the parents of three children killed in Paducah, Ky. in 1997, when one of their classmates went on a shooting rampage. He and investigators said that 14-year-old Michael Carneal had spent hours playing video games that simulate violence.

Thompson tried unsuccessfully to obtain damages from game creators, claiming they were negligent in distributing games that spawned violent behaviors in children. The case was dismissed, but Thompson said his interactions with the family launched a lifelong commitment.

"These people changed my life, broke my heart," he said. "I believe people are going to be harmed because of these games. This is not just some effort by some 55-year-old guy dictating entertainment taste for other people's children. I've got a dog in this hunt and I know where their skeletons are. I think this is the most ridiculous game anyone has come up with."

Thompson, who has also targeted rappers like N.W.A., is seeking a congressional subpoena for an early copy. He said he is prepared to file suit Friday in Miami if he does not gain help from U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns (news, bio, voting record), a Florida Republican.

His ultimate goal is to prevent the release of the video. He said that once the video is out, "the horse will be out of the barn and it will be too late to do anything about it." He said he plans to argue that it violates Florida's public nuisance laws, which prohibit activities that can injure the health of the community.

What I've been playing:

Dead Rising!!!!

Uno

Anime News:

No Anime Explosion this month, taking time off after AFO.

Con Corner:

Comic Con this weekend!

Caribe Royal
8101 World Center Drive
Orlando, Fl.

In the wake of E3

Gen Con expands gaming focus, moves into LA Convention Center digs; Austin Game Conference to host largest show yet next month.

By Brendan Sinclair, GameSpot

Posted Aug 10, 2006 1:42 pm PT

The Electronic Entertainment Expo is downsizing, but it appears that other conferences are getting bigger. The 2006 Austin Game Conference will have more exhibitors and sponsors than ever before, while the Indianapolis Gen Con hobby game convention is increasing its focus on video games and relocating its satellite Gen Con So Cal show to better accommodate the gaming industry.

The Austin Game Conference organizers today said they have tallied a record 100 exhibitors and sponsors for the show, which will take place September 6-8 in the Austin Convention Center. This year's show, the first to be stretched out over three days, will also feature more than 100 speakers. The Casual Games Conference, Game Writers Conference, and Game Audio Conference will take place during the same span of time and share space in the convention center.

Also this week, Gen Con organizers announced that their hobby game conventions will step in to fill the void left by E3--literally. Gen Con So Cal 2006 is set for November 16-19 in Anaheim, California, but starting next year, the show is moving into the Los Angeles Convention Center, longtime home of E3.

"This move will better serve the entertainment industry, so prevalent in the gaming industry and more importantly make Gen Con more accessible to consumers who wish to see the latest and greatest in all things gaming," the company said in a statement.

As for its main show, the Indianapolis, Indiana-based Gen Con Indy, the 2006 edition of which kicks off today and runs through Sunday, it too is expanding. The company will add an extra 43,000 square feet of space for the 2007 show "in order to better accommodate the video game business..."

Halo the Musical? Nope...

By Borys Kit and Tatiana Siegel Thu Aug 10, 1:06 AM ET

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Commercials and music video director Neill Blomkamp will make his feature debut on "Halo," the big-screen adaptation of the video game series.

The games follow Master Chief and his companion Cortana as they try to save the galaxy from alien forces called the Flood. Halo refers to an artificial ringworld that actually is a weapon capable of destroying the galaxy. Alex Garland ("28 Days Later") wrote the screenplay.

The South African native is known for commercials that feature robots and a dose of urban grittiness. His eye-popping commercial for Citroen, which featured a car that transformed into a hip-hop-dancing robot, won three Clio Awards. He also directed "Alive in Joburg," a documentary-style short about space aliens trying to live in the slums of Johannesburg.

The film's executive producer

Peter Jackson saw some of Blomkamp's work and flew him to New Zealand for a meeting. Jackson's Weta effects shop is providing creatures, miniatures and visual effects for the production.

Universal will distribute domestically, and Fox will handle foreign territories. The movie is eyeing a 2008 release.

Squeenix console?

Yoichi Wada speaks to Japanese financial site about his company's possible hardware plans...

Posted: 10:54 on 08 Aug 2006

By: Jon Wilcox

Speaking to the online financial publication Nikkei Business Online, Square Enix and Taito CEO Yoichi Wada has suggested that his company plans to enter the hardware market - in one shape or another.

In the interview, which has subsequently been translated by US-based Gamespot, Wada-san commented: "This is one of the reasons Square Enix will collaborate with Taito, a company that produces physical hardware..In our talks with Taito, ideas for an actual physical product have come up. In any case, we will be releasing some 'thing.' It's interesting in that it's not the sort of thing you expect from Square Enix."

With Taito focusing in the past on arcade machines, it would seem that likely that Square-Enix would enter into that area of hardware - the idea that they'd 'do a Microsoft' and enter the home console market is pretty much unthinkable thanks to the vast costs involved.

