Mobile Game Design: How Evil Monkeys Chased Temple Run To App Store #1
OnLive Viewer Hits Google TV, Full Gaming Capability Potentially On The Way
Google TV needs content. Onlive has content. The match is perfect.
Starting today, the Onlive Viewer app is available for downloading via Google TV’s Android Market. This app allows anyone to view gamers hacking away at OnLive games. Note, the app doesn’t bring gaming capabilities to Google TV, but OnLive expects to add that functionality later down the road.
Starting today, the Onlive Viewer app is available for downloading via Google TV’s Android Market. This app allows anyone to view gamers hacking away at OnLive games. Note, the app doesn’t bring gaming capabilities to Google TV, but OnLive expects to add that functionality later down the road.
Kinect Comes To Windows On February 1st
We knew that Microsoft’s hit
motion-control accessory for the Xbox 360, Kinect, was coming to
Windows eventually. They’ve been hinting at it, people have been
hacking it, and they even released an SDK
a little while back. But one of the last things Ballmer said tonight at
his keynote was a definite date for when Kinect would be coming to
Windows: February 1st.
That’s really all there is to it.
If you’re interested in contributing, check out the SDK, or if you just want to see what people have put together (there has really been some mind-blowing stuff over the last year), scroll through our Kinect tag.
That’s really all there is to it.
If you’re interested in contributing, check out the SDK, or if you just want to see what people have put together (there has really been some mind-blowing stuff over the last year), scroll through our Kinect tag.
The Darkness II on Xbox 360
Genre: First-Person Shooter
Publisher: 2K Games
Release Date: February 7, 2012
The Darkness II takes players down a brutal and personal path as Jackie Estacado, wielder of The Darkness -- an ancient and ruthless force of chaos and destruction. Based on the supernatural horror comic book series created by Top Cow Productions, Inc., The Darkness II breaks out of the sea of conventional first-person shooters with its fervid Quad-Wielding gameplay, which will allow players to slash, grab, and throw objects and enemies with their Demon Arms while simultaneously firing two weapons. The game is layered with the use of dark versus light, steeped in deep and twisted storytelling, and engulfed in stylistic violence that is visualized through a hand-painted graphic noir technique that stays true to its comic book origins.
It’s been two years since Jackie Estacado, now the Don of the Franchetti crime family, used The Darkness to kill the men responsible for his girlfriend’s murder. He’s been unable to shake the memory of Jenny’s death since bottling up his supernatural power, and now The Darkness wants out. A sudden, unprovoked attack on Jackie’s life heralds the start of a full-scale mob war, which has clearly been orchestrated by some outside force. The botched attempt opens the door for The Darkness to reemerge, and sets Jackie on a journey to hell and worse, as he unravels the mystery behind the attack and the motivations of The Darkness itself.
SSX on Xbox 360
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: February 28, 2012
Redefining the franchise, SSX pits riders against both mountain and man. Players explore the story of a team who seek to be the first to descend the faces of the most treacherous mountain ranges on the planet. The team travels the world to face the worst that Mother Nature can throw at them. From the peaks of the Himalayas, where the air is so thin that riders have to descend through the death zone at breakneck speeds to keep from blacking out, to the solid ice ranges of Antarctica, where a sunlit line is the only survival option when temperatures drop 50 degrees centigrade in the shade. And the mountain isn't the only danger players will face. In SSX the first goal is to survive. The second, in true SSX fashion, is to look good doing it.
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning on Xbox 360
Release Date: February 7, 2012
Published by: Electronic Arts
An open-world action RPG, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is set in Amalur, a rich and deeply immersive world underpinned by 10,000 years history, created by 22 time New York Times bestselling author, R.A. Salvatore. Immersing players in a rich, living, breathing open-world dripping with magic and rife with danger, underpinned by strong storytelling, Reckoning lets players define their destiny as they engage in intense action combat while exploring the huge, vibrant and varied world of Amalur as envisioned by the visionary creator of Spawn and acclaimed artist, Todd McFarlane.
Designed by open-world RPG legend Ken Rolston, Reckoning offers players unparalleled choice in a world of infinite possibility. Together, the visionaries and development team behind Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning are creating a game that aims to forever change the RPG genre.
Final Fantasy XIII-2 on Xbox 360
Release Date: January 31, 2012
Also on: PS3
Cocoon -- a utopia in the sky. Its inhabitants believed their world a paradise. Under the Sanctum's rule, Cocoon had long known peace and prosperity. Mankind was blessed by its protectors, the benevolent fal'Cie, and believed that tranquil days would continue forever. Their tranquillity was shattered with the discovery of one hostile fal'Cie.
