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'Painting with Pixels' crowdsources 8-bit art during GDC
GDC isn't just a place to witness developers speaking passionately about their chosen craft, it's also a place to take part in random acts of nerdery, as evidenced by this year's "Painting with Pixels" project. A 20x8-foot wall sitting in the belly of the Moscone Center's North Hall holds 5,760 2x2-inch spots, each spot anxiously awaiting a colored block. The shot above is how the wall looked as of 11:45AM ET today, and we plan to continue to track its transformation in the gallery below -- see how much it changed in just two and a half hours? It's like a video game time machine!%Gallery-117797%
We're live from GDC 2011, in sunny San Francisco
If San Francisco suddenly seems a bit stranger and a bit more wonderful, it could be thanks to the global game development community's annual pilgrimage to the Game Developer's Conference. This year marks the conference's 25th anniversary and, to celebrate, it's featuring nearly a dozen classic gaming post-mortems like Prince of Persia, Maniac Mansion and Doom. That's in addition to our usual gauntlet of interviews, demos, meetings and late nights. Stick around all week as we deliver the news straight from GDC 2011 – and be sure to be here Wednesday at 12PM ET for our liveblog of Satoru Iwata from Nintendo's GDC keynote and Wednesday night at 9:30PM ET for our liveblog of the always entertaining GDC and IGF awards. Protip: Keep your browsers locked on our GDC-2011 tag to track all of our coverage.
Intel outs SSD 510 Series with 6Gbps SATA interface, 500MBps transfer speeds
We didn't think the previous generation of SSDs, topping out at around 280MBps read speeds, were in any way hampered by their celerity, but Intel's bringing the future to us whether we like it or not with its new 510 Series SSDs. These Marvell-controlled flash storage drives will zip data to your processing unit at a rate of 500MB per second and write anything you send back at a clip of 315MBps. That's mostly thanks to the 510 being one of a new breed of consumer SSDs with a 6Gbps SATA interface, which has effectively removed a bottleneck from the performance equation and uncorked the extra vroom now contained within. When bought in bulk, a 250GB SSD 510 will cost you $584, while the slightly slower (450MBps read, 210MBps write) 120GB model will set you back $284. Full press release after the break.
Steam gaining 'big picture' mode on PC and Mac, living room ahoy!
Valve took the opportunity of GDC today to announce its latest enhancement for Steam: "big picture" mode. What's "big picture" mode, you ask? "With big picture mode, gaming opportunities for Steam partners and customers become possible via PCs and Macs on any TV or computer display in the house," Valve marketing veep Doug Lombardi said in a press release. Valve will be sharing details of "big picture" mode with devs and pubs at GDC, showing off "controller support and navigation designed for television interaction." It sounds like you home theater PC owners may be in for a treat.
GDC: Tecmo teases Ninja Gaiden 3 reveal for E3 2011
Tecmo has released a new video to kick off this week's GDC festivities, and who better to deliver a kick than Ninja Gaiden's Ryu Hayabusa? Yes, it's the first trailer for Team Ninja's Ninja Gaiden 3, the first game in the series to be developed since the departure of former Gaiden guru, Tomonobu Itagaki. Alas, the trailer doesn't offer up any gameplay, though fans will be happy to know that it's still replete with the sword-driven gore the series is known for. The video shows a bloody Ryu -- something we saw in the first Ninja Gaiden 3 teaser image -- stabbing ... well, stabbing the viewer from a first-person perspective. We'd like to think of it as a subtle metaphor for the series. Specifically, Ninja Gaiden 3 is going to kill you. A lot. The video concludes with a note that the game will make an appearance at E3. Rest assured, we will be there.
The Daily Grind: What are you hoping to hear from GDC?