PS3 struggling

By Justin Mann, TechSpot.com

Published: August 10, 2006, 4:13 PM EST

Despite the increased pressure from Microsoft to come out with something amazing, Sony is still fumbling a bit with the PS3. Lately, two additional titles planned for the PS3 have been cancelled. The titles, "Dark RPG" and "Black Blade" were both being developed by FROM Software. Given that FROM wasn't willing to comment on the cancellation, it probably was something bitter between Sony and them. This is in addition to other cancellations Sony has seen recently, leaving some a bit disheartened about the PS3 release. Even if your console is the best thing since sliced bread, without games nobody will bother. I for one hope Sony can still get a good library of great games ready for it, because I am not willing to put down a large chunk of money for something with a microscopic game selection. To their credit, they have well over 100 titles planned.

The two games in question were for the Japanese release, and initially announced in 2005. FROM Software is also developing Armored Core 4, a mech sim game.

Ubi Confirms Prince of Persia Wii Rumours

After online speculation, Ubisoft confirms that the time-twisting Persian Prince will be heading for Wii...

Posted: 12:15 on 08 Aug 2006

By: Jon Wilcox

Following the release of the third part in the Sands of Time trilogy, The Two Thrones, earlier in 2006, speculation as to when the Prince of Persia would make a return to console has continued - most recently with online whispers that the franchise would be heading to Wii.

Though not forming part of the launch line-up for Nintendo's next-gen console, Ubisoft has today confirmed to US entertainment publication IGN that the rumours were true: Prince of Persia will be coming to Wii at some point in the future.

In the statement, a Ubisoft representative said, "I can confirm that a game based on the popular Prince of Persia franchise is one of many titles Ubisoft has in development for Nintendo's Wii. At this time we cannot provide an official date for the game or any additional information about it."

HD on 360 on the cheap

By Derek Sooman, TechSpot.com

Published: August 10, 2006, 5:07 AM EST

Microsoft has promised that the HD DVD solution to be made available for the Xbox 360, due for release later this year, will be the cheapest HD DVD Player on the market.

The company recently demonstrated the HD DVD player for the Xbox 360 at the DVD Forum event in Los Angeles, and although an exact price has yet to be made known, many are expecting a price point somewhere in the region of $200, which is very reasonable indeed. However, Microsoft's director of global marketing, Albert Penello, has said that the company has as yet not finalized the price of the HD DVD player internally.

"Here's the truth, we're still thinking about it. Here's what I can tell you for sure, it's going to be the cheapest HD-DVD player you can buy... without a doubt, when it comes out," said Penello. "Everybody is very enthusiastic with the direction we're going. There are still a few surprises left. I don't want to spill the beans yet, but I think people are going to think it's a great value."

The cheapest HD DVD players on the market currently cost in the region of $400 to $500. However, since the Xbox 360 itself will be handling a lot of the work involved in the necessary processing, the Microsoft player will be substantially cheaper.

What I've Been Playing:

Chromehounds

Brain Age

Dead Rising!!!

Anime News:

Speed Racer!!!

Wachowski's "Speed Racer" Ready

Posted: Monday August 7th 2006 12:12am

Source: Production Weekly

Author: Garth Franklin

The Wachowski siblings proposed live-action adaptation of Japanese anime classic "Speed Racer" is now on the starting line awaiting the greenlight at Warner Bros. reports Production Weekly.

The production has set up shop on the Burbank lot, taking over the offices that were home to Bryan Singer's now defunct "Logan's Run" remake. The move comes two years after the film was first proposed by actor Vince Vaughn who confirmed last month he still remains committed to the project.

The film would see Vaughn play Racer X, the long-lost but protective brother of the title character who is a young driver that travels from race to race with his family.

Con Corner:

Screamfest!!

October 13-15 at the Wyndam Orlando Resort, home of AFO!!

Video Game News:

E3 downgraded to a category  E1

By Lisa Baertlein Mon Jul 31, 7:01 PM ET

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Entertainment Software Association said on Monday it will pare down and refocus its Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3Expo) trade show at the urging of game publishers who are moving to new video game consoles.

The success of new games and devices can be made or broken at the annual E3Expo, which is the biggest and most influential conference for an industry that rivaled Hollywood box office revenue with U.S. sales of nearly $13 billion last year.

E3Expo will continue to be a showcase for new games and consoles, but will have a more intimate and targeted format, said ESA president Douglas Lowenstein.

"The world of interactive entertainment has changed since E3Expo was created 12 years ago," Lowenstein said. "It is no longer necessary or efficient to have a single industry 'mega-show."'

The show, which turns a profit, is an overwhelming extravaganza of light, sound and over-the-top marketing that includes hiring attractive models to work as "booth babes." Some 60,000 people turned out for the 2006 show in May.

ESA is not privy to the number of deals forged at the event.

The original intent of the E3Expo was to raise the profile of the industry and to foster relationships between game makers and retailers. As the industry has grown and matured, numerous niche trade shows have sprung up, catering to different aspects of the now-mainstream entertainment product.

E3Expo's new format, which Lowenstein said has the unanimous backing of ESA's board, will be less disruptive to studio development schedules, while offering publishing teams the chance to have more personal and effective meetings, according to one large game maker that asked not to be named.

Emergence Day Revealed

Microsoft Game Studios and Epic Games reveal North American/European release dates for Gears of War...

Posted: 14:01 on 03 Aug 2006

By: Chris Leyton

Coming mere minutes after our last report on Gears of War and the looming "Major Announcement", Microsoft Game Studios and Epic Games today officially lifted the wraps on when Emergence Day will occur.

