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Oh, by the way: August 24, 2009
Here's some of the other stuff that happened in the wide world of mobile for Monday, August 24th, 2009: Sony Ericsson is taking its Java runtime downmarket, committing to roll it out to what it's billing the "entry 3G segment." On a completely unrelated note, is it just us, or was the mini-golf game that came on the T610 one of mankind's greatest entertainment achievements of all time? It appears that parts of Europe will be receiving a tweaked version of the Samsung B7320, creatively rechristened the B7330. Differences are mainly cosmetic with one critically important material change: the screen's now up to 320 x 320 resolution from the original model's QVGA. German site AreaMobile is quoting a local release in October, but other than that, it's anyone's guess. [Via the::unwired] A whole bunch of new 850MHz 3G spectrum is now online in AT&T's San Francisco and New York City networks. 850 does a better job of penetrating buildings than 1900, and if there's one thing the Big Apple has plenty of, it's buildings -- so we'll see if this improves the dropped call situation at all. If you have a curious tendency to drop your phone into kiddie pools, throw it at brick walls, and engage in lengthy heart-to-hearts from Antarctica's Base Esperanza, you'll be delighted to know that Sonim's ultra-rugged XP3.20 is now shipping in the US unlocked for $399. [Via Gearlog]
15 Minutes of Fame: Fantasy author muses on WoW themes, Part 2
Gamers commonly seem to be fans of roleplaying, fantasy, mythology and sci fi, and they're attracted to game worlds and genres that explore common themes and elements in these genres. WoW is am amazing postmodern patchwork of mythologies.
15 Minutes of Fame: Fantasy author muses on WoW themes
15 Minutes of Fame is WoW.com's look at World of Warcraft players of all shapes and sizes -- from the renowned to the relatively anonymous, the remarkable to the player next door. Tip us off to players you'd like to hear more about.The World of Warcraft is a season of life. You could approach it strictly as a video game - many do - but as soon as you push beyond the surface, you find yourself building relationships with fellow players, musing over storylines, sharing frustrations and triumphs in a way that punctuates time. It's no stretch of the imagination, then (or is it, perhaps, entirely about stretching the imagination?) to consider the impact a game such as World of Warcraft might have on the fertile mind of a fantasy writer. So when we spied comments around the internet from Catherynne M. Valente (author of Palimpsest) pointing straight toward gaming, we suspected she'd had her hand in the WoW cookie jar – and we were right. While she's not currently playing WoW (having sworn off its siren call to devote her time to writing), she responded enthusiastically to our interest, producing an interview filled with gaming, WoW, fantasy, science fiction and the timeless themes that tie these worlds together.
A new Street Fighter IV national tournament appears!
Are you 'that guy' at the arcade? The guy calmly defeating challenger after challenger on the gray market Street Fighter IV cabinet, milking your dollar bill for all it's worth? You know, the guy stealing all our money? Well how would you feel if we told you that Capcom is partnering up with GameStop and the EVO Championship Series to bring you the very first Street Fighter IV National Tournament? Your head would explode?! Uh oh, maybe we should have kept this to ourselves...Anyway, starting on February 21st at "locations EVERYWHERE" (warning: PDF link), GameStop will hold the first of three rounds determining the best of the best SFIV players in the country. Following that, the second round will take place on February 28th at "regional stores" and second-round victors will move on to the semi-finals on March 14th. Finally, the 16 winners of the semi-finals will be flown to San Francisco for the final competition, where they'll all receive the upcoming SFIV Mad Catz arcade sticks and fighting pads, limited edition tournament belts and a place in the semi-final bracket at the EVO World Finals in Las Vegas. But what, pray tell, does the winner of the final round get? How about an official Street Fighter IV arcade cabinet? If you haven't already burst out the door and run to a GameStop to sign up, you may want to do so posthaste.
