All Topics Gaming older than one year ago

Prominent game developers discuss how gaming has changed over the last ten years, and clue us into their favourite games and systems.

Though Windows 7 fever hasn't yet overwhelmed the PC community, Steam users seem to be getting on board with the latest Bill Gates-approved operating system. A recent Steam survey has revealed that a little over 23 percent of the platform's regular users have upgraded to Windows 7 -- a stark difference from the 6 percent of the total operating system market which Windows 7 currently represents. What we found more interesting about this survey is that so many people are still using Windows XP. Then again, considering the only alternative these people have had over the past four years was the most nightmarish, user-unfriendly operating system known to man, we don't blame them for being a little gunshy when it comes to technological progress. [Via Download Squad]

We've still got quite a wait ahead of us before TrackMania 2 arrives, but we can at very least sate our desire for more from the series in these first screens of TrackMania Wii. The game is said to feature the usual superabundance of tracks, and even an online mode for those of you looking to take the madness worldwide. TMW's first six screens (minus the logo you see above, of course) show off the variety of environments through which we'll be speeding when the game arrives on Wii in the "second quarter of 2010." We're quite fond of this one right here, but we're still holding out for the totally necessary "inside of a volcano" level. We can dream, no?

Most prominent figures in the video game industry usually recoil when they're given all the credit for coming up with the idea for one of their studio's games. The same apparently can't be said for Hideo Kojima -- according to CVG, the mind behind Metal Gear Solid recently explained the origins of some of the concepts in Peace Walker during an interview with Official PlayStation Magazine: "Well it's strange, but not so many ideas come from the other staff," Kojima humbly stated. The idiosyncratic developer also pointed out, "Co-op Ring, Love Box - the names and the ideas come from myself," later adding "I am taking charge of the overall game design." We're pretty excited by this fact. It sounds like more than any other Metal Gear game that came before it, Peace Walker will be a direct window into Kojima's convoluted thinkmeat.

The DSi XL is coming to Europe and North America. Do you absolutely need to get one of these DS revisions? Well, the answer might be yes…depending on your current DS situation. There are some factors that might make you want to jump at this revision launch.

Hey…it’s Cosmic Walker! You know, that game that Nintendo pretends doesn’t exist. All we’ve seen thus far is some quick footage, but it was enough to whet my appetite. Is 2010 going to be the year when Cosmic Launcher actually releases, or is it going to become the ‘Kirby GCN’ title of [...]

So what if the latest Dead to Rights: Retribution dev diary is unbelievably light on actual gameplay? It makes up for that in droves with a smattering of pretty images of the Abbey Road recording studio where the game's soundtrack is being recorded. For all the effort being put into the music, we would hope a bit more attention would be focused on the bits of game footage strewn throughout the clip. Unfortunately, we are instead given the less than thrilling exchange between the game's main character and a police officer around the three minute mark. Last we heard, Dead to Rights: Retribution was scheduled for a "Q4 2009" release by Namco, so considering that time has come and gone, your guess is as good as any as to when the game will see the light of day. For now, well, we've got this dev diary.

We don't possess what you might call a "strategic mind." This much is evident whenever we play Risk, where our "keep Australia on lockdown and never, ever leave" approach has yet to pay off. With that in mind, the trailer for the independently developed tactical action game Frozen Synapse just makes our brain hurt. Basically, it's a tactical turn-based combat sim where multiple characters with different specialties are controlled at once, and also there's time travel, and oh no our nose is bleeding. Check out the video after the jump, but make sure you've got some gauze nearby.

No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle will be out in North America this week, but some people are lucky enough to have a press copy, or an early retail copy. Obviously, those lucky few are plowing through the game in order to flood the net with all sorts of news. One of those bits [...]

What in the world is 3D Space Tank? That’s a question on the minds of those following the DSiWare scene. It’s yet another Q-Games/Nintendo project, and we usually don’t find anything out about these games until they land on the actual service. This game will probably be the same way, but some [...]

Finally, EA understands what it is we want out of our limited edition game bundles. Some extremely loseable keychains? Nope. A cat head-sized helmet which are awesome for roughly 23 minutes, then an eyesore shortly thereafter? Nope. In-game weapons and equipment which are useful as all-get-out, which also have the benefit of not taking up space in our real-life humble abodes? Ahh, now that's the ticket. That's exactly what the limited edition of Battlefield: Bad Company 2 -- which is now available to pre-order through Steam -- is bringing to the table. The bundle includes six pieces of equipment, ranging from improved armor on the player's vehicles, to a magnetic dart gun which helps the player track targets. We've contacted DICE to find out if these bonuses will be available during the game's multiplayer portion. We'd hate to have a repeat of the original Bad Company's boycott shenanigans. Update: The pre-order offer is also available from Direct2Drive!

