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Master Chief Sings: a 19-disc set of John 117's best
With all of that space travel going on, there's got to be plenty of downtime for the last Spartan in existence. Sure, Master Chief can just hop into a cryo-chamber and saw some wood between Halo games -- but every now and then, when nobody's around, MC likes to exercise the old pipes. You would not believe how dynamic his range is, clearly exhibited in the video past the break from IGN. Oh, and before you watch the video (and inevitably call that number to order your own set), know that we think we've finally figured out John 117's identity: Michael McDonald. [Via LazyGamer]
Former Ensemble staffer talks about cancelled Halo MMO
Here's a blast from the past for you: Halo MMO. The project from Ensemble studios -- codenamed Titan -- left a lot of disappointed fans when Ensemble closed and development was canceled. We've not heard much from that area for several months, but IncGamers got a chance today to speak to Dusty Monk for some new information on the now-defunct MMO. Dusty -- now the founder of Windstorm Studios -- was a staffer for Ensemble and pretty heavily focused on the Halo project. He's got some interesting things to say about what could have been: "We had all this incredible talent, we had the right people, the right passion, we had a phenomenally successful IP - the Halo IP." If you're a Halo fan thinking wistfully about what could have been, you'll definitely want to check out what else he had to say in this interview with IncGamers. [Thanks to Belinda for the tip!]
April Fools: Halo film finishes the fight for love
Of all the April Fools jokes created for today, IGN may have just unleashed the best. It's the missing trailer for the once-was-gonna-happen Halo film. We don't want to ruin it for you, but let's just say that Master Chief is uniquely able to straddle the line between being a fighter and a lover. Where else did you think all of that Spartan research money went? Anyway, hit up the Man Cannon and fly past the break to finally see the face of Master Chief!
IGN layoffs hit all divisions of media giant
Joystiq has obtained an internal IGN memo sent by company president Roy Bahat announcing layoffs at the media site today. We currently have no accurate estimate for the number of people let go today, nor do we know if any divisions have been shut down entirely. Bahat states in the memo, "We're doing this to reduce costs. While we've been doing well -- we're profitable and our audience continues to grow -- we're still feeling the effects of the economy, and we need to make sure we can invest where there is opportunity. Over the past couple of years, we have been focusing IGN on areas where we can not only grow, but be best in the world: serving gamers online, and serving advertisers looking to reach men. To do that successfully, we have to be as efficient as possible in our core businesses. The difficult actions we're taking today get us to where we need to be." We will continue to update this story as we learn more. If you're an IGN employee, you're of course welcome to contact us with any information you'd like to share. Find Bahat's full memo to employees after the break.
Warhammer 40k devs on unusual pricing structure and WoW-killing
"WoW-killer" is a cliched term these days, and many MMO fans continue to keep a weather eye out for the game that will take down the juggernaut of the gaming world. No thanks, say the developers behind Warhammer 40k. Brian Farrell is the CEO and President of THQ, the company behind Warhammer 40k, and he has no desire to go after that title. "What we love about the Warhammer 40K MMO is that it's different in that it's a sci-fi, futuristic-based world. We're not competing directly in the orcs and elves fantasy environment that World of Warcraft is in. We can differentiate ourselves." Farrell feels that there is plenty of room for more than one great title, particularly since the game is a completely different type of MMO. In addition to addressing the WoW question, Farrell also offered up some interesting information regarding the pricing structure for Warhammer 40k, indicating that it will vary depending on what part of the world you are playing in. Warhammer40k will be revealed fully at E3 this June, but for now you can take a look at more of what Farrell had to say recently over at IGN.
Tornquist gives more juicy details on The Secret World
To date, the development team of The Secret World has almost been a secret society unto itself. We've heard whispers and tantalizing tidbits that have piqued our curiosity, seen teaser sites, and caught the occasional tweet from the front lines. Now, the floodgates are starting to open, and more details are coming to light for those craving information. An interview with Ragnar Tornquist has just gone up on IGN and it is chock-full of tasty details about what players can expect from The Secret World. Along with the interview, there's also a pile of eerie concept art illustrating some of the many different monsters we'll see in the game -- from brain-munching zombies to mutated boss monsters. There's also some great news on how the development is going, owing in part to the work already done for Age of Conan. So if you've been hungry for more details and a sneak-peek into more of the terrible things that await us as we take steps into The Secret World, then you'll want to head over to IGN and check out the full interview. It looks like Tornquist and the team at Funcom are creating a fascinating modern-day monster of an MMO for us to enjoy.
Street Fighter IV coming to iPhone
I've wondered before just how a fighting game on the iPhone would work, and now I'm going to find out: Capcom has announced that they're releasing the latest Street Fighter game (they're up to IV now) on the iPhone. You can see how it works over at IGN -- there's a virtual joystiq on one side, and four virtual buttons on the other. I have no idea how it will actually work in practice; it certainly seems like your thumbs would cover up both your character and the enemy while fighting, and that's assuming that your thumb has the dexterity to know which buttons you're pushing without tactile feedback. But we'll see -- Capcom says the game will have a large number of fighters to choose from (though probably not as much as the full retail game), and the ability to play multiplayer via Bluetooth. One other interesting note on this one: Street Fighter IV has only been released on the major consoles, and the iPhone will be the game's first handheld relase (that we know of so far). This could be Capcom's experiment -- if they can release it on the iPhone before putting a port out on the DS or PSP, and see some success, we could see other larger developers releasing ports earlier (or maybe even exclusively) on the iPhone in the future. But let's not count our hadouken before it's completed -- first we have to see if a game like this will even work on Apple's little handheld touchscreen.
