Dan Choi
Articles by Dan Choi
Massive Magazine planned for MMOG coverage this fall
The folks behind Computer Games Magazine have just announced that they'll be starting up a new publication this fall dedicated completely to the purview of massively multiplayer online (MMO) games.Massive Magazine is touted as the first print mag of its kind, packaged together with "a free DVD packed with MMO demos and games" when it launches for "a three-month run on September 19, 2006" and then begins as "a stand-alone quarterly publication by January 2007."We can only assume that theglobe.com guys 'n' gals will provide extensive coverage of other MMO genres besides the typical RPG grinds, such as FPS (Huxley), driving (Auto Assault), and puzzle (Puzzle Pirates) themed games. A digital version via Zinio.com is also planned.[Thanks, JamesO and Jonathan]See also: WBIE's original fanzine plans for The Matrix Online More genre-breaking MMOs The year in Second Life [from embedded journalist Wagner James Au]
Rare to unleash Pinatas on 360s this holiday season
Rare's next project is apparently an original IP concerning living piñata animals that will be featured in a Saturday morning TV/3-D/CG show and then in an Xbox 360 game debuting this holiday season worldwide.
Halo 3 possibly back in PS3 launch frame, says analyst
With all the PS3 delay news flying around lately, it seems that a certain big sequel for the Xbox 360 may have creeped back onto the 2006 release window.According to Next Generation, a "lead analyst" from Tokyo is claiming that "big-hitting titles" for the first-moving 360 could be targeted at the PS3 launch "just to sabotage it." He stated that the release of Halo 3 ("timed to PS3") would be "quite damaging for Sony" as well.Well, a preemptive launch of Halo 3 would certainly serve as a distraction to Sony's next-gen launch plans, but people who really want a PS3 probably won't be deterred by Microsoft's premiere FPS appearing around the same time their favorite console does. Gears of War most likely won't stop PS3 fanboys, either. An unexpectedly early release (of either title) would certainly prove to be a perfect holiday present for 360 owners, however. Competition is grand.See also: Halo 3 could be released in '06 according to MS Game Studios GM Halo 3: speculation roundup PS3 worldwide in November Breaking News: PS3 delayed until November!
Free basic service on "PlayStation Network Platform"
Going by the working title "PlayStation Network Platform," Sony has announced that the basic level of its online service will be free (at least at first).While the company's "Live-killer" will readily support the PS3 at launch in November, it is not known to what extent the "PNP" (er, "PSNP"?) will support the PS2 and PSP.What are supported, however, are voice/video chat, messaging, matchmaking, ranking, game data uploading/downloading, shopping, content downloading, micro payments, subscriptions, and entitlement (i.e., user access) management. All of this will be tied together with a Live-like user login ID/handle name. Hello, 360... More P(S)NP pics follow.
SCEA: PSP price drop to $199 on March 22nd; EyeToy, GPS, and PSone game-download support coming later
As noted in our earlier story on the PS3's worldwide launch in November, the PSP will drop in price to $199 in the U.S. on March 22nd.According to an official PR announcement from SCEA, this basic package with PSP, AC adaptor, and battery will also retail for $229.99 CND (for our friends up north).Highlights include classic PSone games for download onto Memory Sticks, web browser compatibility with Flash, a silver USB EyeToy camera for video and voice-over-IP chat in September, and GPS support for games like Hot Shots Golf as well. Europe will get their basic PSPs for 199 Euros on the same date, while Japan will get a new white SKU on April 15th.See also: PS3 worldwide in November PSP-specific page from IGN; second IGN page with other pricing info New PSP Value Packs revealed [with bundled games for Europe] Rumor: New PSP to get a built-in camera and 4GB of flash
"Mass shipments" of PS3s & PSPs for Christmas
DigiTimes is reporting that "Asustek Computer has secured orders for Sony's PlayStation 3 (PS3) and PSP (PlayStation Portable) game consoles, with mass shipments slated for this Christmas season."This would fall in line with expectations that the PS3 will be delayed to sometime this fall, and most likely closer to the end of this year, despite a company spokeperson from Asustek denying the rumor and knowledge of the report from the Economic Daily News.Asus actually helped assemble PS2s in the past, so there's more than a little connection between the two companies. Hopefully more will become clear after Sony opens its upcoming PS3 event to analysts and the press tomorrow (which, due to the Asian time difference, will actually take place in just a few hours).[Via Next Generation; image from the company's North American web site]
MLB 2K6 may miss March spring training
2K Sports' exlusive 3rd-party baseball sim Major League Baseball 2K6 may be arriving a little late to the party this year.EBgames' web site is reporting that versions of the title for PS2 and Xbox will be arriving on April 10th, while the Xbox 360 and GameCube editions will be arriving fashionably late on the 24th--both of which dates fall well after the first actual MLB pitch of the season on April 2nd. The PSP version is still AWOL (under contract negotiations apparently), while GameStop has only got the PS2 listing with the March 20th date penciled in.
