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GDC09: Guitar Hero World Tour finally rockin' to PC
As you may have guessed from our headline (and the poorly 'chopped image above), Guitar Hero: World Tour is finally coming to the PC. GameSpot has revealed that developer Aspyr, the team behind the Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock PC port, will bring the best selling band-based game to PC this June. Guitar Hero: World Tour on the PC will ship bundled with one guitar controller. Aspiring virtual drummers will have to shell out for the PS3 drum kit while singers are free to use any USB based microphone. Guitar Hero's PC tour will include all of the tracks released with the original game, as well as the music creator, but the created music sharing service on the Xbox 360 and PS3 will be stripped. Whether PC players will be able to download new DLC tracks is still unclear (although the previous Guitar Hero on PC omitted that feature). Aspyr confirmed that World Tour will share similar minimum system requirements to Legends of Rock, which some reviewers blasted for lag problems. If the problems are addressed, we can't wait to get the band back together. But only if we can play our dream show in front of a real audience ... during an 11-hour flight from Tokyo to L.A. We're Laptop Heroes![Via BigDownload]
Treasure World turns Wi-Fi networks into hidden treasure
In December, Aspyr announced a creative DS game called Treasure Troves, a "real-life treasure hunt" that generates in-game items based on Wi-Fi hotspots. The company released more details about the game yesterday, as well as the first screens.Treasure World, as it is known now, creates a unique item for each Wi-Fi network it discovers. The items can be used to customize the character, or traded with others. There are other gameplay uses for the items, but we don't know much about the actual gameplay outside of the Wi-Fi hunting and trading.Aspyr will open an online community that lets players interact away from the DS, allowing them to display their collections and set up trades with other players. Treasure World and its associated community will be available this summer.[Screenshot via IGN]
Aspyr launches GameAgent online store
Mac games publisher Aspyr has thrown the switch on their online game store GameAgent. Somewhat similar to Valve's Steam, GameAgent allows buying and downloading games for your Mac. They seem to be starting slow with only Call of Duty 4 ($54.99) and a trivia / SAT prep game called futureU ($39.99) available at this time. But other classic Mac games like Stubbs the Zombie appear to be coming soon at $19.99.GameAgent also offers an Extended Download Service for an additional fee of $4.99. Basically, what this does is give you the right to re-download the game anytime within two years. So, if you have a hard drive crash and no back-up, you can download again.One downside is that the game is locked to your computer, so you can only play them on the machine they were downloaded on. If you want to re-download the games on a new computer, you must purchase the EDS service when you buy the game. Even then, a given serial number can only be activated three times.[via Macworld]
Joystiq impressions: FutureU, Kaplan's SAT prep game for DS
Thanks to Brain Age, millions of kids have been able to trick their parents into thinking that the Nintendo DS is being used as an educational device. With the help of popular college prep company Kaplan, the trickery can continue. They announced their plans to create a SAT prep game for the Nintendo DS with the help of developer Aspyr only a few months ago. Now, they have a fully functional prototype ready, and a name to boot.FutureU will feature at least four different question types, and over 1200 questions. Now, we asked why it wasn't called something a bit more marketable, like R0x0rz the SATs, or SAT Test Prep DS, and a Aspyr representative informed us that The College Board has strict control over the SAT brand. The title won't have "SAT" in it, but the packaging will make it very clear what the product's purpose is.A very early version of the game we saw featured some rudimentary character customization, added to give the illusion that FutureU is more of a "game" than a "learning experience." The DS version of the game won't offer any real questions from the SAT, nor will it try to grade you. Instead, players will go through various games that test the concepts found in the SATs. For example, Glyphs will have players attempt to figure out the meaning of a word by deconstructing the word's various roots. Predictions train reading comprehension by removing a word from a passage. Players can then scribble predictions on what should be in the missing blank(s). Then, players will be able to choose from a selection of possible words, and use their predictions to choose the correct missing word.While its interface is more "game-like" than most edu-tainment titles, it's still clear what FutureU is and what its purpose is. And that's to let you carry your DS around and claim you're "studying." FutureU will be available on DS, PC and Mac this Fall.%Gallery-27372%
Supreme Surrender Episode 2
The second episode of Rooster Teeth's Supreme Surrender -- based on Supreme Commander, see what they did there? -- is now online. We think it's safe to say that this mini-series isn't as inspired as, say, Red vs Blue, but it's still worth a chuckle. This episode continues the saga of the first episode, as the incredibly large alien force continues to "surrender" to the much smaller force (much to their delighted surprise). The only problem is that surrendering appears to be worse than all out war. Enjoy.