IGN holding charity event for Haiti recovery efforts
Though it may lack the star-studded cast of last night's Hope for Haiti telethon, IGN will be holding its own charity drive to help the nation get back on its feet after last week's devastating 7.0 earthquake. The news site will be taking donations from readers next Wednesday during a 12-hour "online webathon," the proceeds from which will go to Habitat for Humanity. The site will also be holding a number of online auctions for items donated by altruistic members of the gaming industry -- such as the gold-plated Bayonetta gun seen above. Check out the IGN for Haiti event page for more details -- and make sure tune in at 9 a.m. PST next Wednesday to watch the webathon unfold!
Fallen Earth drops preview patch notes for new tradeskill, gambling and more
Even though most Fallen Earth fans knew these features were coming, it's still great to see them in writing. In a patch note preview post in the forums yesterday, the Fallen Earth team announced that their much-anticipated Construction tradeskill and gambling taverns will be entering the game this Monday, December 14th. Construction will bring the ability for players to build camps in the wasteland, complete with their own vaults, merchant NPCs, mailboxes and more. The new gambling system will introduce slot machines, Blackjack tables and more to taverns throughout the Grand Canyon Province. In addition to these major features, the First Night preparations will be added, including special quests and rewards for the winter event celebrations. Pages of bug fixes also accompany this patch, so head on over to the forums to check out the preview of this Monday's patch notes and check out some extensive developer diaries and video on the update over at IGN for more information.
Star Trek Online VFX Lead on updating visual style of the IP
IGN recently posted a Star Trek Online dev diary written by the game's VFX Lead Michael Cavallaro. "Creating the visual style of Star Trek Online was no easy task," said Cavallaro. "You might think that everything we would be creating has already been done, but not only are references several years old but they vary across the board." If you factor in how the effects changed between the various series and movies, you can see how preserving the look of Star Trek as viewers know it posed a challenge for the Cryptic Studios devs. The idea, Cavallaro related, was for the Cryptic devs to draw upon elements from the original Star Trek series and update that now-retro 60's sci-fi look for a contemporary audience. The trick was to do so while keeping said elements recognizable from the original IP.
The early days of the World of Warcraft
It's been five years since this game launched, and it's changed so much that you might have forgotten what life was like back then. But thanks to the magic of the Internet, those times are saved in clear HTML. Let's dig up some memories of the early game. It's interesting to think what Blizzard was like before World of Warcraft. Today, the two are almost synonymous -- while they have two other major franchises (and one secret IP hiding in the works), it's almost impossible for anyone to think of Blizzard without thinking of WoW, and vice versa. The company has become almost solely defined by what they've done with this game. But of course, before the release, that wasn't the case.
Activision pursuing 'online monetization models' for Call of Duty franchise
For quite some time now, Activision execs have been hinting at the idea of MMO monetization being implemented in games other than Blizzard's behemoth World of Warcraft. Speaking at the BMO Capital Markets Conference this past week, another Activision exec – CFO Thomas Tippl – was tasked with the question of whether or not WoW's "successful online business model" (read: monthly subscription fees) would end up in other Activision properties. "It's definitely an aspiration that we see potential in, particularly as we look at different business models to monetize the online gameplay," Tippl says, according to an IGN report. "I think it's been mutually beneficial, and you should expect us to test and ultimately launch additional online monetization models of some of some of our biggest franchises like Call of Duty." He also notes that "there is demand from the core gamers to pay up for that," which likely means that many of you who got Activision's survey back in June supported this. Shame on you. [Via CVG]
Klingons make their first Star Trek Online video appearance
Just when you thought you'd seen enough Star Trek Online space combat videos to keep you satisfied for a day or two, Cryptic Studios whips out a Klingon focused trailer that's sure to get your Pepto Bismol colored blood beating through those hardened, warrior-like veins.That's right, Klingons are in this game! We almost forgot with all that Federation love coming from Cryptic ever since the game was announced. But that's okay, because Klingon's are accustomed to waiting in secrecy for the right moment to strike. This is only the first small disruptor blast in what's sure to be a volley of ferocious strikes far greater than any puny Federation ship could handle.See the glory of the Klingon Empire after the break.
Alganon to be exclusively distributed through Direct2Drive
Alganon fans, you're going to want to make sure you're keeping an eye on Direct2Drive, as Quest Online has announced an exclusive partnership to sell the game solely through the online digital distribution service.Pre-ordering the game before the launch date of October 31st will net you a variety of incentives, including beta access, study bonuses, mounts, family heirlooms, and more! While we don't have any exact information to offer on what those items are, it still sounds like a nice plethora of stuff for buying the game early.Of course, partnering with D2D means partnering with IGN, and that means that Alganon's beta will be conducted exclusively through Fileplanet. Those guys over there will be the keepers of the Alganon beta keys from here on out, so look to them if you're interested in the game's upcoming open beta.
