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Video: Battlefield: Bad Company
The Battlefield: Bad Company trailer that was made available on Marketplace this morning is now available online (also in HD). As a service to our readers that are currently chained to a desk and can't access a 360, we bring you said trailer. It's generally fashionable to take a few potshots at EA when given the chance, but we have to admit Bad Company looks like it could be a bit of alright. The trailer showcases something that many games don't: a sense of humor. The trailer isn't necessarily indicative of gameplay, but there's no denying that the engine is nice. Give it a watch and tell us what you think.
Is the industry betraying its games?
In his final speech as president of the ESA, an inspired Doug Lowenstein took to the D.I.C.E. podium and called on industry professionals in attendance and beyond to join the 'fight' to defend games from unconstitutional censorship. Lowenstein reprimanded the unnamed publishers and developers who "cut and run" when their games become media and political targets; and he criticized the overwhelming tide of apathy, epitomized by a lack of support for the Video Game Voters Network. "No one has bothered to take the time to do that, and it makes me sick," barked Lowenstein. "No matter how good we are, and we're good, we can't win the war without an army. And you're the army. And most of the people in this room who have the most at stake are too lazy to join this army ... Don't let others fight the fight for you, because in the end we won't have enough soldiers to succeed."In considering these grave remarks, Gamasutra posed the following question to professional game developers: "Is Doug Lowenstein fair in his farewell speech comments that game professionals are failing to stand up for their freedom? If he is, what should we each be doing to ensure that censorship is not an issue in the game industry?"Replies have since been posted, revealing some predictably polarized comments. But the respondents all seem to share a fundamental adoration of games; there's a sense that each has been deeply touched by the medium. It's difficult enough to protect those things which bleed and suffer, but it's the duty of us gamers (not just the professionals) to provide the freedom for our beloved to grow. [Via /.]
Wii Warm Up: Vintage Nintendo Power content coming to the VC?
In our fit of righteous anger over the idea of delaying Metroid Prime 3 again, we missed an interesting aside Reggie dropped at the recent DICE conference -- the idea that old Nintendo Power content may turn up on the Virtual Console. While the idea of reliving some of our greatest memories of gaming journalism is intriguing, we're as yet undecided on how we feel about this one. We could go either way, depending on how it's offered. We are, after all, largely concerned with hoarding our money like the misers we are for games ... but if the price is right, we could throw down with some retro mags. How about you?[Thanks, Robert!]
The Political Game: Doug Lowenstein shoots the messenger
Each week Dennis McCauley contributes The Political Game, a column on the collision of politics and video games:Doug Lowenstein took his leave of the video game industry last week with a stirring "I'm outta here" speech delivered at the D.I.C.E. Summit in Las Vegas. By all accounts, Doug's comments were blunt and from the heart. But, hey, Doug's the guy who started the ESA and he toiled in its fields for a dozen years. Why shouldn't he get a chance to vent on his way out the door?Among other targets, Lowenstein laid out unnamed developers – cough, Rockstar, cough – who "make controversial content and then cut and run when it comes time to defending their creative decisions.""Nothing annoys me more," Lowenstein said "If you want the right to make what you want, if you want to push the envelope, I'm out there defending your right to do it. But damn it - get out there and support the creative decisions you make."Good point, Doug. But Hell, it's your last day. You could have named names. It's not like they're going to escort you out of the building or take away your key to the executive men's room. And while I will generally look back on Doug's watch with admiration, I've just got to say that the ESA boss got it all wrong when he took shots at the gaming press over, of all things, Jack Thompson:"It drives me crazy. You know who gives Jack Thompson more attention than anyone else? The games press ... I just ... I just think it's nuts."