This week, Massively's own Shawn & Rubi are headed out to San Francisco to check out all the sights and sounds of this year's Game Developers Conference. In fact, this year marks the 25th anniversary of the event, one that has grown from a small gathering held in someone's house into an enormous industry-wide event. There are tons of topics to look forward to, from intricate development issues to the wider ramifications of online and social gaming. Given how many varied and interesting panels, discussions and more bedeck the conference's schedule, we thought we'd ask whether there's anything in particular you're hoping to hear from this year's event. Are there any games or topics you're really craving more news about? Grab your morning cuppa wake-up beverage goodness, check out the schedule, and tell us what you're hoping to learn more about in our upcoming GDC 2011 coverage! Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
'Game Over 4' art show in SF features game-inspired art
If you happen to be in San Francisco after next week's GDC, but not yet sated of your desire to look at game stuff, the Giant Robot San Francisco gallery is the destination for you. From March 4 through March 30, the gallery is hosting Game Over 4, a show that "pays homage to the continuous evolution of videogames and their massive influence on popular culture." Artists exhibiting at the ... exhibit include EXP./The Controller zine creator Cory Schmitz, Pokemon comic artist Maré Odomo, Jude Buffum, Craig "Superbrothers" Adams (the artist behind Superbrothers Sword & Sworcery EP), and Spelunky developer Derek Yu, to name a few. You can see some preview pieces in the gallery below. Artists will be present at a reception March 4 from 6:30 to 10, so you can see the faces of the people to whom you're giving all your money.%Gallery-117669% [Thanks, Matt!]
New SpyParty video walkthrough sneaks around The Balcony, onto The Veranda
In case you didn't already know, SpyParty is being made by one dude -- ex-EA developer turned one-man indie studio, Chris Hecker. As we've been covering his game leading up to GDC, we asked if Hecker would perhaps give us a taste of the two new levels he'll be debuting at next week's show in video form. Normally, this might not be such a high-level request, but when you're one man with a family and a game to develop, well ... let's just say we really appreciate how late he stayed up last night. Check out the full four-minute walkthrough of both "The Balcony" and "The Veranda" maps just after the break. GDC won't be your only chance to check out the lastest SpyParty demo. Hecker will be making the cross-country trip to PAX East in March with the new build in tow. Just remember to play it cool!%Gallery-117474%
Apple's announcement timing is uncanny
Tony Bradley at Macworld points out something interesting that I've also been thinking about: Apple is being awfully sneaky with its timing when it comes to product announcements. The upcoming March 2 event happens to land not only right around the time that Motorola's much-anticipated Xoom tablet will hit consumers' hands, but also right in the middle of next week's Game Developers Conference, when quite a few developers will be announcing new games for both the iPad and Android tablet platforms. The timing seems more than coincidental, especially with all of the announcements we've seen today. And this isn't the only recent Apple announcement apparently targeted at shaking things up: The Mac App Store's launch date was set for January 6, right as this year's CES was underway in Las Vegas, and much of that show's sidetalk was taken up by rumors of the Verizon iPhone, which was announced a few days later on the 11th. You could argue that this is just good business, and you'd be right -- with its keynote events, Apple is the uncontested leader in product messaging for tech, and timing is a big part of that. If Apple is going to announce an iPad 2, why wouldn't it be right when everyone's focused on tablet software? (Not to mention that the event is being held at Yerba Buena, right next door to the convention center). But at the same time, it's quite a coup, hijacking the attention of press and developers without any official involvement in the event they're there to attend.
iPhone MMO Shadow Cities raises $2.5 million in investments
As smartphones become increasingly ubiquitous, it's inevitable that we'll start seeing unique uses of the technology involved -- something we're already seeing with Shadow Cities. The iPhone MMO is rather unique, tracking your location and putting you into an active battle with creatures placed on the GPS-enabled map. It's an innovative concept, a sort of game-oriented FourSquare, and one that's apparently intrigued investors enough to pony up big money to the tune of $2.5 million. This infusion of funding ties into plans to release the game in the US soon, as developer Grey Area has currently only released the game in its native Finland. Players will focus on taking dominion over the streets and completing quests, with the game itself following the free-to-play model complete with cash shop. Shadow Cities is certainly a novel product, and we'll be taking the time to chat with the studio about the game's development and future at GDC next week.
Epic to show new Unreal Engine 3 updates at GDC, raises UDK royalty-free threshold to $50K
Next week, Epic Games will once again premiere the latest build of Unreal Engine 3 at GDC, a showing-off that's become pretty much tradition for the North Carolina-based studio. In its announcement, Epic promises behind-closed-doors demonstrations of the new tech every half-hour during the conference for "licensees, partners, prospective customers and the media." Additionally, Epic plans to hold free training sessions for Unreal Engine 3 licensees, covering topics such as "content creation best practices" and "rapid prototyping with Unreal Kismet." Making your Unreal characters look like they have cars strapped to their torsos apparently won't be covered. In a separate announcement, Epic notified UDK licensees that the royalty-free threshhold has been raised tenfold from $5,000 to $50,000 -- meaning Unreal developers don't pay royalities to Epic on the first $50K in (wholesale) revenue generated from their UDK-built games. That's pretty epic.
