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Acclaim's user-created MMO creates jobs; races beasts
The concept might be a tad ambitious, but Acclaim's Top Secret -- a large-scale competition to build the world's first community-created MMO -- is probably doing more good than evil, with lucrative job positions for the top developers, as well as innumerable job opportunities for all of those involved in the project.The project, which was first announced back in February, challenges coders, designers, writers, and artists to collaboratively develop an MMO racing game. Members of the development project -- which number over 30,000 -- communicate on forums, wikis, and Acclaim's website to create milestones and deliver assets on a regular basis. As incentive, Acclaim is offering lucrative prizes to top competitors: jobs. One development team from the competition will be hired based on their performance to develop the title for Acclaim, and the grand prize will give one individual the title of director on a future Acclaim MMO. And yes, those positions do include royalties.In addition to the official prizes, the forum community for Top Secret is also under close observation by Acclaim, with several of its skilled contributors going to work full-time for the publisher and other companies based on their contributions to the project. Acclaim states that this is an intended effect of the competition, hoping to see a large number of contributors break into the industry via Top Secret.The most recent version of the design document describes Top Secret as a massively multiplayer racing game, where avatars ride beasts of a variety of species, while also engaging in trading, betting, and breeding (of the beasts, not the riders). At first glance, the project seems a bit top-heavy, with a features list that reads more like a "best of" from the industry's greatest franchises. However, game designer Dave Perry, who's overseeing the project as its director, promises to keep a close eye on things, and keep the project on track. Whether the final game will be good or not, the Top Secret project definitely has its heart in the right place. Those interested in future careers in the game industry should definitely check it out.[Via IGN]
Acclaim makes list of top guerrilla marketers
Magazine Mental Floss has listed the the Top 10 greatest guerrilla marketers, and publisher Acclaim Entertainment made the list. If you need a quick refresh, guerrilla marketing is pretty much anything not normal advertising. It can be some guy using a new product you've never seen before in your local Starbucks who's a plant, it could be a comment troll in a forum or an ARG, like what Halo 3 is doing. Acclaim made the list for having some of the more insane marketing stunts in gaming. They include: Offering cash to the first five UK citizens who'd legally change their name to Turok, apparently 3,000 people offered. Shadow Man 2 they offered relatives of the newly dead to put promotional ads on the headstones of their recently deceased. They pulled that one. Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance they apparently considered "bloodvertising," which would have bus shelter ads seep a red liquid onto the street. And finally, offering to pay all speeding tickets in the UK the day Burnout 2 released. They had to retract this one also because of the potential danger. What's the lesson to be learned from this? If you can't make good games, at least have good marketing.
Rock out to the first vids of Guitar Hero III
Yup, these are videos of Guitar Hero III. Yup, they look pretty much like Guitar Hero II (and Guitar Hero I for that matter). Of course, no one really cares do they? It's Guitar Hero! With that said, there are some small differences worth noting. First of all, the character models look like they've received some new-gen love and are more detailed. The HUD has some slight graphical tweaks as well, though none of them seem to affect gameplay. The star power meter has been replaced with a series of light bulbs. As you fill the meter, more of them light up. They slowly fade out once star power is activated. In addition to displaying your current multiplier, the left side of the HUD now keeps track of how many notes you've hit consecutively. Frankly, we'd like the ability to turn that feature off, as it could add undue stress to achieving those perfect runs. You'll find another video embedded after the break. Check it out and tell us what you think.