Scheduled for release in North America on November 12th and 17th in Europe (just in time for the PS3), Gears of War will be released in both standard and limited editions. The latter will provide an even greater insight into the world of Gears of War, with an official "Destroyed Beauty" art-book and a bonus "Making Of..." DVD.

"'Gears of War' represents the emergence of a thrilling new franchise for Xbox 360 and is the must-have game of 2006," said Shane Kim, general manager of Microsoft Game Studios. "Combining the best in innovative gameplay, next-generation graphics and interactive storytelling, Epic has harnessed the extraordinary power of Xbox 360 to create an extremely powerful and immersive entertainment experience."

"Our vision is to deliver a one-two punch of cinematic action paired with a thrilling and compelling interactive experience," said Cliff Bleszinski, lead designer at Epic. "With 'Gears of War' we've created a title that will place gamers directly in the shadows of a ravaged world, surrounded by the beautiful remnants of a destroyed city and the horrific dangers that hide in the rubble."

The Ubisoft 7

Blazing Angels, Far Cry, Open Season, and more join Red Steel and Rayman Raving Rabbids as day-one games for Nintendo's console.

By Tim Surette, GameSpot

Posted Aug 3, 2006 12:08 pm PT

Monster 4X4: World Circuit.

In mid-July, one unnamed hedge fund manager told TheStreet.com that there was one publisher well prepared to reap success from the launch of the Nintendo Wii. Citing the high-profile game Red Steel, the source said only Ubisoft correctly tapped into the crowd-pleasing potential of the Wii, while other publishers were caught flat-footed by the console's successful stint at E3 2006.

Apparently the source's comment was an understatement. Ubisoft today revealed exactly how prepared it was for the Wii's launch--the publisher has seven launch titles prepped for the Wii's first day in stores. Previously, Ubisoft only revealed that Red Steel and Rayman Raving Rabbids would be available at launch. In comparison, the most prolific publisher for the Xbox 360's launch was Electronic Arts, who boasted five games.

"Media and analysts agree that Ubisoft has the greatest potential for reward with the new console's launch because we believed in it from the beginning," said Laurent Detoc, president of Ubisoft North America.

The five new titles should sound familiar to many gamers. Blazing Angels lands on the Wii after battling it out on the Xbox 360, Xbox, and the PC earlier this year. A game based on the Far Cry franchise will allow Wii owners to control hero Jack Carver with the Wii-mote. Also confirmed was a Wii version of Open Season, based on the movie of the same name, which also hits several other platforms. Ubi will also bring over a pair of racers--Monster 4X4: World Circuit (previously released on the Xbox) and GT Pro Series, from the developers of the GT Advance series.

Naruto invades again.

Posted: 10:59 on 03 Aug 2006

By: Jon Wilcox

Earlier in the summer, rumblings from Japan emerged about a possible return to PlayStation2 for the Jump franchise, Naruto. The news was that the game (called Naruto: Konoha Spirits) would be arriving on Japanese store shelves in Autumn 2006.

Today Namco Bandai has announced that the game, re-titled Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles, would also be heading for North America during the Winter months. Following the story of Naruto and his friends, Uzumaki Chronicles features a brand new storyline and 'large-scale ninja combat' as the young ninja tries to reach his goal of becoming one of the most admired ninjas of all time.

"On the heels of the resounding success of 'NARUTOTM: Ultimate Ninja,' fans of the series have been clamoring for new NARUTO adventures on the PlayStation 2," said Naruo Uchida, NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.'s Senior Vice President. "With 'NARUTO: Uzumaki Chronicles,' we will deliver another layer of gameplay depth to the franchise by introducing an original storyline and providing an opportunity for fans to engage in large-scale ninja combat, all the while exploring familiar locations of the Naruto universe in an adventure setting."

Whilst a European publisher for the game remains unknown, the fact that a Naruto title for Xbox 360 was confirmed back in April 2006 by Ubisoft, may mean that the French company will decide to distribute Uzumaki Chronicles too.

Industry responds to E3 decision.

By Laurie Sullivan

TechWeb Tue Aug 1, 7:48 PM ET

Entertainment Software Association President Doug Lowenstein confirmed on Tuesday that the Electronic Entertainment Expo would become a smaller intimate by-invitation-only event known as E3 Media Festival likely held in a hotel lobby, according to various reports.

News began trickling out Sunday that the conference organizer would downsize and overhaul E3. By Monday, the ESA confirmed the move.

E3 treats more than 60,000 industry professionals each year to video games and sensory overload in the Los Angeles Convention Center. But that has all become a thing of the past. The E3 media festival expects to host as few as 5,000 guests.

Reaction from game developers is mixed. "It's a little like downsizing Mardi Gras in New Orleans," said Bruce Haring, editor in chief of the Global Gaming League (GGL) Web sites, which design and host online video game competitions. "It drew so many people that a smaller event would allow greater media access to specific publications."

E3 has been the showcase for game publishers to preview their lineups for the past 12 years. The 2006 show brought out hundreds of games expected to launch next year, and first-time hands-on demonstrations of the Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii game consoles.

Greg Schumsky, president at Covenant Studios Inc., a small developer of Christian video games and animation, welcomed the news. "E3 could be a little more personal," he said. "It's really difficult to get the time you need with the console makers. I like the Game Developers Conference because it's a lot smaller and easier to talk with the people you need to connect with."