Street Fighter IV: Console exclusives, new site and possible release
Earlier last week Famistu confirmed the console versions of Street Fighter IV would feature exclusive online play (shocking, no online for arcades? Joke.) and characters, two of which have been revealed to be Bruce Lee look-a-like Fei Long and SF inside joke, Dan.This week Capcom has launched a new promotional website for Street Fighter IV. Offering the latest 'Epic' trailer and links to the blog for Street Fighter IV and the upcoming Street Fighter: Legend of Chun-Li movie, the site shows off little in the way of new content. Interestingly enough the site offers two pre-order methods for Street Fighter IV. One allows gamers to order directly from Capcom while the other is linked back to GameStop who is offering a collectible art book with purchase and lists a ship date of February 2, 2009. While the date may change, it give us a general idea of when to expect the anticipated fighter.[via Joystiq & Big Download]
Street Fighter IV: It's an 'Epic' trailer
We're really intrigued by Street Fighter IV, but not nearly as intrigued as we are by the trailer released by Capcom at Captivate08. Reminiscent of a fan-made YouTube video, the latest trailer for Street Fighter IV plays out as Faith No More's hit-song, "Epic," blasts in the background. We never thought we'd see Street Fighter marketed that way. Either way, the footage looks solid and we can't wait to get some quality time with Capcom's best-selling franchise again. Wait, Jean Claude Van Damme played Guile didn't he? Guess no one knows how Street Fighter should be marketed!
Confirmed: Street Fighter IV hits consoles, PC
A few days ago we reported a rumor that cited Street Fighter IV as an upcoming Xbox 360, PS3 and PC release--well they are rumors-no-more. Last night Capcom confirmed [via IGN] that the 2/3D fighter hybrid will land on next generation consoles as well as Windows-based PCs, continuing the company's recent support of the platform (as in Devil May Cry 4 and Lost Planet PC releases). More details regarding the title is expected at the upcoming Captivate08 event in Las Vegas. Press email after the jump.[via Joystiq]
Rumor: Street Fighter IV uppercuts Xbox 360, PC for winter release
Rumor has it that Capcom accidentally revealed the release schedule and platforms for the upcoming, official, fourth installment of Street Fighter. According to a story on French gaming site Jeuxvideo, Capcom inadvertently let the information slip on a press site that scheduled the 2/3D fighter hybrid for a winter release on the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.While the general consensus is that Street Fighter IV would make its way to next-gen platforms, a PC release is a surprise. While we could speculate that the rumor has weight due to Capcom's recent admiration for the PC platform (with Devil May Cry 4 and Lost Planet releases), the well-known similarities in development for Xbox 360 and PC titles and USB being the primary input on all next-gen controllers, we're going to remind everything this one is just a rumor for now.On a side note, with the popularity of the Cybercafé in the Eastern market a PC release would make sense. Just saying![via Big Download]
San Francisco bus getting WiFi, deathmatch to follow
Finally things are starting to get a little more futuristic around here. Beginning next Monday, bus riders in San Francisco will get a chance to hop at least one ride that will take them to the Columbus stop, Van Ness stop... and the World of Tomorrow. Thanks to the combined effort of SF's Muni and Cisco, the "Connected Bus" will be hauling around free WiFi and touchscreen maps on its walls (which will also carry updated connecting transit information). Sure, it's no citywide wireless coverage, but combined with the BART train WiFi rollout, it's certainly a start. Cisco tested the bus with 15 riders checking email and downloading music and movies on laptops, and say that the signal was "strong and uninterrupted," though they admit they haven't tested the system during a 15-player fragfest. Anyone up for a ride?[Thanks, Paul in SF]
Sweden's SF and Scanbox go Blu-ray exclusive
Granted, HD DVD didn't exactly have a foothold on the Swedish market to begin with, but the red camp is still losing two firms that it certainly wouldn't mind having around. Reportedly, both SF and Scanbox have decided to follow in Warner's footsteps and distribute their high-definition films on Blu-ray alone. As for the near future, there doesn't seem to be a concrete date for when SF will roll out its films in Blu, but purportedly, Scanbox will get things going as early as April.[Via Blu-ray, thanks Kiwi616]
Revolutionary: GlovePIE v.30, The Great Equalizer
Every (other) Tuesday, Mike Sylvester brings you REVOLUTIONARY, a look at the wide world of Wii possibilities. So you've tuned in to Revolutionary expecting to see the dramatic conclusion of the Controller Showdown. Well, as I was evaluating games to use in the matchup, I found myself revisiting old scripts I'd put aside, and building new scripts for games which wouldn't be fit to judge the motion sensing capabilities of the Wii Remote and SIXAXIS. I realized that because of the recently updated build of GlovePIE, my passion for scripting has been re-ignited! You see, the latest version of GlovePIE supports the SIXAXIS, Xbox 360 control pad, and standard PC control pads, on top the already robust support for Wii Remotes and attachments. There's also a new function which allows you to easily write scripts for any and all of these controllers universally. So, before we commence with Round 2, let's take a look at the GlovePIE update that will figure heavily in the big battle.
