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What is Blizzard planning for its next MMO?
According to a recent interview with Wired's GameLife, Blizzard's next MMO project will be "Significantly different" than what they have now with World of Warcraft. This alleviates most concern over self-competition, since they seem fairly confident that the new MMO will scratch a new itch. And seriously, even if it did take players away from WoW, would it be such a bad thing for Blizzard?This interview with COO Paul Sams (by our own Tracey John) touches on much more than this next MMO, which Blizzard is understandably tight-lipped about. Sams discusses the future of WoW's expansions, the potential of Battle.net across multiple titles and even a bit on micro-transactions. So as we can only speculate at this point, what do you think will be Blizzard's next MMO?
Easy Piano title lets DS Lite users tickle the ivory
We know that DSi of yours is all the rage, but you did hang on to that DS / DS Lite, didn't you? Phew. Starting this November in Europe and other PAL regions, you'll have a remarkably good excuse to bust that unit back out, as this new peripheral looks to require that all-but-forgotten GBA slot. At any rate, the title (which goes by Easy Piano in case you glossed over the headline) will allow players to bang out masterpieces such as Bittersweet Symphony, Every Breath You Take and Pachelbel's Canon on the 8-note, full-octave keyboard accessory. All told, 40 songs will be made available, and there's even a "creation mode" that enables owners to record up to four 3-minute-long jams. Now, if only we had a North American price and release date to pencil in, we'd be all set.[Via Joystiq]
DC Universe Online creators talk about S.T.A.R. Labs and game storylines
Comic-Con International is underway in San Diego, and we're already hearing some news about the superhero MMO genre. The latest info about DC Universe Online comes from a Wired article by Frank Rose which focuses on S.T.A.R. Labs, the futuristic glass and steel location familiar to anyone who grew up reading DC comic books or watched the Superman animated TV series. S.T.A.R. Labs, short for Scientific and Technical Advanced Research Laboratories, will be a hub of storyline activity in the MMO. It's fitting, as this is a place where great scientific advances are made, but also a place where things can go horribly wrong. This means it's perfect neutral ground to be incorporated into DC Universe Online, and the location will tie in with the respective storylines of the game's heroes and villains.
All Points Bulletin chaos to balance out with Criminal and Enforcer dynamic
The upcoming criminals-vs.-vigilantes game All Points Bulletin holds the promise of being an absolutely chaotic rampage, where a hundred players lay waste to a sprawling urban environment. While that *seems* like it would be fun, for a while anyway, even the most destructive gamer incarnate of Jack Thompson's personal antichrist will ultimately grow tired of blowing stuff up. Fortunately, that's not what APB is going to be all about. In fact, a closer look at this game can makes us wonder: Is it really possible to compare the unbridled carnage and hot coffee of Grand Theft Auto with the gameplay of ABP? Not really, according to Realtime Worlds creative director Dave Jones, who spoke about APB with Chris Kohler from Wired's GameLife blog. Jones told Wired, "There's nothing to compare it to, but that's kind of what we try to do with our games."
Metamorial: Game writers remember Dave Arneson
Somewhere between co-creating Dungeons & Dragons and teaching at Full Sail College, Dave Arneson left an indelible mark on the gaming landscape. Every time we roll for initiative or challenge the dungeon master's ability to adapt, Arneson's guiding hand can be felt. We've gathered sentiments shared by our colleagues around the internet for you here, and encourage you to share your thoughts in the comments section below, about the man that helped move role-playing into the limelight of gaming.Ars Technica: "Get out your classic rule books. Invite some friends over. Keep a chair empty for a fallen friend, and play for a few hours. Not online, in person. Order a pizza ... Remember Dave Arneson, a man who wasn't satisfied with the game when his parents brought home an Avalon Hill title. When he began changing the rules, he began changing the world."
BioWare talks about Sonic RPG, characters and pacing
Game|Life had a chance to interview BioWare President Greg Zeschuk, and CEO Ray Muzyka about the as-yet-unnamed Sonic the Hedgehog RPG being developed for the Nintendo DS. Although no specific details are revealed, the two reassure Game|Life that the series is in good hands.Promising "fast-paced gameplay" and "a rich story," Muzyka and Zeschuk come off as genuinely excited to be working on the DS platform for the first time, and confident that they can deliver a product that is faithful to both the Sonic franchise, and to their previous RPG titles. Though very few gameplay details can be gleaned, the interview does reveal that BioWare plans on utilizing the "cool characters" and major plot elements from the Sonic games. Muzyka also mentions briefly at the end of the interview that the structure of the RPG will be designed for shorter bursts of play, in keeping with the portable format and the speedy pace of most Sonic titles. Let the speculation (and general apprehension regarding the "cool characters" comment) begin!