Schumsky said there's been talk that several publishers would turn to holding company-specific events to showcase their wares.

What I've been Playing:

Chromehounds

99 Nights

Brain Age

Saint's Row--I actually liked it!

Kameo

Anime News:

Con Corner:

AFO Recap:

I loved it.

Is This Real?

Region Free Wii?

Well not really, but what did you expect...

Posted: 18:57 on 26 Jul 2006

By: Chris Leyton

There used to be a time when one or two grey-imports in your collection was the true mark of being a gamer. Waiting months for a game to finally appear, or in many cases never actually making it, paying over the odds and circumventing territory lockouts on the machines themselves, was often the only option available to the more serious gamer - not that TVG condones interfering with hardware, you're always left with one odd bit!

But in this day and age of an increasingly smaller worldwide market and shorter release periods (with the exception of Square-Enix), grey imports aren't necessarily as much of a necessity to gamers as they used to be.

With the PSP and Nintendo DS continuing the handheld tradition of being region-free, Sony's confirmation that the PlayStation3 would follow suit came as a small surprise, given their notoriously hard stance on grey-importers.

IGN recently had the chance to put the question of territory-lockout to Nintendo's Perrin Kaplan, who managed to dodge providing a definite answer with the skilful poise that we've come to expect from Nintendo executives.

"Clearly, the success of Nintendo DS has offered a lot of lessons about what works in the marketplace - and we certainly intend to keep our fans satisfied. For the Wii system, we are finalizing all the relevant details and will be making announcements in the coming months."

The situation is muddled even further as Kaplan appears to backtrack on the slight suggestion and discusses the worldwide nature of the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection instead, "We will share a lot of ways people can play globally, regionally, without boundaries. You're right that the region-free approach has proved to be a successful and attractive feature for Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection on Nintendo DS - we have even blown the doors off our own anticipated numbers! Cost, ease-of-use and player privacy are the three things that were a focus for us with Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Those priorities also will apply to the Wii system."

So there you have it, with a Press Release deliberately issued to whip up the fanboys and the continued stance against releasing too many details, surely it can't be too long before Nintendo decides to come out with what the fans want to know.

SIM Animal

Animal-friendly Sims game will expand on PCs, stand alone on consoles, handhelds; content will differ between platforms.

By Tim Surette, GameSpot

Posted Jul 27, 2006 9:03 am PT

One of the things Sims fans have been clamoring for in the Sims 2 are pets--and they're not talking about a decorative fish bowl or a rodent spinning in a hamster wheel. The Sims community has been asking for dogs and cats to be included in the life simulator, and Electronic Arts has finally obliged.

The Sims 2 Pets has been officially announced, after being teased at this year's E3. A promotional clip of the game was shown at EA's booth, but information was spotty at best. There was speculation that the game would be an expansion for The Sims 2 PC edition, a stand-alone console game, a booster pack, or even its own spin-off.

Those questions were answered today. The game is coming to the PC as an expansion pack, and in a somewhat surprising move, the game will also be going for a walk on consoles, namely the PlayStation 2, GameCube, PlayStation Portable, DS, and Game Boy Advance. Currently, there are no plans to release an Xbox edition. All versions will ship on October 17, except for the PSP version, which gets let out in November.

Every edition will include "dogs, cats, caged animals, and more," as well as a create-a-pet feature that gives gamers an opportunity to design their own puppy or kitty. Various color schemes, body types, and markings will be available, as well as personalities.

Owners will also be responsible for training their four-legged friends, or risk having cats claw up furniture and dogs make a mess of the house. As players progress through the game, they'll receive codes for unlockable items, such as accessories, pet markings, or fur types, which can be shared with other Sims 2 Pets players.

Deal with the Devil

By Antone Gonsalves

TechWeb Fri Jul 21, 5:49 PM ET

The Federal Trade Commission has officially approved a deal with "Grand Theft Auto" maker Take-Two Interactive Software Inc., which got into trouble with regulators for hiding sexually explicit material in the popular video game.

The commission unanimously approved the consent order and agreement in which the New York-based company promised not to misrepresent video game ratings or content descriptors on packaging, Take-Two said Friday. In addition, the company had agreed to implement a system to ensure that all game content is disclosed to ratings organizations.

"We are extremely pleased that the FTC has concluded its very thorough investigation, and that the matter has been resolved," Paul Eibeler, president and chief executive of Take-Two, said in a statement. "We look forward to putting this behind us and focusing on what we do best - creating video games."

The FTC launched an investigation of the company last year after secret character nudity and graphic sex scenes were uncovered in "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas." The scenes could be unlocked by installing a small modification, or "mod," file.

The FTC later said Take-Two violated the law when it accepted an "M" rating for the game, which means it was acceptable for anyone 17 years old or older. If the company had disclosed the existence of the sex scenes, the game would have earned an "AO," or Adults Only, rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board.

Betting the farm.

By Pete Harrison Fri Jul 21, 4:31 AM ET

LONDON (Reuters) - PartyGaming plans to expand aggressively outside the United States, but sees no risk of being dragged into the U.S. indictment of a rival for racketeering, the world's biggest online gaming firm said.