New machinima miniseries: Supreme Surrender
In honor of the impending release of the RTS Supreme Commander for Xbox 360 (it comes out next week, available now on PC), Rooster Teeth -- the folks behind Red vs Blue, among other things -- has created a new miniseries called Supreme Surrender. As you may have guessed, the miniseries is filmed entirely within the Supreme Commander game engine. The first episode begins as two emissaries from warring factions await the arrival of a third emissary who wishes to surrender. Give it a watch and tell us what you think.
Another RTS hits June 23: Supreme Commander
While it isn't the best represented genre on the 360 by a long shot, RTS's have still managed to stake their claim on the platform, and between the coming C&C3 expansion and the newly gone gold Supreme Commander this month looks to see them expanding their territory. Having released over a year ago we're not sure exactly how much territory will be gained by Supreme Commander, but the game was well received when it was released and is likely to still be as good when it comes to console. Besides, the real question will be whether or not the game will hold console RTS fans over until they get what they really seem to want: Halo Wars.
Kaplan to train you for the SATs through your DS
For those of you looking to bone up on your college-level analogies, Kaplan, Inc. has teamed with Aspyr Media to bring you a SAT prep title for the DS. The project is still early in development, so there is no name or screens yet. Sadly, that's about all we have to go on right now.We must say, the decision to bring such an application to the DS shows (to us, at least) the kind of smarts that would score well on the SATs. [Via Joystiq]
Kaplan SAT test prep coming to Nintendo DS
Kaplan, Inc. has teamed with Aspyr Media to create an SAT prep game for the Nintendo DS, according to Newsweek. Versions are also on their way to PC and Mac, where the test prep software is already fairly common. The project is early in development and does not yet have a name. Newsweek reports that it was Aspyr who pitched the idea to Kaplan. If this is a success, can we get a DS game to help us understand Special Relativity? Perhaps we can get Professor Layton or perhaps even Wario as our virtual teacher.
World in Conflict console 'reinvention' subtitled Soviet Assault
The delayed (and further delayed) console port of World in Conflict is evidently making headway, ready to trade in its "just a PC-port" reputation for a shiny new subtitle. Allow us to introduce ... World in Conflict: Soviet Assault. But this ain't no simple re-titling. As shown off in the latest issue of Official Xbox Magazine (Czech edition ... what, you're not a subscriber?), developer Massive Entertainment has managed to teach WiC: SA some new tricks. Of course, mapping the PC's mouse and keyboard controls to a gamepad is a given (and being handled by porting developer Swordfish Studios), but what about a new campaign (play as the Russians, tovarish), more multiplayer maps, and some shiny new cut-scenes? That's what the bean counters call a "value add." In case you've already invested in that PC version, you can add some value to it with an expansion pack. That pack, as well as the Xbox 360 and PS3 releases, are scheduled to assault the nation's (world's?) retailers this Fall.
Rock out at the Apple Store with Guitar Hero III
Macworld is reporting that Aspyr is planning to hold Guitar Hero III tournaments at various Apple retail stores around the country. It looks like they'll be awarding iTunes gift cards to the winners, but surely that pales in comparison to the chance to become not just a Guitar Hero, but a Mac Guitar Hero in front of throngs of cheering Apple Store patrons!Some of the stores participating "include locations in Bloomington, Minn., San Francisco, Stockton, Pasadena and Santa Monica, Calif., Tampa, Fla., Albany, NY, Peabody, Mass., Houston, Texas, Chicago, Ill., and New York, NY." If you want to know if your local store is on the list you should check its specific website at Apple Retail. Perhaps if Mike S. ever gets over his feud with Aspyr, you can challenge our resident Mac game master at the Chicago store.