Not much going on at San Fran's Apple Store
So far, the throngs of iPhone-demanding humanity beating on the glass shells of Apple Stores across the globe haven't materialized -- at least not here in Apple's backyard. At this point, the line consists of about one woman, four gentlemen, and three clowns. For whatever reason, we were expecting more (way more) people and generally fewer clowns. Are the contract requirements and price keeping the buying public at bay? We'll know tomorrow! Stay tuned for more updates live from the San Francisco outpost.%Gallery-4371%
Nintendo stays in Redmond; sales, ad, and marketing moving to SF or NYC
Partially confirming last week's rumor, the Seattle Times is reporting that the sales, advertising and marketing divisions for Nintendo of America, totaling about 80 people, will be moved to either New York City or San Francisco. Meanwhile, the rest of NoA headquarters will remain in Redmond.The decision is being seen as a replacement for earlier plans to expand its Redmond, WA offices an additional 550,000 square feet. According to Jim Roberts, deputy planning director for the city of Redmond speaking to the Seattle Times, though NoA had the proposal ready to go before the city council for approval, executives said that they needed final approval from the company's Japanese headquarters. "For one reason or another, it's been well over a year that we've been waiting for them to proceed," he said.Nintendo is reportedly looking to sell the aforementioned 550,000 square feet of property; one real estate broker suggested that adjacent company Microsoft might consider purchasing the land. Now wouldn't that make for an interesting change of hands?
It's official: San Francisco to get free WiFi blanket courtesy of Google / EarthLink
Ah Google, where would we be without you? Instead of answering that, we'll just say that the search giant (and future world dominator?) has landed yet another smile-eliciting deal, and this time it's the San Franciscans getting the spoils. While the deal between the city of San Francisco and Google / EarthLink has been brewing for quite some time, city officials have (finally) "finalized a contract that will enable EarthLink to build a citywide wireless network and allow Google to provide free internet access." With an estimated one million or so folks to benefit from the implementation, things are looking good if you've been itching for everywhere-WiFi and happen to live in SF, and while EarthLink still plans on offering a "fee-based premium service," Google is looking out for the little guy by dishing out the free stuff. Apparently, no hard pricing figures nor rollout dates have been set just yet, but things should start moving along relatively soon if Google has anything to do with it, as a statement released by the company stated its intent to "to see the service go live as soon as possible" -- now that's what we're talking about. [Warning: PDF Link][Via CNET]
LicketyShip's four hour gadget delivery service goes live
We've all had those moments where we needed (read: wanted) something, and we needed it fast. For those who just can't get enough instant gratification in their lives, there's a new gadget delivery service aimed squarely at you. After two years of running through hoops in order to get everything sufficiently established, LicketyShip is hitting the streets (literally) and burning down the highways to get you whatever gizmo your heart desires (so long as it's stocked) within four hours of ordering. Due to nifty inventory-monitoring software and sweet hookups with local carriers, the company can probably get your kit to you before you'd make it down the 101 yourself. For now, however, the service is restricted to the San Francisco Bay Area, and there's no night owl routes running just yet either -- but if business goes as planned, and enough Bay Area folks shell out the $19.99 (and way up, we presume) required for such zippy services, the four-hour rule will reportedly go into effect from coast to coast.