As PartyGaming reported a 49 percent boost to second quarter revenues on Friday, Chief Executive Mitch Garber said he was not concerned by the U.S. indictment of rival BETonSPORTS on charges of racketeering and tax evasion.

The results beat some analysts forecasts and PartyGaming's volatile stock rose 5 percent before falling back to its opening price of 87-1/4 pence by 0758 GMT.

BETonSPORTS Chief Executive David Carruthers faces his first court hearing later on Friday after being arrested on allegations of taking illegal sports bets in the United States.

Over $1 billion of combined market value has been wiped off the sector this week as investors speculated the arrest could be part of a wider crackdown on Web gaming. Garber said this could provide an opportunity to make cheap acquisitions.

What I've Been Playing:

Chromehounds

Brain Age

Burnout: Revenge

Anime News:

Con Corner:

AFO!!

My Panels:

RPG Panel
5pm Friday
Studio A, Salon F


Chogokin a beeyotch
4:30pm Saturday
Studio B, Salon G

DS Lite Problems

By Tim Surette, GameSpot

Posted Jul 20, 2006 12:21 pm PT

Earlier this week, several owners of Nintendo's new DS Lite voiced concern over a small problem with their handhelds. Reports of a small crack on the left hinge of the dual-screened portable began popping up around the country, indicating that it wasn't just an isolated incident.

Nintendo wasn't immediately available for comment at the time, but today the company released a statement addressing issue.

"In the U.S., the reported number of small cosmetic cracks in the plastic hinge of DS Lite systems represents less than 0.02 percent of the total units sold. This cosmetic issue in no way impacts the gameplay or integrity of the DS Lite. Nintendo stands behind the quality of our products and encourages DS Lite owners to contact our Customer Service Department if they are not happy with the functionality of their systems."

ALIENS!!!

Alien Hominid & Castle Crushers For Xbox Live Arcade

The Behemoth confirm the appearance of the alien on Xbox Live Arcade along with their next title...

Posted: 10:34 on 20 Jul 2006

By: Chris Leyton

The Behemoth have confirmed plans to take Alien Hominid to Xbox Live Arcade, according to a report on Game Informer from The Comic-Con International taking place in San Diego.

Game Informer also suggests that Xbox Live Arcade will also provide the platform for their eagerly awaited next title, Castle Crushers, which was originally planned for the GameCube but will now appear on Microsoft's next-gen format during Q1 2007.

Arrests made for On-Line gambling...

Natali Del Conte - PC Magazine Thu Jul 20, 10:35 AM ET

Has online gambling crapped out?

David Carruthers became the latest poster boy – or scapegoat, depending on one's perspective -- when he was arrested in Dallas on charges of racketeering, conspiracy and an illegal online gambling enterprise. While on a layover to Costa Rica, where his company is based, Carruthers, chief executive officer for BetOnSports was arrested and detained on Sunday, forcing the online gambling community to take note.

Carruthers' arrest seems to have spooked online gaming executives. A major gaming conference, scheduled for next week in Las Vegas, has been cancelled. The Bodog.com Marketing Conference typically attracts gaming professionals from all over the world but as soon as word of Carruthers arrest spread, attendees began canceling.

"No senior executive from a gaming company was going to come after [the arrest] happened," said Calvin Ayre, founder and chief executive officer for Bodog.com.

"Nobody in the industry right now wants to come into the United States," Ayre said. "We're talking business people here. The people who run the online gaming industry are business people. They're not criminals. Nobody wants to be the test case for a prosecutor trying to make a name for themselves."

The conference will likely be held in the UK, Canada, the Bahamas, or Costa Rica in the next few months. Ayre said that this was likely the last year that it would have been held in the U.S. anyway because America is so unfriendly to the gaming industry.

But BetOnSports is not a typical online gaming company. They deal in sports betting, which is clearly outlawed by the Federal Wire Act of 1961, and they once operated in the United States. Most Bodog attendees are in the card gaming business and operate overseas, which makes them a bit more untouchable by the U.S. government. But they're not willing to gamble with the prospect of prosecution.

PS3s being shipped?

News from China begins to emerge that the first batch of PS3 consoles have left manufacturing...

Posted: 14:27 on 19 Jul 2006

By: Jon Wilcox

Two Chinese publications are reporting that the first batch of PlayStation3 units have already left their manufacturing plants.

The reports, in the Apple Daily and the Commercial Times (by way of English-language Chinese tech site, DigiTimes Systems), claim that component manufacturer Asus Tek began to ship PlayStation3 units at the start of July.

Neither Asus Tek or Sony are commenting on the reports, but what is interesting is that DigiTimes note that the first launch consignment could be four million - double the amount estimated by Sony earlier in the year.

What I've been playing:

Condemned: Criminal Origins...FINISHED! VERY creepy game!

Brain Age--NDS

UNO!

Smash TV

Anime News:

Anime Explosion!!

Even with AFO7 just one week away, we didnt want leave you out in the cold for your monthly midnight anime fix! This month's movie is:

Hyper Speed GranDoll

Hikaru has always believed herself to be just a normal high school girl ... well, as normal as a teenager with a genius mad scientist for a father. She spends her time with her best friend, day dreaming about the boy she loves and watching her favoite super hero show. One day, the past that she has knows nothing about comes back to haunt her. She is shocked to learn that she is the last surviving member of royal line from a far away planet. Even more, she finds out that she has been protecting the ultimate armour and that it can decide the fate of the entire galaxy.