Winnitron 1000 brings exclusive indie arcade games to GDC
The Winnitron 1000 is an arcade machine that houses indie games you won't find anywhere else, including two-player versions of Canabalt and Super Crate Box. Usually, the only way to experience these games is to visit the machine's home at the LoPub in Winnipeg, but the collective that created it occasionally takes it on tour to events -- like, say, the Game Developers Conference. As much as we hate to publicize this and increase our own time spent waiting in line, the Winnitron 1000 will be playable at GDC, in booth 1137. That booth will also be home to a series of talks by indie luminaries Vlambeer, Adam Saltsman, Kyle Pulver, Chevy Ray Johnston, and the Indie Game: The Movie crew. We hear you'll be able to hear these talks best from just outside of the Winnitron line.
Sony to deliver NGP lecture at GDC
The latest GDC lecture to be announced deals with Sony's sucessor to the PSP, the NGP. David Coombes, platform research manager at SCEA, will speak about the new, still-unnamed handheld's "broad range of input and connectivity options and how these create exciting new opportunities for game designers." This will be the first time Sony is openly talking about the device since its unveiling back in January. GDC takes place February 28 through March 4 in San Francisco. Keep your eyes on this tag for our coverage.
TERA unveils new class information and its plans for GDC
For a hack-and-slash-type MMO, TERA doesn't skirt around with the lore. Each of the player races has its own distinct personality traits. This week, En Masse Entertainment is talking about the High Elves. As a player race, the High Elves reward ambition and intellectual prowess yet frown on emotional outbursts. Despite being the last members to join the Valkyon Federation, these accomplished Sorcerers, Mystics, and Slayers will probably be running things for a while. Speaking of classes, En Masse revealed more information about the Berserker and Priest classes. The team claims that, although a Berserker rages through his enemies, it is still a very tactical class to play. And despite the Priest's adept healing abilities, this class is still a terror on the battlefield, dishing damage one second then turning around the next to help keep his friends alive. Nine new images of these classes were added to the gallery below. If this lore or these classes interest you, then you will be pleased to know that key members of En Masse Entertainment, along with a brand new demo of TERA, will be available at GDC in San Fransisco on March 2nd - 4th. If you are attending, you can be one of the first in North America to get your hands on this action-MMO. %Gallery-105090%
Yu Suzuki to be honored as 'Pioneer' at Game Developers Choice Awards
Yu Suzuki, a central driving force behind iconic Sega franchises such as Space Harrier, Afterburner, Virtua Fighter and Out Run, will be honored with the Pioneer Award at the 11th annual Game Developers Choice Awards next month. The accolade recognizes creators of "breakthrough genres and concepts" and serves to highlights Suzuki's definitive role in the "golden age" of Sega arcade games. His career started with Sega in 1983 and has encompassed an incredible variety of standout games and personal passions. It's interesting to reflect on the differences in scope between some of his most well-known projects: Shenmue attempted to recreate a vibrant and reactive simulacrum of Yokosuka, Japan, while Ferrari F355 Challenge was an enthusiastic tribute to just one car, displayed across three screens. Yu Suzuki will receive the prestigious gong (in person!) at the Game Developers Choice Awards on Wednesday, March 2, in San Francisco, once he manages to extract it from a giant toy capsule machine. "This is cool!" he'll say. "Maybe I should get another." [Image credit: "The Disappearance of Yu Suzuki" / 1UP]
Super Meat Boy postmortem, Angry Birds and Zynga talks announced for GDC 2011
In case you didn't know, it's the 25th anniversary of the Game Developers Conference this year, and that means a load of extra special presentations. Beyond the head of Nintendo keynoting, the laundry list of legendary developers giving "classic" postmortems, and various announcements, it was revealed today that Super Meat Boy devs Edmund McMillen and Tommy Refenes ("Team Meat") will be giving a postmortem of their own. And hey, we think they're pretty extra special. Additionally, Zynga VP of product development Mark Skaggs will be discussing his company's evolution, framed around the release of FarmVille and the push towards CityVille over the last year -- we'd suggest fledgling Facebook millionaires not be late. And finally, rounding out today's announcement is news of an Angry Birds talk from Rovio's Peter Vesterbacka (self-claimed "Head Eagle" at the studio). We'll be on hand at GDC bringing you all the meaty, free-to-play, bird-flinging news as it breaks.
