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Scenes from Barcelona: X06 pre-show mixer
Hello again from Barcelona, where the X06 press conference is scheduled to start in just under an hour. We'll be bringing you all of the show's big announcements live, but first we thought you'd like a little behind the scenes peek at the scene from the Teatre Nacional de Catalunya. Continue reading to get a feel for how Microsoft treats its honored developers, publishers and press.
Wii news and how the DS was affected
Nintendo's US press event recently concluded and while all of your Wii information needs have probably been satisfied, nothing else was discussed about Wii-DS connectivity. We know that Iwata already said that the WiiConnect24 service could be used to download content to the DS, whether it be a demo or something else, and also that the DS could also be used as a controller through the Wii's menu interface, but this was not demonstrated at the event or further discussed there.So what does this mean? Probably nothing. We should still see Nintendo's handheld play a large role in the Wii's interactivity and extra content. We should still see the DS downloading demos from the WiiConnect24 service. We should still see the DS being used as a controller to navigate menus in the Wii's interface. Just because Nintendo didn't show any of the features you'll be able to access on the Wii through the DS doesn't mean they aren't coming. We should be seeing and hearing more on the two consoles interacting as the launch date for the Wii draws near.
U.S. Nintendo presser somewhat-liveblogging [update 8]
Our man on the ground in NYC for the U.S. Wii information event has been delayed [update 1: He's there and feeding information below the jump], but we're keeping up with the news via sites like GoNintendo and Engadget (who provided the above photo). A lot of the stuff was already revealed in the Japanese press conference early this morning but here's what seems to be new: Confirmed price of $249.99 on Nov. 19 in U.S. with Wii Sports pack-in. Worldwide debut is in U.S. Reggie: "One price, one config, one color: white." Included in box seems similar to Japanese system, besides Wii Sports. Games will cost roughly $49.99. Virtual console games will be $5 for NES, $8 for SNES, $10 for N64. Super Mario 64, Super Mario World, Donkey Kong and Legend of Zelda at launch. Thirty titles in U.S. by year's end, about half at launch. Launch games include (compiled from GoNintendo/Engadget): The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Excite Truck, Trauma Center, Madden 07, Need for Speed: Carbon, Elebits, Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz, Metal Slug Anthology, Rayman: Raving Rabids, Red Steel, Barnyard, Cars, Avatar, Blazing Angels, Far Cry: Vengeance. Continue reading for more direct from the press conference.
Nintendo Japan conference not-so-liveblogging [update 29]
After some mistaken information about start times and a few false starts around the internet, it looks like Nintendo's Japanese press conference is actually set to start at 2 p.m. Japan time (1 a.m. Eastern time, 10 p.m. Pacific time, 0500 GMT). Though Joystiq doesn't have anyone on the ground in Tokyo, we're working to attain the best feed and translation services available for the event. We do plan to cover any big news from the conference by monitoring a purported live online feed, with translation services provided by ittousai of Engadget Japan. If that doesn't work, we'll monitor our sources into the night to bring you this information as soon as it's available.Keep checking back on this post as the deadline approaches for not-quite-live coverage of what is likely to be a major conference.
Engadget's quite in-pressive lately
Is it just us, or is all this hubbub about scooping RIM on the BlackBerry Pearl (among other things) been earning us some serious mentions in the press lately? Check it out! Information Week The Globe and Mail Business Week CBC Bloomberg Red Herring
Apple breaks silence - denies claims of wireless iPod, kinda
Apple doesn't feed the press many scraps, if any, and they rarely - if ever - comment on unreleased products. Apple Taiwan, however, has broken the silence by denying claims of Apple sending staff to major Asian markets to demonstrate these rumored wPods. So no, they didn't exactly deny claims that the devices exist - just claims that they're getting trained on how to use and sell them.Speculation has been heating up about a wPod in light of Microsoft's announcement of Zune, an iPod competitor, that could feature wifi. Yes, I know wifi is an announced feature, so in all likelihood it should feature wifi, but in the tried and true Vista spirit of scrapping announced features, it sounds like Microsoft has already dropped video support from Zune. With the way things are going, they'll be lucky if the device ships with the ability to play music.But I digress. Back on the topic of wifi and everyone's favorite little white music player, we very well might not see it in the next version. Apple hasn't been publicly hip on the idea (though Jobs did say video wouldn't happen either), it's tough to build in and, perhaps more importantly, it eats batteries for breakfast. The iPod already receives criticism for its 14 hour battery life (with only 2 or 3 hours of video) in light of competitors like Sony who get upwards of 20 and 30 hours, so adding a juice-hungry feature like wifi is no small step for a device like this.Regardless, we'll see what we can see in the upcoming months, as the iPod is definitely ready for a refresh. Who knows, maybe you'll be able to buy iTMS music from the palm of your hand soon enough.
Wherefore art thou Lester Bangs of gaming?
