News
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Studio has “most powerful team in history.”
Team Ninja currently boasts “the most powerful team in history” and has improved since the acrimonious departure of Tomonobu Itagaki, studio boss Yosuke Hayashi has claimed.
Speaking in an interview with Famitsu translated by 1Up, Hayashi said, “The old Team Ninja had a certain braintrust, a group of a few people, and game development tended to always revolve around them.
“That meant we couldn’t really expand our development lines much, but with Team Ninja today, each developer can think for themselves on what they can do to make better games. There aren’t many studios that can think organically like that.
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Prototype for Microsoft’s shortly shipping, motion-sensing system did not come cheap; hardware now profitable at $150 each.
The Kinect goes on sale next Thursday, and the hype machine backing its launch is firing on all cylinders. Following last week’s appearance on Oprah, the Xbox 360’s motion-sensing system is now the subject of an in-depth article in the New York Times.
Besides lauding the device’s ability to allow players to control games without controllers, the piece also reveals some startling facts about Kinect. The camera-based system’s first prototype cost some $30,000 to build–200 times the retail price of the unit sold on its own. However, Microsoft claims that unlike the Xbox 360, the Kinect hardware will be profitable from day one at a retail price of $150 each.
The Times also reported that at its zenith, the Kinect program–then called Project Natal–had nearly 1,000 workers toiling away on it. Though officially unconfirmed, it is suspected that the device employs motion-sensing technology from 3DV systems, an Israeli startup Microsoft bought outright last year.
The Kinect debuts in stores on November 4. It can be bought solo or as part of a $300 bundle with the 4GB Xbox 360 or part of a $400 bundle with the 250GB model of the console, both of which also contain the game Kinect Adventures. It will have 12 games available at launch, including Kinect Sports, Kinectimals, Fighters Uncaged, Your Shape: Fitness Evolved, and Sonic Free Riders. Five more games will be available by the end of November, with titles across numerous genres planned in the coming months.
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“First Kinect cost $30,000” was posted by Tor Thorsen on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:01:34 -0700 -
Piranha Games racer based on blockbuster 1990 film hits Microsoft’s console this winter, PC and Mac versions to follow.
While winter sees the stock car circuit go quiet each year, fans will be getting a little help passing the coming octane-challenged off-season from Paramount Digital Entertainment and Piranha Games. Today, the pair announced that they will be releasing Days of Thunder: Arcade on the Xbox Live Arcade this winter, with PC and Mac versions to follow.
Based on the 1990 Tom Cruise vehicle Days of Thunder, the Xbox Live Arcade game will feature characters like Cole Trickle, Russ Wheeler, and Rowdy Burns. Actor Michael Rooker is reprising his role as Burns to provide voice work for the game and serve as the player’s coach. Under Burns’ tutelage, players will compete against other drivers from the film, each intended to race in the same style as his onscreen counterpart.
Days of Thunder: Arcade will feature a single-player career mode, quick races, time trials, and a derby mode to see who can rack up the most damage. Those wanting to prove their skills against more competition can jump online for races of up to 12 players.
PlayStation 3 owners will also get a chance to relive the film, and with additional licensing to boot. Paramount and Piranha have also announced Days of Thunder: NASCAR Edition for release on Sony’s system. As the name suggests, the PS3-exclusive edition of the game will contain official licensing and drivers, including Kasey Kahne, Kurt Busch, and more.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
“Days of Thunder: Arcade races to XBLA” was posted by Brendan Sinclair on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 13:09:36 -0700 -
You will get to play Minerva’s Den after all.
BioShock 2 developer 2K Games has gone back on its decision not to release the Protector Trials and Minerva’s Den DLC packs for PC, and is currently working to bring all content to the platform.
The studio explained the change of heart in a post on its forums. “When we announced that Protector Trials and Minerva’s Den would not be coming out for the PC due to technical and timing issues, we received a lot of feedback (much of it understandably expressing disappointment and anger) about our decision.”
“Over the past two weeks, we’ve decided to go back and finish the PC patch and Protector Trials. Currently, we are patching the final bugs in these two pieces of content and then will submit everything to certification.
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Hot Zone pack incoming, not free this time.
A new multiplayer DLC pack is on its way to Medal of Honor, publisher EA has announced.
Hot Zone adds a ‘king of the hill’ mode where teams scrap it out for a designated location. Two new maps – Hindukush Pass and Korengal Outpost are also added, as well as redesigned versions of the popular Shahikot Valley and Helmand Valley layouts.
Unlike the recently announced Clean Sweep DLC, you’ll have to open your wallets for this one. It’s due on PC, PlayStation Network and Xbox Live on 2nd November, priced 800 MS Points or $9.99.
