Goo
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ICYMI: Sims yourself into a new VR social network
try{document.getElementById("aol-cms-player-1").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: A new social network for virtual reality just launched, geared towards users who will decorate rooms to their taste, then have online friends over to hang out in their rooms, sharing content and chatting in real time about whatever movie they might be watching. Meanwhile, a bike path in Poland is made of material that glows for 10 hours after being charged by sunlight. It's being watched through the winter and if it handles cold temperatures well, researchers will begin work on commercializing the material in the spring. Nissan's EV mobile office video is here, and if you're interested in that GoPro contest, the mountain biking video is here. As always, please share any interesting tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.
PC game developers foretell the death of DRM
If you were one of the many recruits in last year's war on restrictive, invasive DRM, you may want to check out a recent article on Gamasutra that features opinions on PC gaming piracy protection (that's a mouthful) from a number of gaming industry movers and shakers.The general sentiment of these interviewees is that DRM is extremely ineffective when it comes to preventing piracy, and that developers should either come up with alternate ways of ensuring the retail product is more valuable than the pirated product, or determine a different way to make money altogether (such as micro-transactions). For interesting insight from fine folks like 2D Boy's Ron Carmel and Stardock's Brad Wardell, we highly suggest checking out the full article. [Image]
Broken promises, or 'How GameStop's error cost Stardock a vacation'
Stardock employees had their Easter weekend ruined by GameStop when the retailer decided to break street date on the Gas Powered Games-developed action RTS, Demigod. "We were looking forward to the weekend to recover," Stardock CEO Brad Wardell wrote on the publisher's official forum. "Instead, we found ourselves back at work having to turn on and configure the multiplayer matchmaking servers." Beyond losing vacation time, Wardell theorizes the early availability of Demigod will cause piracy of the copy protection-free title to be "maximized." But the outspoken (anti-intrusive DRM) exec says Demigod's early release may serve as proof of the actual effects of piracy. In response to GameStop's decision, Stardock released the game via its own digital distribution service, Impulse, a day early (on Monday). While Wardell wouldn't discuss speculation that GameStop intentionally released Demigod early to combat Stardock's digital distribution service, the CEO says Stardock is in talks with GameStop to find out "how this happened."[Via Gamasutra]
GDC09: Understanding what Stardock's Goo means to the used PC games market
Stardock's Game Object Obfuscation (Goo) sounds super complex (and it is), but all we -- "the consumer" -- need to grasp is that it could very well open up a "used" PC games market. Although this sounds like something that would make publishers and developers irate, the clever part with Goo is those groups actually make coin off the transactions. Stardock is still being cagey about which publishers it has jumping on-board with this client-free DRM solution, but should be making announcements soon. We finally grasped the big picture of Goo while speaking with Stardock CEO Brad Wardell and using the glasses on the table in front of us to diagram how the system will work:The super distilled basics (use picture above to follow along): Seller: So, you bought a PC game and now want to sell it. You go to the Impulse Marketplace and -- if you accept the "used" price -- your license will transfer back to the publisher and the game can't be played anymore. The game is "sold." Buyer: You want a game, but don't want to pay full price. You go to Impulse Marketplace and will be able to purchase this "used" license from the publisher through the service and download the game from the digital distribution service at a reduced price. That's it. Now you own the license and can sell it back whenever. Publisher: Here's why publishers will probably like this system: The companies receive almost all the money -- minus Stardock's transaction fee -- from the resold license. Essentially, the publishers get to sell the same license several times and have entered the profitable "used" games market. Goo will go live on April 7th. Considering this is all done through digital distribution, it's best to think of this whole concept as a "used license market" instead of a "used games market" -- there is no physical product changing hands. If Goo takes off, it means that consumers can get money for selling their PC games back to the publisher, and those who only buy "used" games have a secure new option. But, no matter what transaction occurs, the publishers are finally empowered and have cash flow in the used market.
Stardock introduces flexible DRM solution: Goo
DRM is a sticky subject in the PC gaming scene. While most publishers see it as a necessary evil, many consumers complain about the unfair restrictions imposed by some DRM solutions. Stardock's new Goo program may clean things up.Game Object Obfuscation, or Goo for short, is a client-free DRM solution. Instead of a third-party verification program, the DRM is embedded into the program itself. Activation is done through a user's e-mail address: simply tie a serial number to your e-mail address and you'll be able to use your product on any machine you own. Once validated, an online connection is no longer required.Interestingly, this new DRM method will allow consumers to legitimately resell their PC games. By voluntarily disabling their game access, they can transfer their license ownership to someone else. Were Goo to take off, it could create a second-hand PC gaming market.Goo will be introduced on April 7th. Stardock plans to announce Goo support from "multiple major publishers" in April as well.[Via Big Download]
Wii, meet goo: Japanese web portal offers content for Internet Channel
goo, a Japanese search engine and content portal (think Yahoo!, but without the silly na-- oh, never mind), has unveiled a content channel optimized for the Wii Internet Channel and featuring exclusive stuff for Wii users. Right now, the only new Wii-specific content is found in the far-left link, which goes to a series of quizzes. The other links just go to the kids' goo portal and the games content portal, respectively.A bunch of Japanese quizzes may not be what English-speaking Wii owners want, but it's nice to see the nearly-forgotten Wii Internet Channel get some support.
Joystiq hands-on: World of Goo (WiiWare)
Cute graphics and sounds: Check. Clever puzzle mechanic: Check. Irresistible gameplay: Check. World of Goo hits the required bullet points to be an indie game darling. And comfortable Wii Remote controls make it a perfect fit to be in Nintendo's WiiWare lineup.Players build simple structures by pointing and dragging living, bouncing goo balls. These spherical wonders extend a few arms to their closest neighbors, becoming rigid when the Remote button is released. Gamers have to figure out how to build bridges, towers, and other structures without toppling them over, all while trying to use as few balls as possible. In the end, they're trying to lead the remaining balls to a mysterious pipe that sucks them away at the end of the level.I tried the action-puzzler at the Nintendo Media Summit and am anticipating its release sometime this year. (Developer 2D Boy says its work will be complete in the Summer, and Nintendo will schedule the release after that.) World of Goo felt great and could be poised to be an indie game that crosses over into commercial success.%Gallery-20573%
Wii News Channel is live
Although announced for a Saturday unveiling, Nintendo went ahead and launched the Wii News Channel this morning. The service is free and requires a system update (that you'll likely be prompted to do next time you turn on your console).The service uses a globe for news searching much like the forecast channel, which could be seen as an educational tool for those with geographical deficiencies. According to Gamasutra, the service will be offered in English, French, Spanish, Dutch, German and Swiss-German by the Associated Press, while Japanese-language news will be provided by Japanese news company Goo.There are some bugs with the globe-trotting format, as reader Ralph Kruse discovered. Give the new channel a whirl, let us know what you think and of any other bugs / easter eggs you find.[Thanks to the plethora of tipsters who sent this in!]