Chuck Klosterman, a contributing writer for Esquire and regular columnist for SPIN Magazine, has written a fascinating and frustrating feature for the former inquiring as to the whereabouts of "The Lester Bangs of Video Games." Klosterman wants to know why there is no video game analog to film-critics like Pauline Kael or music-critics like Lester Bangs, and explains why he suspects there never will be. He asks Steven Johnson, whose Everything Bad is Good for You Klosterman calls "one of the only mainstream books that comes remotely close to the kind of gaming criticism I just described," about the dilemma. Johnson responds, "Video games generally have narratives and some kind of character development, but-almost without exception-these are the least interesting things about them. Gamers don't play because they're drawn into the story line; they play because there's something intoxicating about the mix of exploring an environment and solving problems. The stories are an afterthought." He also talks with MIT's Henry Jenkins who says, "Game designers are asking themselves questions about how a game should look and what it should do, but not about what the game is supposed to mean."What's refreshing about Klosterman's take is that he's willing to acknowledge the importance and potential of video games (unlike other critics who've issued similar dictums) while also noting and understanding the shortcomings. What's frustrating are the ommissions; some would be heirs to this throne do come to mind and -- curiously enough -- some even appear on Something Awful's list of the five worst game reviews. Do gamers want anything more than a shopping guide out of their reviews? Do game designers even mean anything with the games they make? So we're all on the same page, before you start commenting on the column, be sure to read it first![Update: for some rebuttals, check out Game Girl Advance, John Scalzi, and Clive Thompson.]
7 more reasons for bogus games "journalism" [update 1]
Why do games "journalists" publish so many lies, untruths and half-truths? There are seven reasons, according to GameDaily BIZ: (1) fanboyishness, (2) wimpiness, (3) laziness, (4) inexperience with real journalism, (5) herd mentality, (6) sensationalism, (7) confusion over technicalities. A solid list on an important topic... We just wish GameDaily BIZ hadn't unwittingly illustrated one of their own points. By publishing their best criticism under an anonymous pseudonym ("Mr. Media Coverage"), GameDaily proves a corollary of rule #2: few games-industry writers are willing to put their own names down next to honest criticism because they fear reprisals of some sort. [Update 1: corrected a typo in third paragraph.]
Get yer free EGMs here, get em while they're hot
The good people at Ziff-Davis have pointed us towards a limited-time offer for a free one-year subscription to their flagship gaming mag, Electronic Gaming Monthly, a $20 value. The deal is being sponsored by World Cyber Games USA, so don't worry about old, Uncle ZD going bellyup after you all grab free subs. The only catch: you gotta do it by Friday or "while supplies last."How to get it: go here, fill out your info, and hit the "Order FREE Subscription" button. Afterwards, you'll be taken to a an optional registration page for the WCG which you do not have to fill out this to get the free subscription.
Overheard: polite clapping for Nintendo is quite enough, fanboys
Fellow Joystiq blogger Chris Grant forwarded the following quote to me and asked, "Why does this sound like something you'd say?" Washington Post blogger Mike Musgrove overheard one member of a cluster of bloggers behind him caution his fellow bloggers just prior to the beginning of the Nintendo's E3 press conference: "Remember, no fanboyism -- if something happens, polite clapping is enough." Hilarious! ... but only for a moment. Editorialising follows after the post break.
WoW Moviewatch: The Darkmoon Faire trailer from E3
This is the first part of a series of press release videos from E3; this one spotlighting the events at the Darkmoon Faire. It probably doesn't contain anything that most of us haven't seen, but it's a nice little video, in any case...although it could really use one of those carnival barkers yelling "Sunday, SUNday, SUNDAY!". Enjoy...
Hands on with the Xbox 360 Live Vision, Wireless Headset, and Racing Wheel
Microsoft's Xbox 360 HD DVD drive wasn't the only device we checked out at their post-press conference exposé. We also got to take a look at the Live Vision, Wireless Headset, Racing Wheel and Wireless Gaming Receiver up close and in person. Unfortunately for us, we were told these were all hand-built product mockups that apparently wouldn't withstand the wear and tear of a thousand or more press and partners manhandlings with chubby greasy party hands. Well, who cares, we touched the headsets anyway and they felt pretty nice, fairly light, if not a little fragile. Guess that's what we get for playing with the mockups though, right? Click on for more.
Q to be launched May 22nd?
Alright Q fans, we've got some good news for you. We've received word that Verizon and Motorola are holding a joint news conference in New York this May 22nd -- no, not May 22nd 2007, though we should qualify that -- to announce the Q. We know, wipe the look of shock off your face; we don't really have much more info to give you than that, but really, what more do you need? By this point you're either completely sick of hearing about this thing, or have some insane pent up urge to get one, so for the latter crowd: keep your eyes and ears tuned to May 22nd.
PS3 could debut in Europe for 500 euros, says SCEE exec
La PlayStation Trois! French gamers must be familiar with that combination by now, and if a certain Sony executive gets his way, the PS3 could be appearing in Europe for as low as 500 euros this fall.Apparently George Fornay (president of Sony Computer Entertainment France and vice president of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe) confirmed to Generation Europe 1, in French, that the PS3 could be priced around the 500 euro mark, most likely between 499 euros and 599 euros. For the unfiltered French audio, try the Play button near the middle of Europe 1's podcast page here.Such an estimated figure may include Europe's Value Added Tax (VAT), so the final price range in the States might well be lower than the current U.S. currency equivalent of roughly $600-$725 for those many euros. Of course, who's to say whether Mr. Fornay was simply speculating on a local podcast or whether he actually exhibited loose lips before the French press?[Thanks, Fan; also via Joystiq]