The moment that fal'Cie from Pulse - the feared and detested lowerworld - awoke from its slumber, peace on Cocoon came to an end. Fal'Cie curse humans, turning them into magic-wielding servants. They become l'Cie - chosen of the fal'Cie. Those branded with the mark of a l'Cie carry the burden of either fulfilling their Focus or facing a fate harsher than death itself. A prayer for redemption.
A wish to protect the world. A promise to challenge destiny. After thirteen days of fates intertwined, the battle begins...
Set several years after Lightning and the others saved Cocoon, some survivors have decided to start over by rebuilding on Gran Pulse. Lightning, however, is nowhere to be found and thought dead by many, but Serah believes otherwise. When her town is suddenly overrun by monsters, a mysterious man named Noel appears to save her. Together, the two set off to find Lightning...
Soulcalibur V on Xbox 360
Features
A new generation – Follow the story of Patroklos, son of Sophitia as the battle for the Soul Swords continues.Exclusively on: Xbox 360
Multiple fi ghting styles – Choose from a roster of unique characters, each with their own deadly weapons, fighting styles and visual flare.
Dynamic battles – Blow away your competition using fi nely tuned battle mechanics.
Genre: Fighting
Release Date: January 31, 2012
Dunder Mifflin’s Office Remade As A Counter Strike Source Map
Investors Bet On Social Gambling, $ZNGA Closes Up 6.57%, Now At $9.09 A Share
The social gaming industry has been getting more and more interested in a potentially big new way to make money: online gambling. And investors, who are now able to buy stock in market leader Zynga, are following suit.
Today, Zynga told All Things D that it was considering how to approach the new opportunity: “We build games and experiences that our players want and love. Zynga Poker is the world’s largest online poker game with more than 7 million people playing every day and over 30 million each month. We know from listening to our players that there’s an interest in the real money gambling market. We’re in active conversations with potential partners to better understand and explore this new opportunity.”
Today, Zynga told All Things D that it was considering how to approach the new opportunity: “We build games and experiences that our players want and love. Zynga Poker is the world’s largest online poker game with more than 7 million people playing every day and over 30 million each month. We know from listening to our players that there’s an interest in the real money gambling market. We’re in active conversations with potential partners to better understand and explore this new opportunity.”
Kinect Comes To Windows On February 1st
We knew that Microsoft’s hit motion-control accessory for the Xbox 360, Kinect, was coming to Windows eventually. They’ve been hinting at it, people have been hacking it, and they even released an SDK a little while back. But one of the last things Ballmer said tonight at his keynote was a definite date for when Kinect would be coming to Windows: February 1st.
That’s really all there is to it.
If you’re interested in contributing, check out the SDK, or if you just want to see what people have put together (there has really been some mind-blowing stuff over the last year), scroll through our Kinect tag.
That’s really all there is to it.
If you’re interested in contributing, check out the SDK, or if you just want to see what people have put together (there has really been some mind-blowing stuff over the last year), scroll through our Kinect tag.
Japan’s Video Game Market In 2011 (Sales, Hardware, Software)
Japan’s video game industry is the world’s second biggest (after the US), but it’s on a downward streak for the fifth consecutive year. Based on sales, the country’s video game industry has contracted by as much as 8% year-on-year, Japan’s biggest gaming magazine Famitsu is reporting [JP].
Between December 27, 2010 and December 25, 2011, Japanese game companies generated US$5.9 billion in sales. The Famitsu says that sales from hardware makers actually went up 2.4% (thanks to the launch of the 3DS and PlayStation Vita) to reach US$2.3 billion. Software revenues in Japan dropped 13.7% to US$3.6 billion last year.
Between December 27, 2010 and December 25, 2011, Japanese game companies generated US$5.9 billion in sales. The Famitsu says that sales from hardware makers actually went up 2.4% (thanks to the launch of the 3DS and PlayStation Vita) to reach US$2.3 billion. Software revenues in Japan dropped 13.7% to US$3.6 billion last year.
Microsoft’s Newest Flight Simulator Goes Freemium
In the gaming world, there are gamers, there are hardcore gamers… and then there are flight sim players. These guys exist on a plane of dedication that they reside on almost exclusively, with a degree of commitment matched only by their spiritual brothers: the train sim players.