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EA and BioWare planning gratis downloadable goods for latest dark fantasy RPG a la last year’s Origins, Mass Effect 2.
Get the full article at GameSpot
“Dragon Age II new purchases being armed with free DLC” was posted by Tom Magrino on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 10:52:12 -0700 -
Hot Zone King-of-the-Hill mode arrives Nov. 2 on 360, PS3, PC for $10; previously announced Clean Sweep add-on also hitting PC for those who purchase game new.
Earlier this month, Electronic Arts announced a free round of Medal of Honor downloadable content for customers who purchased the game new. The company still has plans to make post-purchase money off its just-released modern-day first-person shooter, as today EA announced a new Medal of Honor multiplayer mode will be available to download on the PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 for $10 (800 Microsoft points).
The King-of-the-Hill-inspired Hot Zone downloadable game mode will come with two all-new maps (Hindukush Pass and Korengal Outpost) and two tweaked versions of existing maps. The add-on will be available starting November 2.
Launching that same day will be the previously announced free downloadable content, the Clean Sweep multiplayer mode. The team-based elimination mode will also come with four new and repurposed maps. While EA didn’t acknowledge a PC release for Clean Sweep or return inquiries regarding it, the publisher did mention in the Hot Zone announcement that the complimentary game mode would be available for PC customers who update their software with a patch available “no earlier than November 2.”
The first installment in the series not to be set during World War II, Medal of Honor follows a group of elite commandos called Tier 1 Operators during operations behind enemy lines in Afghanistan. It has sold over 1.5 million copies to date, generating over $100 million. For more on the game, check out GameSpot’s review.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
“Medal of Honor for-pay DLC revealed” was posted by Brendan Sinclair on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 10:41:33 -0700 -
Sony drops details on free tiered “loyalty program”; closed beta invitations going out to PS Plus, GAP members tomorrow; full release coming spring 2011.
This summer, Sony launched the PlayStation Plus service, a subscription plan that offers gamers access to free games, early demos, beta invites, discounts, free themes, and more for $50 a year. Now, the company has announced a second loyalty program, but this one is free.
Today, Sony announced PlayStation Rewards, a free tiered program aimed at rewarding the publisher’s faithful. According to the company, the new program was designed to allow players to “gain exclusive status, recognition, and rewards based on a variety of PlayStation-centric activity they engage in across the PlayStation ecosystem.”
Users enrolled in PlayStation Rewards will be able to earn PlayStation Network avatars, dynamic themes, PlayStation Home content, and an opportunity to participate in sweepstakes and giveaways. They’ll also have a chance to win a trip to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which runs January 6-9 in Las Vegas.
PlayStation Rewards will feature three reward tiers: Select, Pro, and Legendary. Users will climb through the ranks based on their “level of engagement” with the “Sony ecosystem.” These activities include buying content from the PlayStation Store, playing a game for the first time, or taking PlayStation surveys. Further, users will be able to check their PSN profile pages for information on how close they are to reaching the next tier.
The program will begin as an invite-only closed beta and will roll out in full during spring 2011. Sony did not announce the exact criteria needed to earn an invitation to the beta, but it did disclose that being a current PlayStation Plus or Gamer Advisory Panel (GAP) member would help. Beta invitations for those selected will begin being distributed tomorrow, October 28.
Lastly, Sony said that while the closed beta will be focused on PlayStation 3 owners, it hopes to include PSP gamers somewhere “down the road.”
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
“PlayStation Rewards announced” was posted by Eddie Makuch on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 10:34:28 -0700 -
“Loyal fans” to get exclusive content.
Sony has announced a new PlayStation Rewards programme which will see regular users on the receiving end of “exclusive status, recognition, and rewards”.
According to the PlayStation blog, players who sign up for the scheme will advance through “three reward tiers” – Select, Pro and Legendary – by playing new games, buying content from PlayStation Network, downloading movies or filling in any PlayStation surveys.
As your status level goes up, so do your rewards. Examples of the booty on offer include exclusive PSN avatars, themes, PlayStation Home content and the opportunity to get involved in members-only sweepstakes and giveaways. First up is an all expenses paid trip to the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
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PlayStation Store Update: Rockstar Games’ content expansion for Western joined by Blacklight: Tango Down, Superstars V8 Racing; PSP catalog adds Bakugan, WWE 2011, Z.H.P: Unlosing Ranger.
Get the full article at GameSpot
“Rockstar’s Red Dead zombies, Zombie’s Blacklight: Tango Down hit PSN” was posted by Eddie Makuch on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 09:43:18 -0700