Will Wright: Mac users will love Spore
Well, who won't, right? If you haven't read a single gaming blog this week (you serious worker bee, you), then you may not have heard the big news: Will Wright's rumored-to-be-a-masterpiece Spore has gotten a release date. It's hitting stores (for both PC and Mac simultaneously-- now that's what I like to hear) on September 7, 2008. Which means that later this year, PC and Mac users alike will be playing God, and creating creatures that virtually evolve from amoeba form all the way up to space travel.Mac|Life got a chance to sit down with Will Wright himself, and not only did he reveal some fun news about the game, but he thinks it will especially appeal to Mac users-- they expect the creative creature creator to do great things with Mac minds. Unfortunately, the game is a Cider port, and it's being released by Aspyr (that's right, I'm breaking my informal press boycott on them to talk about Spore-- don't disappoint me, Aspyr *see update below) but Wright sounds like he's expecting quality from this release, so I guess we should, too.And just like all the other great developers out there, he's very interested to see what happens with the iPhone SDK -- Wright is apparently an iPhone owner, and would love to get Spore on there. Believe me, Will -- I'd love to play it.[Via IMG]*Update: Aspyr has contacted us to say that they are not publishing the game. And at first I was confused, because Lucy Bradshaw specifically mentions Aspyr in the interview. However, after reading it a few times, it seems that Bradshaw is actually giving reasons for why they decided not to go with Aspyr-- their native ports come out too late, and EA wanted to release Spore simultaneously on all platforms.Aspyr also notes to us that they only do native ports, not Cider ports. So I guess my informal boycott against Aspyr is still on, but we're still not guaranteed to get a good game out of this: Madden '08 was created using Transgaming's Cider, and that didn't turn out so well. Wait and see.
Reminder: Win Guitar Hero III on your platform of choice (now with more platforms)
All this week, we're giving away copies of Guitar Hero III on all sorts of platforms, from the now-gen (Wii, Xbox 360, PS3) to the last-gen (PS2). But what if you were looking for a copy for that other platform? You know the one ... the "computer." The well-mannered folks at Aspyr offered us a copy of their PC and Mac hybrid release of Guitar Hero III, complete with USB X-plorer guitar, to round out our platform offerings. So, this is your reminder to enter today and a note that you've got another platform choice to consider. Thanks, Aspyr.
Call of Duty 4 Mac-bound in May
Macworld is reporting that Aspyr is bringing the addictive Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare to the Mac (apparently Aspyr is unfazed by Mike S's ardent condemnations). Having played the game extensively on the Xbox 360 I can say with confidence that fans of first person shooters on the Mac are in for a treat. Unlike the previous games in the series it has a contemporary setting in Russia and the Middle East for the intense single-player campaign, as well as some of the best online multiplayer available.Details are limited but Call of Duty 4 is expected in May (only six months after its console and PC release!)
Call of Duty 4 engages Mac OS X this May
Continuing its Mac OS X relationship with Activision, Aspyr has announced they'll be publishing Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare for Mac OS, available this May for the regular asking price of $49.95. The press release doesn't mention whether the Mac OS release will be a native port of the PC release or wrapped in Transgaming's Cider technology (similar to EA's just announced Spore release). We'll check in with Aspyr at Macworld and get some more details for y'all.
Guitar Hero III PC/Mac hybrid done, shipping out Dec. 10
You Mac gamers out there (we know, we know, "both of you") will be pleased to learn that the briefly delayed Guitar Hero III will be shipping to retailers on December 10, so you should be able to snag a copy in time for [insert gift-giving holiday of choice here]. The $80 PC/Mac hybrid disc (that's called a twofer where we're from) is bundled with the USB-based X-plorer guitar and will even include cross-platform multiplayer between the two at times warring platforms. Now how about a showdown between John Hodgman and Justin Long?