Rumor: Dell has bought Alienware
CNET has heard from "a reliable source" that Dell has indeed bought Alienware, the high-end PC vendor.It's obvious that Dell wants a bigger piece of the PC gaming pie, considering their XPS line of systems and the fact that hardcore gamers are willing to pay a pretty price to eke out higher framerates and screen resolutions.The question is whether Dell was actually willing to buy its way into gaming credibility and if it would move the company into the realm of AMD-powered game/workstations or not. More word when we have it.[Via CNET, Evil Avatar]
Wild industry statements to prepare you for tomorrow
In just a few short hours, Ken Kutaragi will take center stage at a Sony press event (previously open only to third-party licensees) and drop some details about the PS3.As the only thing we're fairly sure of at this point is that the system will be delayed for a few months, we want everyone to be prepared for the massive spin and boisterous boasting that will surely ensue.That's why it's important that you gird yourself for the worst by reading IGN's Top 10 list of the wildest statements made by industry veterans, 'cuz once you read everything that Ken and company have had to say in the past, nothing will seem all that outrageous in the future. We think... "Starting from next year, you can jack into The Matrix!" Before the PS2. Not as metaphysical as living Peter Moore's lucid dream, but still... wow.See also: PlayStation 3 in Tokyo tomorrow, Sony confirms Breaking News: PS3 delayed until November!
Friends beta now available in the Steam client
According to Eurogamer, the "Friends" feature of Steam is "'nearing the end of its beta phase' and will soon be available."In an update made to the Steam client and noted on Steam News this afternoon, you can now also "join the Friends Beta via the Friends button inside of Steam."Great to hear about the progress, but Xbox owners might take some pride in Live's functioning Friends list on the console side over this prominent PC-based service (third-party friends apps notwithstanding, of course).[Via Eurogamer]
Sonic and Chrono composers to join PLAY! in Chicago
It appears that PLAY! A Video Game Symphony will be hosting yet another guest from Japan as well as another musical exclusive. Yasunori Mitsuda, main composer on Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross, and a number of other epic Japanese RPGs, will be attending the opening PLAY! concert in Chicago on May 27th. An "exclusive suite" of his music from the two Chrono games will be featured in every PLAY! concert worldwide. Mitsuda will join his compatriot Yuzo Koshiro, whose "special suite" of arranged music from the Sonic the Hedgehog series "will be heard live for the first time at the world-premiere." They will engage in a meet and greet with fans--who fork over the $125 needed for VIP tickets--along with Jeremy Soule (The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind), Marty O'Donnell (Halo), and Jason Hayes (World of Warcraft). [Via 1UP]
Games go on spring break; Joystiq soldiers on
Games.net has posted a short video compilation of footage featuring the 5 MUSTS of spring break for gamers.In the party-centric piece, you'll be treated to timely teases from such titles as Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball, Outlaw Volleyball, and Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude.Heading to exotic tropical vacation spots for spring break is a rite of passage of sorts for many American college students, but we'd advise anyone considering the trip to avoid getting drunk and doing something you might regret (like appearing in an abysmal production like The Guy Game). Have fun, but just remember: don't do anything we wouldn't do![Thanks, DJ Parker]
GBA Player's Choice titles hit April 2nd
Just in case you missed the news last week, Nintendo is finally rolling out its Player's Choice program for the Game Boy Advance. The first titles on the docket are Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, Super Mario Advance: Super Mario Bros. 2, and Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3, all set to be relabeled and rereleased at a $19.99 price point on April 2nd.While it's great to see Superstar Saga get more exposure and future sales thanks to its lower MSRP, what we'd really like to see are some other popular (and more recent) first-party titles such as Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 hitting the discount rack, too. All in due time, right?[Thanks, striegs]