Star Power made easy: an X-plorer mod
You know the feeling. You're playing Guitar Hero II, you've got full Star Power and here comes that sweet string of notes that will send your score into the stratosphere. Only one thing to do: tilt that controller and rock like you mean it. But what's this? You tilt the control and nothing happens, or maybe it's a little delayed, or maybe the act of tilting screws up your fingering. Whatever happened, you're stuck with a piddly x2 multiplier and a lot of wasted Star Power. If this sounds familiar to you, you may want to check out the fancy Star Power button mod at GrownUpGamers. As is the case with most mods, this will require you to crack open your X-plorer and do some soldering, so it's not for the timid. The mod also instructs users how to install a "kill switch" which essentially gives you a second strum button, helping you land those wicked solos.If you're chops are righteous enough for this mod, click the "read" link and check it out.See Also:Guitar Hero II cardboard fret mod
DANCE! Online being racist? Nah, just using workaround
As explained exclaimed by an Acclaim forum moderator, DANCE! Online's character customization process, which currently charges game points for character skins other than the default "white" ones, certainly sounds racist: "Black is an EXTRA feature. It makes your person look unique, so that is an EXTRA feature. Therefore, you having [sic] to PAY for it." Not quite the articulate explanation Acclaim needs to avoid an ugly situation. Here's what we've gathered: Just launched in open beta (like, 3 days ago), Dance is operating without a fully-realized character creation feature. While it might have been an oversight to launch the beta with only white avatars, the developers are working to offer a diverse range of character looks, distinguished by categories like hairstyle and faces. One of the first, described by an Acclaim site administrator as "the African-American heads," was dropped into the game's store (pictured above) as if it were just another outfit. The new skins are purchasable for one game point (you start with 2,000 points), which can be earned through gameplay -- and not by credit card. As we understand it, placing new skins in the store is a workaround; the simplest way for the dev team to get players the content during beta. Despite Josh the moderator declaring that changing your character's white face "makes you STAND OUT," it doesn't seem that Acclaim intends to make the racist assumption that "white" is the normal way to look.Let's wait until after the final version of Dance is released to raise our RED FLAGS.[Via Broken Toys]
Acclaim Games commands you to DANCE! Online
From the unflinchingly direct marketing department that brought you the likes of Shoot Monsters in the Face!, Leap Over Bottomless Pits! and Level Grind For Eighteen Hours!, comes a new title from Acclaim Games -- the aptly named DANCE! Online. Combining rhythmic extermination of arrows with unnecessary public gyration, DANCE! Online cashes in on what George White of Warner Music Group calls "a growing phenomenon." The game is offered to you for the not entirely unreasonable price of zero dollars, though additional "song packs" (uh oh) and snazzy outfits for your avatar will require some monetary expense on your part.Also notable is the fact that the game features master recordings from the aforementioned Warner Music Group, giving DANCE! Online the distinction of being the first free massively multiplayer dancing game to provide licensed tracks. The undoubtedly crowded race to that particular finish line was aided by game director, Earthworm Jim wrangler and industry superstar designer (it says here), David Perry. "DANCE! Online has started the music based game revolution which has captured the minds of hundreds of millions of players in Asia," he says. Alright then.The beta is open now, if you're so inclined.[Via press release]
Project: Top Secret drops the men-in-tights, goes racing instead
When David Perry announced his democratic MMO project to the world, most figured that it would be from the same ilk as World of Warcraft or EverQuest. A fantasy MMO where you and your friends bicker amongst yourselves over who gets the +1 sword until someone gets their feelings hurt. Well, that's not the case as Perry has told GameSpot that Project: Top Secret is currently a massively multiplayer racing title, set for completion "by GDC 2008."Joining the list of "things Perry has never done" is a racing title, though it may not matter when 23,000 amateur developers are all focused on the same project. Still, we wonder what the technical demographic is amongst that vast pool of talent. Certainly not the first vehicle-based MMO, Top Secret has an uphill battle ahead as titles such as Motor City Online and Auto Assault never made much of an impact in the marketplace.
Acclaim ditches dedicated testers, welcomes community overlords
In this Web 2.0 world that we live in, it's not uncommon to become a product tester by default. By slapping the word "beta" up on a logo, companies get the feedback they so desperately need, all while tapping the sign when something goes wrong. And if your audience is already making your game for you, hey! Why not just have them test it too?Acclaim's David Perry spoke with Next Generation about his Willy Wonka-esque MMO project and exactly how they're doing away with testers. Through a combination of automated testing programs and community feedback, Top Secret will be void of a dedicated testing staff. Perry, who admits to never having worked with Koreans, never worked on an MMORPG and never worked with free titles with in-game advertising, is now taking a bold new step in quality assurance. For an encore, he'll by suiting up with the Blue Angels, despite never having flown a plane.