Wright lets dev team talk Spore
Given the conference's acronym, it only seems fit that Will Wright's ambitious Spore have a presentation at this year's Design, Innovate, Create and Entertain (D.I.C.E.) Summit. However, in an atypical move for the Sims mastermind, Wright asked four members of his development team to do most of the talking. Ocean Quigley, Chaim Gingold, Jenna Chalmers and Alex Hutchinson discussed their roles in the development cycle and explained the hardship of trying to make the game not only work, but work efficiently and with as simple amount of input possible from the player: Quigley focused on the challenges of letting players create their own species and objects while avoiding any potential problems associated with said freedom. Gingold discussed making object editors simple and powerful, expressing his mantra that "if [the game testers] don't notice that it sucks, then it must be good." Chalmers' presentation outlined all their ideas for the space travel missions, and how she hopes the final game will be able to create new, entertaining missions on the fly. Though she noted that many ideas will not make it to publication, one mission that gave us a chuckle was having to drop a T. Rex onto an unsuspecting planet. Hutchinson's speech covered his role as the overall gameplay designer, and lauds Spore for its ability to splice genres. Wright's example of "an interstellar war between the Care Bears and the Klingons" keeps us intrigued on the title, so long in development already. However, even though Wright has a great track record with delivering on promised goods, we can't help but worry Spore won't live up to the enormous hype that follows it around. We'll find out later this year when Spore spawns on the PC and, eventually, every platform known to the human race.See Also: Joystiq Video: Wired Spore Event, featuring Will Wright and Robin Williams
LocoRoco sequel outed? Not quite
Unless he's got a parade of man-servants lugging around a PlayStation 3, 1080p display, and generator to power the two, then Phil Harrison's been spending his time traveling from session to session at D.I.C.E. with a LocoRoco sequel on a decidedly smaller platform. PSP? Nope, mobile. According to IGN, Harrison said he'd been playing "LocoRoco's next version on the way" over to a Q&A with the gaming site.Sure, it could be that Harrison let slip the near-complete condition of a presupposed PSP sequel, but he's got more business savvy than that. Besides, IGN was asking him what he'd been playing on other platforms, ruling out PSP and PS3; not that more LocoRoco isn't headed to those formats. In December, Harrison confirmed that multiple LocoRoco games were in development, indicating that a PSP sequel is likely underway. That some of those cuddly blobs will be bounding onto the PS3 store seems like a no-brainer too.[Via PSP Fanboy]
Lowenstein chastises 'cut-and-run' developers
In his final speech as head of the ESA, Doug Lowenstein told those attending his D.I.C.E. keynote that he was proud of the ESA and ESRB but saddened by the developer's unwillingness to stand up for their work.Describing them as "cut and run developers," Lowenstein lamented about game makers who create controversial content and then refuse to defend it. "If you want to be controversial, that's great," Lowenstein remarks, "but then don't duck and cover when the shit hits the fan. Stand up and defend what you make." Lowenstein also blasted what he called a "Greek chorus" of those criticizing the ESA but not offering any suggestions or solutions.Other targets in Lowenstein's crosshairs include those who didn't take the time to join the Video Game Voters Network ("You go to a website, click a few keystrokes and that's it. No one has bothered to take the time to do that, and it makes me sick.") and the gaming press for a lack of maturity and professionalism relative to the film and music industry press.Lowenstein has always been open, albeit a bit careful, with his words, so it's certainly interesting to see him let loose before leaving the industry. He has always been effective and lobbying and has a heap of accomplishments; imagine how things might have been different, for better and worse, if this Fire and Brimstone Lowenstein had been running the ESA.
DICE: Phil Harrison PSP tidbits [Update 1]
In Gamespot's DICE coverage of Phil Harrison's Q&A, they had a few mentions of PSP. Firstly that there will be deeper online functionality later this year. Specifics weren't given, but I personally would like the ability to have most web pages finally work on the PSP. Though it could also be a hint at downloadable PS1 games finally being capable without a PS3. The homebrew community may have another reason to disagree wtih Phil Harrison after the event.Also during a talk about homebrew, someone asked about the PSP's role in it. Phil claimed that the system wasn't well-suited for homebrew. Newsweek's N'Gai Croal then mentioned Dark_Alex's work and Phil had some sort of cryptic response about future announcements. So all and all, not a whole lot of new PSP info so far, but hopefully GDC will bring us more news. [Update 1: "This year we'll be adding some functionality to the PSP that will unify our approach," Harrison reveals in an interview with Gamasutra. Seems like PSP might pick up some of the cooler network options of the PS3.]
Sony exec breaks out big ideas in inaugural D.I.C.E. keynote
Convergence. Yeah, it's one of our favorite buzzwords too! However, when a well-positioned industry vet like Sony executive Yair Landau starts tossing it around, talking about blurring production lines between video games and movies, we take notice. Delivering the D.I.C.E. Summit's first ever keynote last night, as reported by GameSpot, Landau cited Sony Pictures' upcoming Ghost Rider movie as an example of a project that "combined all the specialties" of Sony Pictures Entertainment.Of course, the official movie-based game is being handled by 2K Games, so we're not quite all the way on convergence, but we get the idea. But the idea isn't new (or else it wouldn't be a very good buzzword, would it?). At last year's GDC, LucasArts and ILM delivered a case study on the convergence of games and film, detailing how they planned to leverage the unique skills of both divisions, with the next Indiana Jones being the first product of that collaboration. Maybe Sony will try something with that spy MMO Landau finished with ... but Activision's got Bond all tied up.