Alas, no level of dedication can pay to keep the lights on if the fan base simply isn’t big enough… hence the layoff of Microsoft’s entire Flight Simulator team back in 2009. Looking to start afresh and bring new blood (and new wallets) into the fan base, Microsoft’s taking a different approach with their latest game, Flight: it’s going freemium.
Alas, no level of dedication can pay to keep the lights on if the fan base simply isn’t big enough… hence the layoff of Microsoft’s entire Flight Simulator team back in 2009. Looking to start afresh and bring new blood (and new wallets) into the fan base, Microsoft’s taking a different approach with their latest game, Flight: it’s going freemium.
The Playstation 3D Display Lets You Bring All Of Your Friends
Back at E3, the gaming world let out a collective groan when Sony announced they were making a special 3D TV for the PS3. However, that groan swiftly turned into a clamor of adoration once it was explained that the TV, in addition to displaying 3D content, would also allow two players to play side by side, seeing different displays through two pairs of 3D glasses. Called SimulView, it was pretty darn cool.
Fast forward to December and the 24-inch TV has shipped and costs $499. The display has two HDMI ports and little else – you plug in a PS3 and start playing games and Blu-Ray disks. Is this PS3-branded widescreen 1080p monitor good? Definitely. But is it a necessary accessory for gamers and non-gamers alike? That remains to be seen. Read on.
Fast forward to December and the 24-inch TV has shipped and costs $499. The display has two HDMI ports and little else – you plug in a PS3 and start playing games and Blu-Ray disks. Is this PS3-branded widescreen 1080p monitor good? Definitely. But is it a necessary accessory for gamers and non-gamers alike? That remains to be seen. Read on.
Report: Nintendo 3DS Sales In Japan To Pass The 4 Million Mark Earlier Than Expected
It’s a common platitude in the gaming industry: it’s the killer titles that make or break a video game system. One case in point is Nintendo whose 3DS sales in Japan, one of the biggest video game markets in the world, are expected to cross the four million mark two months earlier than expected.
Just two weeks ago, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said this will happen “in February next year”, but Japanese business daily The Nikkei is now reporting that cumulative domestic sales of the 3DS will reach four million before year-end. The newspaper is referring to stats from Tokyo-based market research company Enterbrain, which says Nintendo managed to sell a weekly record of 390,000 systems between December 12-18 (and 380,000 units between December 5 and 11).
Just two weeks ago, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said this will happen “in February next year”, but Japanese business daily The Nikkei is now reporting that cumulative domestic sales of the 3DS will reach four million before year-end. The newspaper is referring to stats from Tokyo-based market research company Enterbrain, which says Nintendo managed to sell a weekly record of 390,000 systems between December 12-18 (and 380,000 units between December 5 and 11).
The Top 20 iPhone and iPad Games Of 2011
In our previous post, we listed the top 20 iPhone and iPad apps of the year. But games are in a class by themselves, often pushing the limits of the hardware, software, and graphics capabilities of Apple’s iOS devices.
Instead of combining the platform’s great games with all of the other apps you should know about, here are our picks for the top 20 iOS games of the year:
Instead of combining the platform’s great games with all of the other apps you should know about, here are our picks for the top 20 iOS games of the year:
Grand Theft Auto III Lands In The App Store, Android Market
If stealing cars, running people over, and being an all-around gangster is your idea of fun, I come bearing good tidings of great joy this holiday season. Grand Theft Auto III: 10th Anniversary Edition has made its way to your phone courtesy of Rockstar Games.
Launched back in 2001, Grand Theft Auto III has been one of the most popular games of the last decade.
Launched back in 2001, Grand Theft Auto III has been one of the most popular games of the last decade.
Come On, Microsoft: Siri Is Making You Look Terrible
Last week, Microsoft overhauled the Xbox 360. The update brought dozens of new features, but there was one I was particularly excited about: when paired with a Kinect, the new interface was said to pack voice recognition support pretty much everywhere.
As I noted in my initial Kinect review well over a year ago, the Kinect’s voice system was the one bit I found particularly disappointing. After finally seeing someone do something right with voice with Siri, the idea that the 360 might be getting a wonderful voice interface had me beyond excited.
Alas, it still sucks.
As I noted in my initial Kinect review well over a year ago, the Kinect’s voice system was the one bit I found particularly disappointing. After finally seeing someone do something right with voice with Siri, the idea that the 360 might be getting a wonderful voice interface had me beyond excited.
Alas, it still sucks.
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