AvP game engine Asura 'fully functional' on NGP
Go ahead and add Aliens vs. Predator to the list of console games that are possible on Sony's next-generation portable. Rebellion has a "fully functional" version of its Asura game engine ready -- and ready to be licensed -- for NGP game development, reports CVG. According to MobyGames, Rebellion has used the engine since 2003's Judge Dredd: Dredd Vs. Death, with the most recent incarnation powering last year's multiplatform FPS AvP. The studio says it has an Asura-based, multiplayer third-person shooter demo running on NGP. "We'll be attending DICE [this week] and GDC to show what we have created and look for business partners," pitched CEO Jason Kingsley. "The technology, design and art teams have worked incredibly well with Sony's newest device," boasted Kingsley. "We have managed to make our engine fully functional and looking great on the hardware in double quick time." Okay -- but does the frame rate hold up in triple time?
Frogster announces Runes of Magic Boss Rush video contest
Fantasy MMO Runes of Magic has been in the news a lot lately, and it hasn't all been positive. Last month, self-proclaimed hacker Cpt.Z3r0 claimed to be in possession of the login details to 3.5 million Runes of Magic game accounts. It's not all bad news, though, as today Frogster announced a great new video contest for RoM players. In honour of San Francisco's upcoming Game Developers Conference at the end of the month, Frogster is giving players the chance to have their video creations featured on the massive widescreen TV in the Frogster booth. To enter the Boss Rush video contest, all you have to do is make a video of you and your friends taking down one of RoM's many instance or world bosses. Upload your video to YouTube and then send a link to the video to the email address provided to be entered into the contest. The best videos will be put to a general vote by the RoM community, who will pick their single favourite entry to win a huge additional prize. The guild members featured in the video that receives the most votes will be given a Grand Golden Repair Hammer in-game, and the guild leader will get a real-life golden hammer signed by Frogster's US GM team. Although any video can be entered, there are a few things you can do to massively improve your chances of success. Uploading your video in a resolution of at least 720p, using a 16:9 aspect ratio and keeping a constant frame-rate of 25 will make your video look more professional. It's also advised that you pick a boss with interesting mechanics, as only the most entertaining videos to watch will be selected. Lastly, Frogster insist that you don't add any extra audio or music that you don't own the rights to. Entries must be in by February 28th for a chance to win.
Sony's 'Move Server' project potentially bringing Move to PCs, revealed at GDC
If you're looking to do something more with your PlayStation Move on a PC than, say, change the color of the controller's bulb, you'll be interested to know that Sony's giving a presentation at GDC 2011 on the "Move Server" project -- a project said to allow "academics and hobbyists to develop software using the PlayStation Move controller on their own PCs." The speech will be held on Wednesday, March 2, and lead by senior developer support engineer John McCutchan of Sony Computer Entertainment America. Sony's "Move Server" project has yet to be announced by the company, but the GDC session listing certainly seems to spell out its intention of bringing Move functionality to PCs everywhere -- we've reached out to Sony for official comment all the same. Regardless, we'll assuredly find out more at SCEA's GDC session early next month.
PlayStation Move headed to PCs under official 'Move Server' project
Oops. Looks like Sony's plans to make its PlayStation Move controller an official PC accessory have been unceremoniously revealed in a description of a Sony Computer Entertainment America talk scheduled for Game Developers Conference 2011. According to the synopsis, John McCutchan, SCEA's lead for Game Systems and Developer Support, will be on hand to discuss the "Move Server project that will make it possible for academics and hobbyists to develop software using the PlayStation Move controller on their own PCs." Hmm, sounds like somebody feels left out by all of the unofficial Kinect hackery which could be treated to official Microsoft support sometime this summer. Now go hit up the source link below to read the description for yourselves.