Bond-inspired spy MMO next from SOE, codenamed "Vista"
Keynoting this year's D.I.C.E. Summit, Sony executive Yair Landau revealed the concept for SOE's forthcoming MMO: spies. The project, codenamed "Vista" because its been delayed (har, har), is being developed by SOE's Seattle studio, where supposedly the game is already running on live servers. Landau previewed a conceptual clip that showed off a third-person shooter set in Prague with all of the appropriate set pieces in place -- or at least the necessities: femme fatales and exotic rides. Landau clearly sees the new MMO as a descendant of the James Bond films -- fitting nicely with his shtick about adopting film genres into games -- choosing to preface the game's introduction with a Casino Royale trailer during his keynote. While spies have long been starring in their own games, there's an opportunity for SOE's project to further evolve the international espionage genre. Large-scale cooperative and PvP instances will obviously introduce some new dynamics, but toss in a proposed Second Life-styled virtual network, and suddenly Sony's giving players the ability generate their own content; making each player not only a 'James Bond,' but a 'Q,' capable of stuffing a laser cutter and remote detonator into an otherwise ordinary wristwatch. Of course, user-created content was not part of Landau's address, nor was a release date or platform.
Xbox, Xbox 360 taken to console heaven by water jet cutter
While there's no shortage of interesting ways to dissect (or completely obliterate) your favorite gizmo, this one came straight out of left field but still manages to impress. If you've never been around a pressure washer and had vivid thoughts of cutting up your precious Microsoft console with it, you're probably in the (vast) majority, but the zany folks over at Waterjets fulfilled their own fantasies. Offered a bunch of malfunctioning Xbox and Xbox 360 consoles, they put their laser water cutting skills to the test by making an "X" out of an original Xbox, carving out Xbox logos from the circuit boards, and creating a hole in the middle of an Xbox 360. Sure, the utility here is questionable, and the methods are most certainly unorthodox, but we can't deny the wow-factor. So if you're interested in seeing just what else happens when that oh-so-powerful jet gets fired up, be sure to hit the read link for the full rundown of slicing and dicing.[Via MAKE]
Off the Grid: Hacking LCR
Every other week Scott Jon Siegel contributes Off the Grid, a column on gaming away from the television screen or monitor. Don't be surprised if you haven't heard of LCR. My exposure to the game came from my brother, who was presented with a copy -- along with everyone else in the studio audience -- as part of Rachel Ray's Thanksgiving special a few weeks back. It was one of four token gifts handed out to audience members before the über-surprise -- brand new cellphones for everyone! -- was announced. Having no need for what he quickly dismissed as "Dreidel with dice," my brother passed the game along to me. LCR comes packaged in a clear plastic tube, containing two-dozen red plastic chips, three special LCR dice, and a small one-sided sheet of paper with the rules. The packaging describes it as "the new game that everyone's getting hooked on." It looked modest enough, but its purported popularity certainly piqued my interest. Am I endorsing LCR? It's certainly not on par with classics like Settlers of Catan, or even cultural mainstays like Life or Monopoly. But no game is without potential. By itself, LCR may be dull, but the smallest twist, tweak, or hack can breathe life into even the stalest gameplay experience. The rules for LCR are basic enough, calling for a minimum of three players to be seated in a circle. Each player is given three chips to start. During his/her turn, a player rolls all three LCR dice. For every 'L' rolled, the player passes a chip to the left. For every 'R,' a chip to the right. For each 'C,' a player adds a chip to the center pot. The three sides of the dice with dots on them do nothing. Play continues in one direction until only one player has any chips left. If a player has no chips left, that player is still in the game, but does not roll dice during his/her turn. A player with two chips rolls only two dice, and a player with only one chip rolls one die. The last player with chips remaining wins the game.The notable upside to these rules is that nobody in the game gets eliminated. Even if you're out of chips, you could be back in the game easily if the adjacent players roll an 'L' or 'R' in your favor. The downside, however, is that gameplay is completely based on chance, and skill has no part in it whatsoever. The unpredictability might make LCR fun for the first few rounds, but where do you go from there?Well, for starters, you turn to gambling and booze.
Battlefield: Bad Company info unleashed
Want to hear some info about the next Battlefield game set for the 360 and PS3 next year? Why, you're in luck! We've got the scoop. How would you like a deep, cinematic single-player experience set in a near-future conflict? It's not World War II! That's a great start (now if only RPG main characters would stop being able to use swords as a default. More spear-wielders, please!). Also, there's not as much gritty realism here -- more dark humor. The world of B:BC is completely destructible. Shape the battlefield to match your play style! Drive tanks through buildings, make a hole in a wall for optimal sniping, etc. Can you stack stuff? That'd be the only improvement, really. Stacking crates or something. You get your choice of land, sea, or air vehicles as well to keep things fresh and fun. Speaking of keeping it fresh and fun, how do 24-player online matches sound? It's shaping up to be a neato game. Anyone with a next-gen system (sans Wii, regrettably) will have to keep their eye on this one!
