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GDC: (Bloggers) breakfast of champions
Microsoft sponsored a "Blogger's Breakfast" Wednesday morning, arranging for several select bloggers from the interweb to meet with some of the Xbox bloggers Larry Hyrb (aka Major Nelson), and John Porcaro and Cesar Menendez (Gamerscore Blog) and some Xbox executives, Peter Moore and Chris Satchell. I know, I promised to report on their eating habits, but alas most of the eating occurred while standing and mingling pre-chat. That being said, I didn't see food on anyone's shirt and everyone was exceedingly polite and pleasant, so I can only extrapolate their eating habits were of the highest order. Before I get into what we talked about, I'd like to thank everyone at Microsoft for arranging this informal get together and giving us a chance to hear from them first hand. Now, onto the meat and potatoes of this blogger's breakfast.
Revolution global launch not in the cards
Nintendo President Satoru Iwata recently spoke to Bloomberg during the Game Developer's Conference. In regards toward a global launch for the Revolution, Mr. Iwata said "We don't think it's necessary to do the simultaneous worldwide launch simply because others are doing this." Kudos Mr. Iwata...kudos. It's obvious that Nintendo strives to innovate and remain easily identified as the company attempting to evolve the industry beyond progressively better graphics and essentially define it for a new age, it's just nice to read these affirmations that we've selected the right company to stand behind once in awhile. However lacking in concrete information regarding the Revolution beyond the inclusion of a past competitor's games to its Virtual Console service, we at least now know that the Japanese will once again luck out over the rest of the world and will most likely receive the console first, while we're left to bathe in our salty, warm tears. [Via Joystiq]
GDC: Ragnar Trnquist is awesome
I entered my meeting with Ragnar Tørnquist armed with an array of questions from self-professed Ragnar Tørnquist fanboy (and DS/Revolution Fanboy) Ludwig Kietzmann. By the time we were done playing with Dreamfall, it was apparent that Mr. Tørnquist was really cool and probably wouldn't mind making Ludwig's day with an autograph. He graciously agreed and asked what to write...
Nintendo on Revolution worldwide launch: "We don't think it's necessary"
Speaking with Bloomberg at GDC last week, Nintendo's Satoru Iwata seemed unfazed by Sony's recent announcement that the PS3 will launch simultaneously worldwide. Iwata was clear about Nintendo's current stance, stating, "We don't think it's necessary to do the simultaneous worldwide launch simply because others are doing this."Rather than play the tag-along, Nintendo continues to follow its own path into the next-generation. It's a good move, and further cements the concept that the Nintendo Revolution will launch in a unique gaming tier, diminishing direct competition with Sony and Microsoft's high-end platforms.
GDC: A meeting with Ragnar Tørnquist and Dreamfall
On Wednesday I had the pleasure of meeting with Ragnar Tørnquist, the creative director of Funcom, the lead designer of adventure gaming classic The Longest Journey and, it turns out, a loyal Joystiq reader ("every morning"). We met at the Hotel Montgomery a couple blocks from the convention center to take a look at his latest game, Dreamfall, a sequel (of sorts) to The Longest Journey.
Seen@GDC: PlayStation Spot and ChatterBox's Alon
While hurrying through the expo floor, shoving my way through thousands of square feet of booth babes, game devs, schwag-laden fanboys, and disinterested PR types, I finally came across the PlayStation Spot. The chrome-plated monolith reflected the lights of the convention center, calling me towards its rocky shores like a siren for weary gamers (read rocky shores as great downloadable games). You can imagine my dismay upon reading they required firmware version 2.5 to get going; my 1.5 PSP whimpered in my pocket. "Don't do it," she pleaded. "Don't upgrade my firmware.""But Lo-Loco Ra-Roco," I stuttered, before realizing there was a serviceable PSP already hooked up to the kiosk. I could play with the new shiny tech and leave my firmware at 1.5 (note to self: determine how to run homebrew on 2.0 and 2.5 firmware for E3). At around the same time, I spied Alon from the excellent ChatterBox Video Game Radio show. How did I know it was him, you ask? Well, he looks just like his picture. This here is Alon throwing up the hand sign for "we don't want firmware 2.5! 2.0 or below, suckas!" It's nice to know there's still some folks keeping it street at GDC.Continue reading for another shot of the unit and the transcribed instructions (they're easy).
