All Topics Gaming older than one year ago

#video Cloaking devices? Oh yeah, we can totally do that. Telekinesis? Suuure! In this video, Real Actual Scientist-mans Dr. Michio Kaku, speaking more like a futurist and less like a physicist, tackles the plausibility of what you see in Mass Effect. More »

You can stop the letter writing and e-petitions, your prayers have been answered: Indie dev mif2000 has turned Shakespeare's timeless tragedy Hamlet into a colorful adventure game, full of itemless logic puzzles, boss battles and seemingly little pathos. Oh, and Claudius has a guitar, so there's at least one thing that's true to the original.

The clip after the trailer may give your English professor fits, but if you're intrigued, you can plan to get thee to a funnery on April 8.

[Via IndieGames.com]

-Sparky- at the Carrington Institute gun range.

We answer questions about DLP TVs, LED tech, PS3 backwards compatiblity, and more!

#squareenix Creative types like game directors saying they'd love to do a remake of Final Fantasy VII, that's one thing. But now the CEO himself says the company will, at least, "explore the possibility" of doing so. More »

Do you ever look at those iPhone gaming ads and say, "Gee, I wish I could do that on my PSP?" Well, if just buying an iPod is out of the question, Datel may have a solution for you. The TiltFX is a new accessory that promises to add motion controls to "all games" on the PSP. According to a press release, the device features a three-axis MEMS sensor and is able to replace the functions of the standard D-Pad and analog stick. Additionally, Datel is offering customized profiles for specific games, like WipEout, LocoRoco, and Super Monkey Ball. Presumably, these will tweak the controls for a better tailored experience.

We haven't had a chance to test the TiltFX for ourselves, but it is advertised as compatible with all PSP systems, minus the Go -- meaning owners of PSP-1000, 2000 and 3000 series systems can use the device. According to a Datel representative, the device won't require custom firmware to operate. (It seems the device is sending control data via the PSP's headset port.) Apparently, it's available now and has a MSRP of £14.99 or $19.99. You can check out a commercial after the break.

This is the worst episode ever.

#wii Nintendo game designer Shigeru Miyamoto may be toying with new ways to shake up The Legend of Zelda, adding more than just Wii MotionPlus support for the next adventure of Link. Is he also considering Wii Vitality Sensor-based gameplay? More »

How well do you know your pokemon?

Nintendo was nice enough to send a DSi XL over to the warehouse, and Mom Brain snatched it up right away for some picture-taking. The best part of the whole set might not even be the DSi XL, but the tiny folder/press release that came with it. Nintendo’s really trying to push just [...]

So far, Square Enix has said that a Final Fantasy VII remake would be "unrealistic," "tough to do in HD" and "not happening." But hold out hope, die-hards, because during an interview at FFXIII's launch party, Square Enix CEO Yoichi Wada finally admitted that the company is "going to explore the possibility" of revisiting the classic RPG. He didn't completely reverse the long-held position, as he says Square Enix has to decide "whether or not we're going to do it, if we're going to do it, and the platform," but he did finally admit that there have been a lot of fan requests to see the game in a new form, so he's giving it some solid thought.

Of course, the huge success of the game's re-release on PSN probably didn't hurt either. If Square's convinced a remake will sell (and people will play through Gaia yet again, possibly even on yet another platform), we'll probably see it somewhere sooner or later.

#screengrab When two prolific popular properties combine—not that you should eat anything Lady Gaga cooks—as seen on deviantArt via Gamefreaks. More »

Want to heckle us and then drink and eat for free?

Want to heckle us and then drink and eat for free?

Speaking to Develop, Rare's Mark Betteridge has claimed that developers need to do a better job of estimating the cost for game projects. He noted that development problems often arise as the result of underestimated budgets, saying, "I still think the industry takes a naive approach to estimating budgets when compared to other industries." Betteridge advised studios not to rush into production before a game's core concepts are set in stone. "You might have artists or coders getting paid as employees with little to do because a game isn't yet in production," said Betteridge.

Betteridge's comments come as part of a Develop report on the "sudden decline" in video game budgets. According to the report, the poor global financial climate has caused publishers to slash budgets of any unproven game properties. The report cites a few other reasons for declining budgets, including the longer console cycle. Betteridge also points to increasing mobile development, more prevalent middleware and a rising number of sequels -- which often reuse existing code and assets -- as reasons for declining costs.

The comments also reflect Rare's changing development philosophy. The company recently announced plans to open a new studio specifically to overcome the "boom and bust cycle" of game development staffing. The developer hopes to adopt a method akin to the film industry, hiring contract staff for the duration of a project, rather than trying to maintain a large, consistent workforce.

Now you tell me, was that one of the best or the worst you’ve ever seen. I think people born in different generations will have conflicting opinions!

#sports What's a good encore after winning two gold medals at the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games? For one of the world's most accomplished cross-country skiers, it's playing alongside his world champion counterpart in Counter Strike at Norway's largest LAN party. More »

Montreal studio set to create high-end titles.

Montreal studio set to create high-end titles.

Want to heckle us and then drink and eat for free?

Montreal studio set to create high-end titles.

- due out this Summer in Japan - exclusive bundles being sold through the Konami Style shopping site - “Gold Set”: priced at ¥9,470, original soundtrack and a book - “Platinum Set”: priced at ¥12,470, charm collection, leather strap, a set of six metal charms, pierce charm consisting of the initials L and K, and items from the [...]

#biowarepoints BioWare further detailed its latest batch of Mass Effect 2 downloadable content, locking down a price for the "Kasumi – Stolen Memory" add-on, a $7 USD purchase that lets players recruit master thief Kasumi Goto and her "special skills." More »

Tired of making replica 1-1 levels from Super Mario Bros. in LittleBigPlanet? Well, it's time to explore the other retro gaming classics. Sonic the Hedgehog is coming to LittleBigPlanet this week with a new sticker and costume pack for $5.99. Unfortunately, this isn't a level pack akin to Metal Gear Solid 4 or Pirates of the Caribbean, so don't expect any high-speed game modifiers. Instead, this pack is solely for Sonic fans that want to play as Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Dr. Robotnik, and yes ... the Werehog.

In addition to the costumes, the DLC will introduce new Sonic-themed stickers, making it even easier to make real Sonic-themed levels, a la "Sonic the Hedgehog: Greenhill Zone" from Kiminiski. You can check out a video after the break.