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The Digital Continuum: The 'Next Big Thing' in MMOs
Is All Points Bulletin the "Next Big Thing" in MMOs? While I'm fully aware that Realtime Worlds doesn't specifically prefer to associate the game with this genre, it's very much a part of it -- but it also orbits the fringes of what we commonly refer to as a massively multiplayer online game. Guild Wars, Guild Wars 2 and All Points Bulletin come from a different school of business models. These games hinge on the idea that most people dislike coughing up 15 bucks a month to keep playing their favorite title. Just look to the success of the original Guild Wars, having a year ago passed six million copies sold. That's a pretty great start for non-subscription MMOs, and because of that success we now have GW's sequel and APB on the way.
Weekly Webcomic Wrapup is no longer #1 at GameRankings
There's a conspiracy brewing at GameRankings, I tells ya ... a conspiracy! We've received reports that the Weekly Webcomic Wrapup has been knocked from the top spot for "All-Time Best Periodical Game-Related Webcomic Compilation Post," shooting down to number 3 behind ... erm ... other periodical game-related webcomic compilation posts. Word on the street is that Tim Harding of 2P Start had changed his score of us from a 9.9 to a 9.0 after changing his scoring metric, prompting the error. But really, truly and honestly, it all had to do with some WWW-hating bias buried deep within the halls of GameRankings, wanting to see us crushed and buried among the top 3 denizens. Well, thank heavens the community rallied behind this injustice to keep the old score, because #3 all-time best periodical game-related webcomic compilation post would invalidate all the joy we've had with this feature.Here are our picks for the week's best game-related webcomic, be sure to vote for your favorite! (Voting after the break.)idspispopd (Slef Improvement) Grand Theft Art Imitating Life (HijiNKS Ensue)Raiding through the Ages (Sharcbate)Finish Line (XKCD)Lego My Statue (2P Start)03 (Super Effective)Je Parle Un Peu (Penny Arcade)Common Language (Digital Unrest)Bargaining (CAD)Everyone Forgets Winston (Fanboys)Rejected Mega Man Villains XI (Dueling Analogs)
SCEA is best reviewed publisher of 2007
SCEA has had a rather stellar lineup of games in 2007. On PS3, gamers were treated to titles, such as Uncharted and Ratchet & Clank. On PSP, gamers could enjoy Syphon Filter and Jeanne d'Arc. Even the PS2 got some love, with God of War II and some strong ports of PSP titles. Sure, it's had it's share of stinkers (what publisher doesn't?), but it managed to best the industry with the most critically acclaimed lineup of the year.Next-Gen's Matt Matthews sorted through GameRankings data in order to gather his findings. What was undoubtedly a tiresome process becomes a fascinating read. Notice the incredible absence of prolific publishers, such as Ubisoft and Midway on this chart? Why? They're pretty far down the list.Phil Harrison, who is moving from Sony Europe to Atari, will have quite a task at hand. Atari currently stands with a 55.5% average. We wonder if Harrison's Atari will be able to compete against the offerings of Sony and its various Computer Entertainment first-party divisions. We doubt it.[Via Joystiq]
Tackling the mystery of low Wii review scores
Over at Next-gen, Matt Matthews has bravely penned the kind of article that could well see mobs of frothing fanboys beating a path to his door, torches and lynching gear in hand. In the piece, Matthews presents a statistical breakdown of average review scores for Wii, PS3, and Xbox 360, using numbers borrowed from Game Rankings.As the resulting graph indicates, the Wii doesn't fare well with professional reviewers, but before you get all indignant and lathered up about this, Matthews attempts to explain why the Wii is suffering, and his conclusion is fairly interesting: that reviewers (and the industry as a whole) are still trying to understand the Wii. Before now, Matthews argues, the industry has been so heavily focused on assessing realism and technical achievements that they've largely forgotten how to evaluate how fun a game is.What do you guys think? Agree? Politely disagree? Want him to die in a fire?
Next-gen launch reviews projected
Are you anxiously awaiting the reviews scores for the PS3 and Wii launch games? Be anxious no longer -- Next Gen has kindly projected those scores weeks in advance by studying review scores for past console launches.While every console launch is different and past performance doesn't necessarily predict future success, it's interesting to see how the earliest games for earlier systems have fared. Unsurprisingly, a 36% plurality of launch titles tend to be mired in the mediocrity of 70 to 80% average scores, while only one in ten games break past that magical 90% average. More surprising is that Nintendo launches (N64 and GameCube) tend to fare slightly better on average than Sony launches (PS1, PS2). In fact, the GameCube had the most well-rounded launch in the modern era, with an 80.2% combined GameRankings average.Curmudgeon Gamer has a more detailed breakdown and downloadable spreadsheets to play with the numbers yourself.
Deal of the Day: Bust-A-Move Deluxe $10 at Circuit City
I've had a soft spot for the Bust-A-Move series ever since I fell in love with it on the Sega Saturn, so it really made my day when I saw that Circuit City is selling Bust-A-Move Deluxe for only $10.The deal is good in-store or at Circuitcity.com, however, it's currently showing out of stock on the website.Deluxe has a 73 percent Gamerankings score and includes new characters, a new Ghost mode and has more than 1,000 puzzles. I haven't had a chance to play it, but with this amazing deal, it's just too good to pass up.[Via Cheapassgamer - Registration required]
LEGO Star Wars II sells more than 1 million units in a week
Okay, the above headline may be a bit misleading. Yes, LEGO Star Wars II did sell more than one million units worldwide in its first week of release, but those numbers include the eight current-gen consoles the game was published for. Still, that's no number to ignore.The game, which was released Sept. 12, is now the best-selling family game of the year."There's definitely something for everyone in LEGO Star Wars II, and the sales and reviews so far are proving it," said Jim Ward, president of LucasArts. "This is the type of fun, accessible game everyone in the family can enjoy. It appeals to so much more than just the traditional gaming audience."Thankfully, LEGO Star Wars II, isn't a crappy licensed game that has sold on its name alone, like a few recent games I will not name. The game has averaged about an 84-percent rating on Gamerankings, which I'm happy to say is much higher than the DS' 60-percent rating.[Via FCS Publishing]