Aspyr delays Guitar Hero III, they are now dead to me
Man, remember how excited we were that Guitar Hero III was coming to the Mac at a reasonable time? Yeah, well, guess what. Aspyr has no love for Mac owners. Our friends at Joystiq say that while the PC version is sitting happily on shelves, we're still waiting on the Mac version. "Later this year," Aspyr says. I'll believe it when I see it.I don't want to get off on a rant here, but who the hell put Aspyr in charge of Mac gaming anyway? Their incompetence has reared its ugly head time and time again. They deliver late, buggy ports all the time, and yet game companies still seem to flock to them for development and publishing jobs.There is something rotten in the state of Mac gaming, and it is Aspyr Media. Have they ever kept a promise for release? Have they ever delivered a worthy, on-time port? Or have they continually and constantly profited off of placing junk on Apple Store shelves, forever confining Macs to the bottom of the list for gaming platforms? I won't tell you what to buy, but I'm done seeing Aspyr's name on Mac games. Until they show that they actually have the capacity to release a game that even slightly compares to the PC release version (or even shows up on time -- I'd settle for punctuality at this point), the Aspyr name is a complete dealbreaker for me in terms of both interest and purchases. As far as I'm concerned, they're out.
Guitar Hero III PC/Mac hybrid 'later this year'
While it may seem like everyone and their roadie already picked up a copy of Guitar Hero III earlier this month – what with $115 million in sales in the first week alone – Red Octane and Activision aren't even through with their brutal march towards total platform saturation. Though the peripheral-laden DS version is still undated, the PC version was released on Tuesday; unfortunately, the Mac version – now revealed to be a magical PC/Mac hybrid disc – won't be available until "later this year" according to Aspyr, the developer porting the game.When asked what will happen to the current PC-only SKU when the hybrid variant is unleashed, Aspyr told Joystiq "the hybrid PC/Mac version will eventually replace the PC-only SKU." Aspyr is aiming to have that version on shelves this year (we assume bundled with the PC version's wired X-plorer guitar and priced at the same $79.99) but we also worry the veteran Mac developers have their hands full with their just announced Xbox 360 port of Supreme Commander.
Wireless Guitar Hero 3 controller functions with PC version
First, the good news! The Xbox 360's sleek, wireless Gibson Les Paul controller that made its debut with Guitar Hero III has been confirmed by the wonderful folks at Shacknews to be fully compatible with the upcoming PC version of Activision's rhythmic rocker. It's not "officially" supported by develo-porter Aspyr, mind you, but you'll find it works just fine for setting those frets on fire -- all you need is the Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver.The bad news (don't be shocked, we alluded to this in the first paragraph!) is that Guitar Hero III's PC variant, which releases November 12th, already comes packaged with a guitar, namely the Gibson X-plorer which accompanied Guitar Hero II on the Xbox 360. It's uglier, it's wired and simply won't let you play the game from ridiculous and impractical distances! It seems the Gibson Les Paul is only a worthwhile option if you desire a second controller or if you can track down a standalone version of the game. Can't you help out with this, Steam?
Enemy Territory: Quake Wars is fighting through enemy territory to get to the Mac
Apple Insider has some shiny new Enemy Territory: Quake Wars screens for your drooling pleasure. I have to say-- the last few Quake games (and I'll include Doom III in that list) haven't really floated my boat much. As good as the graphics look, that old id charm just doesn't seem the same with games like Portal and Halo around. But Enemy Territory was definitely a winner (I played it on my Powerbook quite a bit), and so ET:QW is sure to be some good times.Unfortunately, Aspyr is porting the game, and their id ports in the past haven't exactly been up to snuff. Plus, apparently they've been hampered by updates to the already-released Windows version, so the Mac version is still only in alpha, while the other versions are out in the wild, already letting folks shoot at each other. And worst of all, AI says there is no online in the alpha version (!). Call us foolish, but we'll at least hold out hope until we see the actual release-- maybe with id making a conscious effort towards Mac gaming, Aspyr will get this one right.