Running Time: approx. 90 minutes

When: Midnight, Friday, July 21

Where: The AMC Universal Cineplex at Universal City Walk Orlando

We will begin wristbanding at 10:30 pm at the table just inside the lobby.

Cya at the movies!

Con Corner:

AFO 7

5pm on Friday, RPG panel with me, Gary Holmes. Plus next week, free tickets to AFO!!! Only on VGN.

Big thank you to Orlando Fashion Square Mall for Pirates last week! Thanks to all involved! More events coming soon?

Retro Raggy,

Walaika K. Haskins, newsfactor.com Thu Jul 13, 12:20 PM ET

Microsoft has launched an

Xbox Live program that promises to take nostalgia hounds back to the days when big hair and bigger shoulder pads were de rigueur and video arcades were the hangout of choice for countless teenagers.

On Wednesday, the Xbox-maker began offering Xbox 360 gamers a chance to open the equivalent of a video game time capsule and play one of the all-time favorite video games: Frogger.

The new Arcade Wednesdays program promises to bring updated versions of popular 1980s-era games, such as Pac-Man, Galaga, and Street Fighter II, to the Xbox 360 platform every week.

Extreme Makeover

Currently, Microsoft offers 20 arcade games for sale to Xbox 360 owners through Xbox Live Arcade. According to Greg Canessa, group program manager for Xbox Live Arcade, Microsoft plans to have at least 50 titles in the program by the end of the year. The games will sell for between $5 and $10 each.

"A good game never dies," Canessa said. "Our strategy is to pick the best games, just the cream of the crop, ones with evergreen game mechanics that never got old."

To increase the games' appeal for today's gamers, Microsoft has given the retro titles a makeover. Frogger, for instance, has been "upgraded and reinvigorated" for the Xbox 360.

The game's audio, including sound effects and music ditties, has been modernized for a crisper and clearer sound that will play better on high-performance sound systems. Other upgrades include new split-screen multiplayer modes.

EA to work on Wii

Wii to get customised versions of The Godfather, Harry Potter, and Tiger Woods...

Posted: 17:55 on 13 Jul 2006

By: Jon Wilcox

Electronic Arts has today confirmed that six titles are currently in development for Nintendo's Wii console. Two of the titles, Need for Speed and Madden, had already been confirmed by the publisher, but joining them will be The Godfather, Harry Potter, Tiger Woods PGA Tour, and SSX.

EA announced that all six of the titles will take advantage of the Wii-mote, and other functionalities of the console, and that there are other games for the platform are already in development.

"Once we started to experiment with Madden on Wii, there was an explosion of innovation. Everyone in the studio is energized by the creative opportunity afforded by both the hardware and controller. By reaching into our catalogue, we are able to bring a fresh and distinctive experience to some of EA's most popular franchises. Creatively, the game play possibilities are staggering and endless," said John Schappert, Senior Vice President and General Manager, EA.

"Nintendo is excited to see the broad array of signature franchises that EA's talented development teams are designing for Wii," says Reggie Fils-Aime, president and COO, Nintendo of America Inc. "The combination of sensational games with Wii's unique play control will thrill players and breathe new life into video games."

Gears of War hitting theaters before the game?

Trailer for Gears of War to be shown before five R-rated theatrical releases beginning this month; Cliffy B. won't rule out film version, Rein says game on track.

By Tim Surette, GameSpot

Posted Jul 13, 2006 12:00 pm PT

In the old days, half the fun of seeing a movie in the theaters was sitting through the 10 minutes of previews before the main event. More recently, advertisers have been using the captive audience to peddle soda, cars, and whatever else they can, making getting an early seat much less appealing.

Times are changing, for gamers at least, as more publishers are blurring the line between films and games by promoting upcoming games before movies, as was the case with Halo 2 and Advent Rising.

The latest to join the ranks is Epic Games' Gears of War. On the game's official forums, Epic prez Mike Capps posted a note saying the trailer for Cliffy B's sci-fi shooter will be shown before Miami Vice, Pulse, A Scanner Darkly, Clerks 2, and Little Miss Sunshine. All the movies are rated R for Restricted--the film equivalent of Gears of War's all but assured M-for-Mature rating.

Though Capps says gamers will likely have already seen the trailer, the new promotion will give them a chance to "see it on a massive theater screen and hear it in badass 5.1."

As for Gears making it to the big screen proper, famed game maker Cliff Bleszinski didn't rule out the possibility. In an interview with Xbox.com, he said, "The only way we'd ever consider doing a film of our property would be if the absolute right people were attached who understood not only the game and its universe but also the (hopefully!) rabid fanbase that we'd like to acquire."

*RUMOR*

PS3 to be delayed?

Not confirmed in the slightest, another rumor stemming from a foreign site popped up this week proclaiming Blu-Ray difficulty is holding up the PS3. Fanboys everywhere chimed in, nothing was resolved.

Sony rethinks PSP ad

Wed Jul 12, 7:30 PM ET

TOKYO - Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. has removed billboards for the new white version of its PlayStation Portable video game player following complaints of racism, the company said. Sony also apologized.