Shocking DualShock case still not going Sony's way
Sony's attempt to overturn the 2004 ruling on Immersion's haptic technology patents and receive a new trial was denied in court recently.The Wall Street Journal tells quite a tale concerning another force-feedback inventor, originally a paid consultant of Immersion, who allegedly received advance royalties from Sony in exchange for testimony against his former client. There's enough drama in this case to fill a television soap opera--or, better yet, a police or crime-scene procedural.For the full contents of the article, you'll need to log in as a subscriber to the Journal through the picture above or the Read link below. We don't know to what extent this courtroom drama will affect the "boomerang" PS3 prototype controller design, future DualShock 2 availability and compatibility, or any possible delays to the new system itself, but Sony's separate appeal in federal court has yet to be ruled on, leaving the company one more crucial legal avenue to pursue in this matter.[Via Joystiq]
Major press conference set for March 15th by Sony
We all knew that Sony's Phil Harrison was going to deliver a keynote at the GDC next week, but it looks like we might get "some details" early thanks to a major press conference set in Tokyo for this Wednesday the 15th.After a hint about just such an event from a certain Koei executive, gaming news site Ferrago claims Sony is "conceding that a major press conference will be held" on that date. It is hoped that further details concerning the PS3's launch schedule and its upcoming games would be revealed if the event actually takes place.[Via Joystiq]
The Spider-Man PS3 font returns... for 3rd Spider-Man flick
How far are we willing to go to satisfy our PlayStation 3 cravings? Just check out that image to the right for a small taste of the console imagery which rightfully should be ours.A couple weeks ago, Sony Pictures Entertainment released the promotional image you see here for Spider-Man 3, set to be released in theaters May 4th, 2007. It's been one of the few new official media glimpses of the PS3 font to roll out of Sony HQ in Western markets recently.Now if only we could add a "P" and an "S" before that little "3" in the corner, we'd have something pretty to show for Sony's latest dream machine. Alas, the movie title referenced also contains those limited letters (but placed in the wrong arrangement). Well, just as long as the PS3 arrives before the year of Peter Parker's next big-screen adventure, we'll be mighty pleased.
Nintendo help for your fantasy baseball team
While we question the ability of McSweeney's to integrate classic Nintendo characters into a major-league squad, that's just the scouting report that's been released for this truly fantasy baseball roster.For instance, you've got a young shortstop who spends way too much of his time with "fairies" in Link and the token female pitcher (albeit one with a built-in arm cannon) in Samus, but these inclusions will always be overshadowed by that of the stocky plumber stalked by rumors of steroid abuse. Way to go, Mario.
Xbox Live Diamond Cards printing and on the way
Xbox Live Diamond Cards are now printing for those whose registration has been accepted, which means these cards may be in our hands within the next 2-3 weeks.According to an e-mail this blogger just received, confirmations of Diamond Card registrations are going out to Live subscribers who've signed on for 12 months or more at XboxLivediamond.com.
Lara models eveningwear in 43 new screenshots
WorthPlaying has been kind enough to post 43 new screenshots from Tomb Raider: Legend, mostly centered on Lara Croft cavorting about in a slinky black dress for an undoubtedly exciting evening shindig. And yes, we're as relieved as you are that she chose to ditch the pumps before leaping into action (to pump some lead into some fellow guests).
Mammoth Saturn controller takes custom console crown
There are larger gaming enclosures out there in arcades, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a controller this big for a console game at home.