Booth babes - GDC style
Crys and omsu both managed to snap a photo of the only real "booth babe" at this year's GDC. Who said developers don't have a sense of humor?
Geek chic at GDC
Another post on GDC culture, this time on the garb of conference attendees. This is the stuff that isn't necessarily clear when you're reading accounts of sessions, but we're going after it because it gives a more complete picture of the event. We'll do this percentage-breakdown style, after the "continue" link.
Leland Yee @ GDC: a missed opportunity
We attended the GDC panel entitled "Murder, Sex and Censorship: Debating the Morals of Creative Freedom." The panel was notable for the presence of Leland Yee (pictured above), Democratic candidate for California State Senate, and notable anti-game crusader who passed a law that makes it a crime to sell to minors any game in which a player kills, maims, dismembers or sexually assaults an image of a human being. Yee's fellow panelists included Brenda Brathwaite, Jason Della Rocca, and James Paul Gee. For the most part, though, the audience had assembled to hear Yee defend his position on games. I'll cut through the niceties and get to the meat of it: this panel was a missed opportunity. Jason Della Rocca, who should have been able to ask Yee some good questions, behaved petulantly and unprofessionally (at one point, he loudly sighed into his microphone while Yee was making a particularly nutty point). I expected more of the Executive Director of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA). Get him some media and debate training, stat!
Heard@GDC: NoA's Bill Trinen loves cute puppies
While accepting the award for "Best Technology" at Wednesday's Game Developers Choice Awards on behalf of the Nintendogs team, Nintendo of America's Bill Trinen (shown here during Satoru Iwata's keynote the following day) had only this to say: "I think it's great there's a place where people can still make a game about petting really cute puppies."Awwwwww. He's right though, those puppies are really cute. 'Nuff said.
Seen@GDC: Nintendo Revolution; it's wittle
I know you've already seen shots of Nintendo's little white box at this year's GDC, but you haven't seen these shots. "What makes these shots different?" you ask, politely. Only one thing: I was there! I saw it with my own two eyes and the Revolution is, in a word, tiny. It's deceptively small. Think about the first time you pulled the GameCube out of its box and marveled at how it was smaller than you'd imagined. Think Mac mini small. Think Xbox 360 power supply small. Think parking lot from the window seat of an airplane small... alright, maybe not that small, but small!Continue reading for more shots...
Who runs GDC? Air Hockey Ninjamaster runs GDC! (Update 1)
This photograph comes from Suite Night, a Thursday night GDC ritual in which conference sponsors lease out rooms in the neighboring Fairmont hotel the better to ply conference attendees with food and alcohol. So who is this fellow? We don't know. Andrew "Android" Jones, concept artist for Nintendo's Metroid series. He was far too intensely focused on remaining the reigning champion of Suite Night air hockey to answer our questions as to his identity. His laser focus, flashy garb, and completely over-the-top air hockey moves, however, give us some clues as to his genetic stock: one part Antonio Banderas, one part Bruce Lee, one part Brian Boitano, two parts ninja. More photos after the "continue" link, below.
GDC: Networker's paradise, but beware
One thing we like to do here at Joystiq is bring you some of the more offbeat information that concerns the culture of games, gamers, and the people who make them, so file this under the rubric of "offbeat" (careful not to transpose those syllables, because getting them right is important given the subject matter to come). I stationed myself in a very busy GDC restroom for approximately five minutes just after the lunch hour and counted the ratio of hand-washers to neanderthals who didn't wash their hands. This is just my first data point, and an incomplete one at that. Given the evil looks that that I got for standing there, I chose to curtail the survey. So: knowing that these numbers are based on a very small sample size, and knowing that a more robust statistical survey would be more desirable, I provide these numbers anyway. The ratio was 11 to 3 in favor of hand-washers. Not bad! Two of the fellows who skipped the hand-washing were the unkempt sort who probably don't wash much else, either. The third gent was wearing a suit. Guess he was just eager to get back to gladhanding. We'll conduct a 10-minute survey at E3 to see if the ratio's any different when the audience is more international and the so-called "unwashed masses" are present in greater quantities. [Image comes from Duchamp's Fountain ]
GDC conference organizers drop the ball [update 2]
This is a brief list of some of the quality issues that I noticed plaguing the Game Developer's Conference held in San Jose and ended on Friday. It seems that nobody really talks about these things, perhaps because they're simply grateful that there's any GDC at all. Well, I'm also grateful for GDC, but that doesn't mean it's immune from criticism. I should note that my beefs here are primarily informed by my perspective as a blogger covering the convention. We're sure that developers, publishers, recruiters and other major GDC constituent groups have their own issues. We encourage submission of other issues in the comments, below. If you prefer to send something anonymously, use our tips form located at http://www.joystiq.com/tips/. [Image at right is from www.demotivation.com. The caption reads, "Mediocrity: it takes a lot less time and most people won't notice the difference until it's too late."] In no particular order, gripes follow.