The billboards, which went up in the first week of June only in the Netherlands, showed a white woman dressed in white threateningly grabbing the face of a frightened-looking black girl, with an attached catch copy saying, "PlayStation Portable White is coming."

The provocative image was one of several versions showing the two women in different poses, company spokesman Nanako Kato said Wednesday. They appeared exclusively in Amsterdam and several other major cities in that country.

Sony said the ads were intended only to emphasize the color contrast between the existing black PSP and the new ceramic white PSP.

Gary: But will the models still get paid?

On-line gambling in trouble

By Peter Kaplan Tue Jul 11, 5:44 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House on Tuesday approved a Republican-written bill to crack down on Internet gambling, in what critics said was an election-year appeal to the party's conservative base.

The House voted 317-93 to impose a ban on most forms of Internet gambling by making it illegal for banks and credit card companies to make payments to online gambling sites. Internet gambling generates some $12 billion annually worldwide, half from American gamblers.

The bill exempted horse racing and lotteries from the ban.

"This is a scourge on our society. It causes innumerable problems," Republican Bob Goodlatte of Virginia, one of the bill's sponsors, said on the House floor before the vote.

The House bill, which was also sponsored by Jim Leach of Iowa, is part of the Republican party's emphasis on moral values as congressional elections approach this fall.

It won support from majorities of both Republicans and Democrats.

Gary: Scary, because they don't really go into the "innumerable problems" and you can bet that mental health, a long standing problem here in Florida so far as the government actually providing help for, is one of those problems. Plus, this sets another precedent for the "moral values" clause BOTH parties level against video games. Also, we warned you that both parties would use video games as a platform in the elections, this just goes to show they will not be daunted by a few failures.

Guitar Rip-off!

After success in Japan with its Guitar Freaks franchise, Konami may be preparing to launch a new series in North America...

Posted: 12:32 on 11 Jul 2006

By: Jon Wilcox

Following the massive success of RedOctane's Guitar Hero in North America, it seems that Konami may be in the development stages of launching a rival called 'Guitar Revolution'.

Searching through some of the latest trademarks to be filed at the United States Patents & Trademarks Office has revealed that the developer/publisher trademarked the name on June 29th 2006. Covering both home consoles and arcade machines, the patent is the latest nugget to emerge from the depths of the USPTO.

Konami are yet to confirm the development of such a title, but it wouldn't be the first time that the company has created a guitar-based franchise. Released in Japan, the Guitar Freaks series were in the country's arcades with replica guitar controllers (sound familiar?), butPSOne and PlayStation2 versions failed after a short number of instalments. The series never made it out of the Far East, but with the recently acquired RedOctane taking the States by storm with the Guitar Hero series, it seems that Konami may be re-evaluating the situation.

XBOX 360 is ecstasy?

Underground bulletin boards indicate illicit pills stamped with logo for Microsoft's next-gen console are making the rounds in British clubs.

By Tor Thorsen, GameSpot

Posted Jul 13, 2006 11:39 am PT

A selection of logo-stamped ecstasy pills.

Ever since it became popular in the early 1990s, ecstasy--the street name for Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)--has typically appeared in pill form. Often drug suppliers would stamp their pills with symbols, and sometimes even logos of corporations, to differentiate them from the competition. One of the more famous examples of logo-theft were the "Mitsubishis" that were popular among West Coast clubs during the mid and late 1990s.

Now, it appears the latest corporate brand that has been appropriated by drug dealers is one well known to gamers. A series of postings by club-goers on a forum uncovered by Kotaku reveal that "Xbox 360 pills" are making the rounds at underground events around the central British city of Northampton.

The quality--and precise chemical content--of the Xbox 360 pills was the subject of some heated debate on the forum. However, one entity that won't be joining the debate is the Xbox 360 brand's legitimate owner. "In regards to the ecstasy pills, we don't have any comment on this," said a Microsoft rep. "But we're obviously aware of the rumors."

What I've been playing:

Prey!

Uno

Frogger

Condemned: Criminal Origins

Brain Age

Convention Corner:

AFO is a mere two weeks!

There's a weekend long Murder Mystery going on there.

RPG panel.

First and foremost, VGN will be out for the premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean at the Orlando Fashion Square Mall. Win by listening to VGN yesterday?!

Dish, girlfriend!

Execs in Japan dish on upcoming console wars

Square's Wada, Bandai's Unozawa speak candidly on future of online gaming, upcoming shootout between Nintendo Wii and Sony's PlayStation 3.

By Walt Wyman, GameSpot

Posted Jul 6, 2006 1:07 pm PT

The Computer Entertainment Suppliers' Association (CESA), the group that owns and produces the Tokyo Game Show, held a press conference today regarding online gaming and the industry's future. Famitsu.com covered the meeting, which was presided over by top officials from a number of companies, including Square Enix president Youichi Wada and Bandai Namco VP Shin Unozawa.

Wada began the discussion by frankly acknowledging "in individual interviews, we tend to give opinions in line with our companies' interests, making it difficult to give objective observations." He hoped that the roundtable interview would allow the participants to be more open and provide a fresh perspective to the talks.