Yet more Battlefield
DICE has announced a new Battlefield game in addition to the upcoming Battlefield 2142. Entitled Battlefield: Bad Company, the game promises to deliver a solid single player experience, something lacking in previous Battlefield titles. This single screenshot presumably shows off the bad company in question. DICE hopes to bring the "unpredictable nature of the sandbox experience" found in Battlefield multiplayer to the single player campaign of Bad Company.Could this possibly breathe some new life into an arguably stale genre? We certainly hope so.[Via Joystiq]
Brass dice shrunk to nearly invisible scale
You know, it's really, really hard to write a post about dice without making that World Series Of Dice reference (clikkityclikkityclack! and all that), so we'll save it, but damn if those ain't some small dice. Iriso Seimetsu Co., Ltd.'s gone and created some 300 micron wide machined-brass dice, measuring a scant 0.027mm³, or 0.3 x 0.3 x 0.3mm. The price for knowing you too can jump in on some lilliputian back alley binge drinking dice throwing? For you, kid, ¥100,275 (about $865 US), but do keep in mind these puny tools of chance take 9 hours to make -- that and they'll throw in a special case for carrying 'em around in. Microscopic brass knuckles for enforcing those gambling bets not included, and don't even think about wrapping these around your rear view.[Via Pink Tentacle]
PC impressions: Battlefield 2142
Any FPS gamer on the PC knows that Battlefield has a reputation. In this latest title, Battlefield 2142 tries to build upon that reputation and set itself apart as a wide-scale futuristic title focusing on team play.
Battlefield 2142 officially confirmed
Well, it looks like it's official... sorta. The BF2142 Team has updated EA's Battlefield 2 site with a note today confirming the ongoing development of Battlefield 2142 ("scheduled for release this Autumn"). The "official" corporate press release will arrive sometime later this week. So there you have it. And for those of you who were wondering what's up with patches for BF2 right now, "the DICE Canada studio will be hard at work on a 1.3 update... as well as the Armoured Fury Booster Pack," leaving DICE Stockholm free to focus on building the franchise's future. [Thanks, A2000 and Iced_Eagle] See also: Battlefield 2142 allegedly confirmed by PC Gamer [with video trailer] Battlefield 2142 scans of PC Gamer cover story leaked
Battlefield 2142 scans of PC Gamer cover story leaked
The Battlefield 2142 hoopla is starting to look more and more real as scans of the PC Gamer issue in question have surfaced online with BF 2142 featured as the magazine's May cover story. Digg contributor Iced_Eagle has pointed us to an 8.5MB archive of images from the mag, with 9 pages concerned with 2142 and 2 pages having to do with Half-Life 2: Episode 1. If you're interested in knowing "where your unstoppable 20-foot Mech is," then you'd best get to that reading online or off ASAP. For those still skeptical of any gaming news outlet coming out with such a story in the general vicinity of April Fools' Day, keep in mind that the game appears to not only be the magazine's cover story, but that its coverage also fills up all those pages of print mentioned earlier. EGM merely dedicated a single page with a brief line in the table of contents to its Apple iGame prank this year, so this would seem like a lot of effort on PC Gamer or some extremely dedicated Photoshopper's part to fool the gaming public. Will this fall prove to be the point when the BF franchise finally frags in the future? At this point, it would certainly seem so. Read on for further details about the game; the cover pic links to the scans.
Battlefield 2142 allegedly confirmed by PC Gamer [Update1]
According to digg, this video trailer from the May 2006 issue of PC Gamer confirms the existence of Battlefield 2142 and its pending release this fall.Feel free to watch those warring mechs, but we'll hold off judgment until we hear the official word from EA/DICE. Do you believe a future ice age will precipitate a global war over arable land? You've been warned.[Update: Scans of the mag have surfaced online. Thanks, Iced_Eagle!]See also: Battlefield 2142 hinted at by Digital Illusions producer EA gobbles up the rest of Battlefield developer DICE [Thanks, Shaved Moose and Einhanderkiller; via digg]
BF2MC demo hits XBLM March 24
Now that EA owns 100% of Digital Illusions CE, it's good to know we can download 100% of the Battlefield 2: Modern Combat demo available this Friday according to their official site: If you want to experience all-out 24 player Xbox Live action in eye-bursting next-gen graphics, make sure that you download the Battlefield 2: Modern Combat demo, which will be available for download over Xbox Live Marketplace from March 24. Forget eye-bursting graphics, I'll be impressed if an anticipated demo shows up on the scheduled date for once. [Thanks Thundapimp]