GDC: GDCTV WRU?!
We got a reader email asking us what's up with GDCTV.net. The site promises a relaunch on March 22nd with "the best from GDC 2006" but there's still not a single video online. Same deal over at GDCRadio.net, which also promises a launch of March 22nd. If someone at CMP Media wants to let us know what's up with this, please drop us a tip. Neither site includes a contact form. Tsk tsk.
GDC volunteer feels the Power (Glove)
I bumped into Mr. Joel Gonzalez leaving Satoru Iwata's keynote on Thursday. Nintendo fans are a special breed; in fact, they're so reliably dedicated, I saw one coming out and going in. Joel said the Power Glove was more of a "conversation starter" than a fashion statement, giving me the distinct impression that this wasn't the first time Joel worn "the Glove" out of the house. Godspeed, Joel Gonzalez. Joystiq salutes you!
GDC: Notes on (and in) Brain Age
Nintendo gave away copies of their upcoming DS title, Brain Age, following Satoru Iwata's keynote Thursday morning. Included in the special GDC edition* was the above note, urging all of us to be ambassadors, if you will, of Nintendo's ideology of inclusive gaming. Having only been back in Philly for a half day now, my girlfriend has already logged a couple hours training her brain: math puzzles, drawing, reading aloud, and--of course--sudoku. The goal is to achieve the ideal "brain age" of 20; I began at 30 (not far from my real age of 26), my girlfriend encountered a slightly steeper learning (not being a lifelong gaming-nerd) giving her an unrepresentative brain age of 74. After retrying the test, she achieved the more accurate score of 34. I plan on continuing my daily training in Brain Age, charting my progress, competing with my girlfriend, and reporting it all here. First impressions: Nintendo has another hit on their hands.*see below for the specially embossed package. Actually, it's really just a sticker. Brain Age is due to be released April 17th at the discount price of $20.
GDC: The evolution of Will Wright's keynote title
I'm finally able to begin to process the contents of Will Wright's keynote speech from Thursday, titled "What's Next in Game Design?" Well, it was called "What's Next in Game Design?" before being changed and then changed again. Like the rest of Wright's speech, the naming process was a twisty maze of ideas. More thoughts on his keynote later; for now enjoy how it began...
MotorStorm, Resistance and more: pictures from Sony's GDC keynote
Despite Sony asking attendees not to take pictures during Phil Harrison's keynote speech at GDC, a member of a Spanish forum managed to sneakily snap pictures of the games that were shown and has now posted his roll online. The photos are blurry and from a skewed perspective, but they give us an early idea of what games like The Getaway, MotorStorm, Resistance: Fall of Man, Ratchet & Clank and Warhawk will look like on PS3 hardware. We've cropped a selection of the best images, so click here to see more.[Thanks, hellmasterx]
Play BioWare's Mass Effect at E3
If you're planning to attend E3 in May, Eurogamer has confirmed there will be a playable demo of Mass Effect, BioWare's new sci-fi action-RPG for the Xbox 360. There is no hard release date for the game yet, but holiday availability is rumored.GameSpot also spoke with BioWare's co-founders, Drs. Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk, at the GDC this week. The post-merger relationship with sister company Pandemic has led to greater communication between the two organizations, although no joint projects were discussed. In addition to Mass Effect, BioWare is continuing their work on the Dragon Age RPG, and an unnamed MMO project at their new Austin studio.