Wada then shared his insights into online-gaming payment structures. He proposed a scenario for "volume-controlled charges," in which online games would be divided into chapters. The first chapter could be offered free for evaluation, with subsequent chapters requiring payments to continue playing. He also thinks that with the growth in "always-on" Internet connections, the "huge cost of debugging" to developers will decrease, as regular software updates will become possible. Wada also pointed out that the software updates would make it "easy to insert advertisements into games".

Unozawa then weighed in with his take on the impending battle between Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii. His opinion is that this purported clash of titans will actually be anti-climatic. "There will be no power struggle," he said.

Although praising the Wii's family-friendliness and synergy with the Nintendo DS, he added, "I'm unsure about its appeal to the main users, namely middle- and high-school students."

On the other hand, he was bullish on the PSP and PS3, which in his view fill "the demand for game hardware that can be enjoyed by individuals." Despite concerns that the PS3's price would make it prohibitively expensive, Unozawa has no fears. He asserted "the PlayStation 3 will sell, without question."

Like Wada, he too sees potential in shifting the billing structure of online games. For example, the game itself could be offered free, and users would be charged for items purchased.

Gary's Notes: Basically, we can't say since we're in both pockets.

Wii, sooner than later?

Nintendo responds to Wii release rumors

Flurry of prognostications doesn't deter Wii-maker from its course; company says big announcement now coming in September.

By Tim Surette, GameSpot

Posted Jul 6, 2006 11:47 am PT

An avalanche of Wii news hit the Web yesterday, sending Nintendophiles into a frenzy. The topic was one of the most highly guarded secrets in the industry--the release date of the Wii.

Early in the morning, an article in (no joke) Sports Illustrated for Kids showed the release date of the console as November 6. Nintendo claimed the date was purely speculation by the magazine.

A few hours later, CNN/Money's Chris Morris revealed some info that he received while talking to analysts and industry insiders. Among the insights were that the Wii may already be in production, and that the console could launch as early as late September.

Nintendo's PR people were hard at work again today, and gave few clues as to whether any of the rumors are true. A spokesperson for the news service Bloomberg said, "There's no change in our plan to release the console in the last quarter of this year. We are planning an announcement in September and it may be causing some confusion."

Nintendo's reassurance that the console would launch in the fourth quarter does dispel the thought that the Wii could launch in late September, as the fourth quarter begins in October.

The choice of the words "in September" vary slightly from a previous statement from Nintendo, which said that the release date and price would be available by September. Nintendo fans, it sounds like the newswires may be a little quiet until then.

You got some 'splainin to do, Sony.

Sony Disputes Unpaid Tax Claims

PlayStation's parent company registers a complaint over claims of an unpaid ¥27.9bn tax bill...

Posted: 16:53 on 03 Jul 2006

By: Jon Wilcox

Sony Corporation has registered a complaint over the Japanese tax authority's claims that the electronics giant has an outstanding tax bill of ¥27.9 billion (£132 million) dating back to 1999. The claims are directly linked to the game console section of the company's North American subsidiary.

SCEI has countered the claims, stating that the tax had already been paid in the US under the US-Japan bilateral tax treaties, so for now it seems like it's a stalemate situation.

LOTR RTS What?

When America wrote out its birthday wish list, it apparently had things other than games on its mind. While the country celebrated its 230th birthday, gamers browsed bare shelves as this week's game release list wasn't nearly as meaty as the millions of BBQ grills lit up on Tuesday.

Leading the pack is the Xbox 360's first real-time strategy game, Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II. Based on both the films and books of Tolkien's fantasy world, the game lets players command armies of elves, dwarves, orcs, and other beasties. LOTR: Middle-earth II was previously released on the PC and was published by Electronic Arts.

Assassin's Creed...really exclusive or just sort of?

The IDEF is held in Europe. One of the sites covering it said this:

Toujours à l'occasion de l'IDEF 2006, Ubisoft a confirmé qu'Assassin’s Creed était actuellement en développement sur Xbox 360 et PC, en plus d’une version PlayStation 3 déjà annoncée depuis de nombreux mois. Les possesseurs de la console de Microsoft pourront donc eux aussi donner vie à un certain Altair, en pleine troisième Croisade. Plus d'informations prochainement, surtout concernant une éventuelle exclusivité temporaire pour la future machine de Sony.

Um, yeah.

Then we have this:

Gamer.no, who contacted Ubisoft yesterday about the recent rumors reports that Assassin's Creed is still a PS3 exlusive. Talking to the Norwegian game site Product Manager of Ubisoft Nordic Harald Horsberg says that the game is announced exclusively for the PS3 after he had been in contact with the French HQ.

PR Manager Fredrik Moberg adds "there are no indications that this game is headed for other formats besides the PS3"

Another report is also coming from the official Ubisoft forums. A Community Manager from Ubisoft under the name of 'UbiRazz posted this statement.

"Ubisoft have confirmed no such thing. Assassin's Creed will come on PlayStation 3 and at this time, no other platform has been confirmed." said UbiRazz.

Gary says:

Ubisoft is sticking to their story, but they fail to say exclusive and given that this game was already seen on 360 hardware, well, timed exclusive at best is what I'm thinking.

Sony being Racist?

What I've been playing:

Uno!

Condemned: Criminal Origins

Top Spin 2

Prey

Convention Corner:

AFO.

Panels!! I'll be running the RPG East Vs. West panel...look for it!