What They Play's John Davison makes leap to GamePro
More and more, we're seeing evidence that the days of favorite faces being permanently associated with certain outlets are a thing of the past. GamePro announced today that John Davison (formerly of What They Play and 1UP) would serve as executive vice president of content at its long-running magazine and website, a week after Garnett Lee left 1UP to head editorial content for GameFly. Davison's most recent project was recently sold to IGN. In an official statement, Davison said he hopes to "reshape GamePro as a thoroughly modern integrated media brand," a strategy that we give five screaming happy faces out of five.
Still doubt Apple's desire for portable gaming clout? Here's proof...
This afternoon, we received a tip from one of our readers about an awesome ad on the IGN.com website. We chased the bait and decided to check it out. We're really glad we did. What we found was the ad above. We preserved it via screencast so all of our readers could enjoy it. The video above shows exactly what you will find on IGN just in case the current ad stops running soon. It reminds us of a similar ad on Yahoo a while back. I have been pretty skeptical about Apple's desire to take over the portable gaming market, but I can't doubt it any more. This ad is running on one of the most popular gaming sites... obviously targeting those who wouldn't really think about the iPod touch as a gaming platform. The use of the website's design is definitely something that will catch the eye of the reader... so clever, in fact, that it's nearly impossible to press the stop button. You can press it, but why would you? Thanks to Swaghi for the tip.
IGN buys WhatTheyPlay.com
IGN took a lap around the acquisition block and decided to show WhatTheyPlay.com the back of its big white van ... which many sites have seen before. WhatTheyPlay.com was started two years ago by former 1UP VPs John Davison and Ira Becker (before the walls fell) to give parents useful insight into what their spawn are doing with those "PlayBoxes" and "X-stations." The site is also a great resource for non-parents, like the time it taught us that parents apparently find gay kissing slightly more offensive than a "graphically severed human head." Now IGN just needs a website for geriatric gamers and it will complete the demographic circle of life. Smart readers will take this as an opportunity to start ReallyTooOldtoPlay.com and CripplingArthritisWontStopMe.com.
Gaikai closed beta coming to Europe first
Cloud computing service Gaikai will be entering closed beta "later this month" in Europe, company head Dave Perry announced earlier today. Perry explains that since "all three founders are European" they've decided to "start [the] closed beta in Europe later this month," and plan on bringing the beta to North America next (you can sign up fairly quickly right here). Perhaps unsurprising, his announcement comes just one week after OnLive, that other cloud computing-based service, opened its own public beta in North America. IGN recently got its hands on Gaikai and snagged a video (that we've dropped after the break) of the service running through Windows 7 on a new MacBook. It appears to be working just as smoothly as when we last saw it, though now in the hands of an outside party. Our concern comes with the choice of games being demoed here: World of Warcraft and Mario Kart 64, not the most demanding apps we could imagine, especially when OnLive is showing off Crysis.
PAX 2009: Uncharted 2's Nathan Drake catches a train
Naughty Dog has been more than happy to explain to us how complicated it is to have a moving character on a moving surface, like on the floor of a collapsing building or the top of a moving train. But we have no idea how to quantify these things. We play games ... we're not math and physics experts. But if you have a barrel that needs blowing up, or a crate that needs smashing open, we're your guys.Uncharted 2's creative director Amy Hennig explained that most game levels tend to use a moving background that makes the object your character is standing on appear to be moving, and then augment that with physics. Not so with Nathan Drake. He gets to clamber over fully-modeled train cars and diveroll through actual collapsing buildings. No smoke and mirror tricks for this fortune hunter.To prove the point, the developer showed us a live demo of the game where Drake hauls himself onto the back of a speeding train while simultaneously fending off baddies on the train, and a heavily-armed helicopter that decides Drake needs to be swatted off. You'll have to fight your way forward towards an RPG if you want to survive. Hint: there's a loud, whining noise before the chopper fires its rockets, and also watch out for low-hanging lights.All of this takes place on a fully modeled and realized moving train, and it looks gorgeous, but we'll just have to take Naughty Dog's word for it as far as the mega-model railroad set that was design for this. Or, you can see what you think! Check out the new footage just after the break.
First screens for The Ballad of Gay Tony go airborne
Earlier today, Rockstar Games released its first volley of screens for upcoming GTA IV expansion, The Ballad of Gay Tony. From what we can see in the four images -- handed "exclusively to fan sites," according to the Rockstar Games website -- it appears as though air-based warfare will be the focus this time around. Eagle-eyed fans will also notice that the protagonist is wearing the same letterman jacket found in the teaser image Rockstar released last week for the game's second DLC, still scheduled to arrive this Winter, further confirming his main characteriness. All will be revealed this Tuesday we hope, with the arrival of the first trailer (and hopefully some new media alongside that). For the time being, peep all four images right here.%Gallery-68537%[Thanks, Adriaan!]