Look, Cloud Strife fans, we feel your pain. We do! Honestly. We're just not exactly shocked to see Square Enix's Tetsuya Nomura stating that the possibility of a Final Fantasy VII remake being created as a no go, at least "for the time being." In a recent issue of Famitsu (translated via Andriasang) -- the Cloud Strife-themed part of a multiweek look at game characters -- the character's creator admitted that he is quite aware "fans are looking forward to an oft-rumored remake of FFVII." Unfortunately, he also noted "I don't believe this will happen for the time being." In a seemingly futile effort to assuage the damage done by that statement, he added, "It's possible that he will appear in other titles as a guest character." You mean like Dissidia: Final Fantasy, Mr. Nomura? Yeah, we're just as worried as you are, folks.

We like to think we do our fair share of random game distribution, but GameDaily's really blowing us out of the water with this one. The site is currently running a contest where ten lucky winners will each win a pile of ten games randomly selected from a larger pool. It's like breaking open a piñata full of random video games, only without all the broken cases or fake animal cruelty! You can put your name in the contest's hat by leaving a comment on this GameDaily post before 11:59p.m. EST tomorrow. Unless, of course, you don't like free games. You monster.

Sony Online Entertainment has announced that it has donated $25,000 in aid to the victim's of the tragic Haiti earthquake. The money was raised with the help of Everquest, Everquest II and Free Realms players via the purchase of special in-game items. For every item purchased -- each item was priced at $5 -- Sony Online Entertainment donated $10 to the American Red Cross Haiti Relief and Development fund. The sum, raised in only three days, should aid in sending much needed supplies, relief workers, and financial support. A commendable effort, to be sure. Joystiq readers can find ways to help Haiti by following this link. Also remember that all DLC proceeds for Behemoth games go to the Red Cross this weekend.

Like tabletop RPGs and want to help Haiti? That should include every single one of you. Otherwise, get off this site right now and go roll yourself a 20-sided die and see how much fun it is. Then come back, and go donate $20 to Doctors Without Borders through the Gamers Helping Haiti program on DriveThruRPG.com. Just by throwing a Jackson in the pot, you'll get the chance to download $1481.31 worth of old school pen-and-paper RPG rulebooks, scenarios, campaign settings and addendums. That's more orcs, droids, bards, free actions and critical hits than you'll ever need in your entire lifetime! The set includes the full Serenity RPG, the Castlemourn campaign setting and full sets of rules for both pirate- and zombie-based roleplaying games, among about a million other little RPG related downloads. Not to mention that by donating, you're helping out the cause of Doctors without Borders in Haiti, and you don't have to be watching CNN to know that those folks need all of the bonuses to Strength they can get these days. What are you waiting for? Don't roll for initiative -- just go do it! [via The Escapist]

Man, if you thought the premise for Nippon Ichi's upcoming game, a dungeon-crawler titled Zettai Hero Kaizou Keikaku (or Absolute Hero Modding Project), was bizarre, wait until you see the trailer we've posted after the jump. Featured in that four-minute video is footage of the following: The player's frequent death at the hands of various enemies The game's beefy character customization system At least three different types of turn-based combat A cameo by Disgaea's Prinny Sadly, there's no reference to a North American port of the game. Don't stop believin'! [Via Siliconera]

Cort has some hands-on impressions for you guys that I think you’ll be just a tad interested in! Earlier this week, Nintendo invited us to their office near San Francisco to show off their upcoming Pokemon titles for DS, HeartGold and SoulSilver; two classic games from the franchise remade for both long-time fans and new players [...]

Artist ‘Danger’ has put together some amazing 16-bit style promo videos for his upcoming album ‘09/17 2007′, and they are not to be missed. Man, this takes me right back to the SNES/Genesis days. I really miss these times!

I really don’t see Mario and Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story getting enough love when 2009 talk comes up. It seems that most people focus in on console games, and tend to push portable games into another category. A game is a game, and that’s all there is to it. Why should portable [...]