#movies
If you want to make a game based on Transformers, you make a video game. That's obvious. But if you want to make a game based on Gene Hackman's 1974 film "The Conversation", you have to think a little harder. More »
If you've been lax in your Club Nintendo registration recently, we suggest you go register those DSi XLs, black Wiis, copies of WarioWare DIY, and your other first-party stuff. The Club Nintendo "year" -- during which your earned Coins will count up toward Platinum or Gold status -- elapses June 30.
Adapted from last year's iPhone release, Romance of the Three Kingdoms Touch, Tecmo Koei's iPad version of its long-running strategy series, adds a Plus to the title, high-res graphics, three new campaigns and -- oh yeah -- $6 to the price.
#level5
Ni no Kuni, the collaboration between famed anime company Studio Ghibli (My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service) and Professor Layton developer Level-5, is not only coming to the Nintendo DS, but also the PS3. It will knock your socks off. More »
#ps3
The first in-game Final Fantasy Versus XIII cutscene footage was shown at the 2008 Tokyo Game Show. It's now 2010. Let's see the first gameplay images. More »
Capcom is going into overdrive with their merchandise in Japan. Opening up on July 1st and running to August 31st, Capcom will have a lineup of three shops that fans can check out. You’ll be able to get all sorts of custom merchandise as well as game-themed food at these stores. To [...]
- due out Sept. 30th in Japan
- preorder bonus is stylus/screen cleaner seen above
- e-Capcom purchasers get the mystery bonus above: Okamiden headphones, two music/video discs, a short novel, a keychain and more
- official song being recorded by Kii Kitano
- official site updated with new content: wallpapers, screens, art, (previously posted) World Hobby Fair trailer, [...]
Looks like there’s another subtitle going on there. Perhaps Level-5 realized that they didn’t like ‘The Another World’ and went with something snappier!
- opening new studio in Tokyo
- due to open on July 12th
- studio near Oimachi Station
- recruitment page has opened up
- studio is looking for artists, designers and programmers
- site message reads: “We are now starting a completely new project that’s possible because of cooperation between Fukuoka and Tokyo.
#microsoft
The technology behind much of Microsoft's Kinect - PrimeSense - isn't exclusive to Microsoft. It'll soon be appearing in other gadgets, from TV sets to computers. More »
Zynga recently learned a very profitable lesson from the launch of its newest casual networking game -- people aren't obsessed with Farms, as it turns out. What they can't get enough of are Villes. The player base for Frontierville, a browser-based family-raising (and, yes, farming) sim set in the Wild West, is evidence of this assertion -- Zynga emailed us earlier today, announcing the game has racked up over 5 million "daily active users" since going live June 9.
Now that we know the keyword capable of attracting millions of potential consumers, we're wondering how we can cash in on its potential. We know we just went through a pretty major relaunch, but we're wondering if its too late to rebrand our humble news site as 'Stiqville. We'll talk to the people upstairs.
Nintendo absolutely loves their sales statistics, but they kept most of them out of their E3 2010 press conference. They saved up those fun bits for the investor/analyst briefing that they had later during E3. As you can see, they’ve got a pretty rousing stat that shows just how the Wii continues to [...]
- Layton series at 9,390,000 sold thus far
- Inazuma Elevent series at 1,600,000 sold so far
- initial Japanese shipment of 920,000 units for Inazuma Elevent 3, which is due out July 1st
- Ni no Kuni’s real-life book is 352 pages long
- due out Dec. 9th in Japan
- game’s ‘Imagine’ system allows you to encounter, capture [...]
#imperialhot
Square Enix has been looking at the future, and that future is stuff from China that's cheap to make, is played online and constantly charges users. Expect all future Square Enix games to incorporate at least some of those aspects. More »
EA Sports has handed off another developer diary, this time highlighting the new 3-on-3 online play in Madden NFL 11 -- a feature exclusive to the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game. It's definitely interesting, allowing players to mix and match positions or simply stick to whatever works best for them. The video (available past the break) even shows off some of the in-game accomplishments one can strive for by playing different positions online.
These aren't simply badges of honor, but practical goals that boost your performance in-game. For example, the "Air Show" accomplishment is earned when a QB has five touchdown passes in a single game, which then boosts his awareness and passing accuracy. It's neat stuff, so head past the break and check it out for yourself.
#gamecakes
Liam Brockwood had a much better birthday than you did, thanks to this lovingly crafted and entirely edible Plants Vs. Zombies cake. I haven't been this jealous of a seven-year-old since 1981. More »
In a continued push to bring awesome games we've loved forever onto the thing we use to make phone calls, Square Enix revealed during E3 that Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions would soon make its way to the iPhone. The teaser trailer posted after the jump features the opening cinematic from the PSP port of the game, meaning we won't have to suffer the occasionally spotty translations featured in the original PS1 version.
Square has yet to reveal the game's price, but did confirm that it would hit the App Store on September 15.
#microsoft
You didn't think Microsoft's Kinect would be used just for games, did you? Silly. It's going to be used for interactive advertisements as well, beginning with a Chevy commercial later this year. More »
Though China's online game market continues to exponentially increase in value, the nation's Ministry of Culture plans on slapping another round of restrictive regulations on MMOs and other online titles on August 1. The new regulations are designed to protect minors from "unwholesome" content while playing online, while also introducing measures which will prevent them from succumbing to the sweet, sweet siren song of online gaming addiction.
One major rule in the new regulations limits the purchase of in-game goods and services to virtual cash -- a regulation which seems to do away with the microtransaction business model altogether. Moreover, minors aren't permitted to conduct virtual transactions whatsoever. So, when you see that level 80 Mage that's still sporting his starting gear, don't be too confused -- he's probably just 14 years old.
#rumor
Microsoft may have slapped a time limit on the new Crackdown 2 demo, but that won't stop the internet, with users seemingly finding a way to play it for as long as they want. More »
Marvel and 343 Industries have announced a new comic adaptation of the novel Halo: The Fall of Reach (not to be confused with the upcoming re-issue of the novel itself). The comic will be written by Brian Reed, who's work has worked in both comics and games. The art will be drawn by Felix Ruiz. For those unfamiliar with The Fall of Reach, the book covers events that took place before the original Halo game, including the creation of the Spartan II project and its indoctrination of John 117, better known to Halo fans as the Master Chief. Boot Camp #1, the first of four issues, will hit the shelves this September.