See the Virtual Console's future on one tidy page
We've recently heard plenty of confirmed titles that are on their way to the Wii's Virtual Console, but with all the hot game releases to contend with, who can keep digital games straight? Thankfully for the lazy, Game|Life has done the work for you, compiling all of future possible/definite VC releases into one coherent package, organized by the system the titles originally appeared on. The site has even taken the time to source each of the titles, so you won't go buy the points card for nothing.Even if you've been following the VC feverishly, you're sure to find one that you've missed, or at least forgotten about. If we were to pick one that we simply can't wait for? Oh, we'd probably have to go with Zombies Ate My Neighbors, though Milon's Secret Castle is looking mighty tempting to the masochist in us. If there's one bad thing to be said about the list, it would be that it's sort of a depressing reminder of how much cash we're going to have to spend in the near future. Sure, those awesomely rich Wii aficionados reap sweet rewards, but what about those of us who aren't crazy about $5 for an NES game?
GameLife's Rosenblum pleads not guilty to VT-style threat
Andrew Rosenblum, the host of video game show GameLife, who allegedly threatened to kill a girl he had dated has been placed under house arrest pending trial. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. A judge set bail at $50,000, told Rosenblum to keep away from Boston University where he's attending classes and ordered him to wear a GPS location device 24 hours a day.On the evening of the Virginia Tech massacre Rosenblum allegedly wrote in an IM to a girl he had previously dated that he would bring a gun to her school to kill her and others, and that "it's going to be VT all over again." Rosenblum will only be allowed to leave his home to visit his attorney or a doctor until his court date in June.
GameLife host arrested for VT-style threat
Andrew Rosenblum, the host of the video game show GameLife, which previously had some content streamed by MTV's online service Overdrive, has been arrested by Boston police for allegedly sending an e-mail to an ex-girlfriend threatening to kill her. According to the Boston Herald, Rosenblum wrote in the e-mail, "(I)'m gonna (expletive) bring a gun to your school and kill you and K (another female student) and everybody you love. It's gonna be VT all over again ... Seriously I'm just that demented ... killing people can change people's lives forever. (T)he best is in the end when I pull the trigger on myself, too."Rosenblum, a part-time student at Boston University, wrote the letter hours after the VT shooting where over 30 people died. He was arrested at 3:15 AM yesterday morning after police received a 911 call from a girl who went on three dates with Rosenblum and then dumped him. She called police because on the evening of the Virginia Tech killing she received the threatening emails from Rosenblum which she printed. Needham police say they take the threats as "very serious."Right about now is probably the worst possible time for anything video game related being tied into a Google search for Virginia Tech massacre. It doesn't help that the Boston Herald in this morning's edition incorrectly said Rosenblum's show is currently being streamed by MTV's Overdrive, essentially tying video games, a source of pop culture and a national tragedy all in one neat little package for the mainstream news. This is pure news chum for the network sharks looking to fill 24/7 news coverage of anything VT related.Update: MTV contacted Joystiq to let us know they do not own GameLife, nor did they produce it, they merely provided the means to distribute some content. An MTV spokesperson said, "Gamelife's Andrew Rosenblum contributed 2 review segments last year to the MTV.com show, The G-Hole, which is actually hosted by Blair Herter. MTV does not own Gamelife nor does MTV have a video game show entitled Gamelife. In addition, Andrew Rosenblum has never hosted a show for MTV. Gamelife is a completely separate entity from MTV."
Sony will never catch up, but that doesn't matter
Chris Kohler's Game | Life blog has a great Q&A session with Wedbush Morgan's Michael Pachter. When the analyst was asked about the widening gap between DS and PSP, he had this to say: "I don't think Sony will close the gap, and don't think it is important that they do so. Nintendo has over 20 million loyal GBA owners, and we should expect them to dominate the category that they invented. Sony is late to the handheld game, has tried to approach the market from an older demographic, and is just now trying to beef up more kid-friendly content to appeal to 13-17 year olds. I don't think that the gap matters at all, so long as Sony makes money. I also believe that price elasticity of demand dictates that the lower priced product will sell more units. That's why there are more Fords than Maseratis."While Sony will most likely never be number one this generation, they've gone a long way in changing the handheld marketplace. As long as people continue to buy the system and continue to buy the games, the platform will remain more than viable.[Via AMN]
Where Brain Age stops being cool
This is exactly how you communicate fun -- slap a brain into a snow globe! Instant good times! Maybe, perhaps, if the Spanish Inquisition and organ removal are among your hobbies. How many different inflections of gross can we pack into one "ugh" here?Chris Kohler of GameLife got this one from Nintendo and we have to wonder if it wasn't some sort of booby prize. If this was a winner, we'll stay in the losing category. Oh, it does advertise the game, at least ... but it's like marketing from bizarro world.