Dave Mirra biking back to video game town
Dave Mirra games used to be one of the few quality titles Acclaim put out before they died and their name was reborn as an MMO publisher. Fans of Dave Mirra or biking games in general should be happy to know that Oxygen Games is bringing out a new Dave Mirra game and it is coming to PSP. The new game is called Dave Mirra BMX Challenge and will have you freestyle and race across 17 varied levels and environments. The included modes will be ad hoc wireless 1 -4 multiplayer, exhibition, novice, and pro circuit modes. The game is being developed by Left Field Productions Inc. who previously made MTX Mototrax. Dave Mirra BMX Challenge hits half-pipes and game stores May 2007. [Via DCEmu ]
Acclaim's democratic MMO project
David Perry (Earthworm Jim, Enter the Matrix) is working with Acclaim on an MMO that will incorporate gamer's input. The project is currently named "Top Secret." Players will have the opportunity to participate in the entire video game development process. Perry will choose a winner from the contributors to the game and they'll receive a "Video Game Industry Directorship" and work under Perry on a new MMO."This is the only chance I know of to jump start a directorship career in the video game industry," says Perry. "They get to learn how to make professional games, and if they get anything in, they get a real professional credit on their resume ... if they win, well then they get their life changed."If this sounds like a game show, it is. Acclaim doesn't hide the fact, comparing this whole scenario to the likes of The Apprentice or American Idol. All we know is if people do good work on the project that is some amazing free labor for Acclaim.
New Acclaim forges on with MMO betas
The "new" Acclaim continues with its roll-out of free MMOs, opening closed betas for 2Moons and Dance! Online. Entry into the betas is by invitation only, but registrants of the game's official websites (2Moons here, Dance there) can expect to receive a request on a first-come, first-served basis. Both titles are being directed by David Perry (Earthworm Jim, Enter the Matrix); neither has received an ESRB rating, but Acclaim warns that 2Moons was designed for the 17+ crowd. As for Dance, well, just look at that picture... The backstory: Acclaim reopens, focuses on MMOGs
Acclaim & IGA link up for six-game ad deal
Acclaim and in-game advertising firm IGA Worldwide have agreed to terms on a deal that will place advertisements in six of the publisher's MMOs. According to Acclaim CEO Howard Marks, the IGA partnership will allow the company to continue to offer its online games for free.Under the terms, ads are set to appear in 2Moons, 9Dragons, DANCE, BOTS, and two additional titles yet to be announced.See also: In-game ads put devs in control
Rumor: Shadowman on its way to the VC
One of our readers, who must be a HUGE Shadowman fan, recently sent an email to Valiant Entertainment, the folks who own the rights to the N64 installment of the game, asking if the game would grace the Virtual Console. Upon sending the email, he received a surprising response:"Thank you for your interest. Yes, we have been speaking with Nintendo regarding Shadowman for the Virtual Console. Although, they have a ton of games to review and select from, Shadowman is on their radar."So they've been speaking to Nintendo? Great, we guess, as the more game to grace the Virtual Console the better. We cannot comment on whether we're excited or not, never having played the game ourselves. How many of you have played the game and would like to see it on the Virtual Console?[Thanks Foetoid!]
In-game ads adapting
While in-game ads aren't new, Wired News explores recent additions to the trend. Some advertisements are becoming more overt, while other forms of product placement are more subtly placed in games. Adidas uses the product-placement route with frequent branding in NBA Live 07. Burger King takes the obvious, if comical approch in Fight Night Round 3, with an unlockable King mascot character who joins your ringside entourage. Acclaim plans a different approach with free, ad-supported MMO games; pop-up ads from corporate sponsors would let you know which real-world company just paid for your in-game sword. We're interested in seeing how gamers view that tradeoff, but clearly there's a line where too many ads will scare players away. See also: Grand Theft Auto: Coca-Cola City See also: The King is in your Xbox 360
Acclaim's MMO strategy examined
Next Generation brings us the lowdown from Howard Marks -- CEO of the newly-reopened Acclaim -- on Acclaim's MMO strategy. His plan is to bring Eastern games to the West with no subscriber fee, but instead to make money via in-game ads and micropayments.Next Gen's feature asks if this will work in a market with no real precedent. By dropping the phrase "free game" and instead focusing on games as a service, Marks intends it to. However, his strategy doesn't come across with a lot of confidence in this article. It'll be interesting to see if Acclaim manage to set a good precedent for an East-to-West business model, and more importantly whether others follow suit.
Martial arts MMO 9Dragons coming soon
Acclaim and Indy21 are bringing some Jade Empire-style martial arts action to the PC at the end of the year with the MMORPG 9Dragons -- not to be confused with the abysmal Drake of the 99 Dragons. You'll be able to choose from nine different factions representing diverse fighting techniques such as Shaolin and Wu-Tang.IGN has two movies demonstrating the Lu-Lin fighting style, and there is additional media at Acclaim's 9Dragons web site.
