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TUAW Exclusive: Video of Pixelmator in action
Click To Play The moment I saw John Gruber link Pixelmator - a powerful new Core Image-based image editor with support for layers, a wide variety of tools, iLife/iPhoto, Automator and more - I had to get a closer look. I remember the days of Apple hyping Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger and all the power of Core Image, and then never seeing a formidable editor make use of them. Sure there are a few apps that make use of Core Image in one way or another, but nothing really struck me as truly leveraging all there was to leverage in Apple's Core image.While Pixelmator may technically be vaporware according to Gruber, I managed to snag an exclusive demonstration video of the app in action from its developers, brothers Aidas and Saulius Dailide (who you might be interested to know also founded Jumsoft). The demo showcases some impressive Pixelmator features, including working with multiple layers and objects, opening Photoshop files and moving layers from one image to another, taking a picture with an iSight camera and embedding it into the current working image, and even some slick blending modes.From what I see here, I can definitely say 'wow', especially since Pixelmator is expected to ship in late July for only $59. Stay tuned for more info as soon as we can nab it.
Screenshot quality tip for 2.1
As you've probably noticed, I like to do many of my own screen shots to accompany stories. Up until now, WoW has saved all screen shots taken in the program in a .tga format that has rich deep color and good definition. The only problem with that was that the .tga format was problematic for those who didn't have an image editing program to open their screen shots up with. (I have Photoshop, so not as much an issue here.) With 2.1 came a long-awaited change for those who weren't able to share their screen shots before (Or weren't interested in snagging a graphic program to do so, anyway). As of now, your screen shots will automatically save into .jpg format. Why is this a change I'd want to change back, you say? While I like .jpg for compression, I will be the first to admit it's not the format I normally think of as being the best for graphic quality as someone who works with images a lot. That said, for all of you graphic fiends out there like me -- makers of icons, wallpapers, and various other graphic goodies -- here is an important imaging tip for you from your friends at the EU WoW Forums:
Luminous Arc from every angle
The combination of Marvelous Interactive and Atlus USA usually equals something unique, if nothing else. Luminous Arc, the new strategy RPG set to debut outside Japan this year, also seems to have undergone the in-depth localization that marks out so many of the titles Atlus publishes for Western gamers.In a recent fan-based interview with the Atlus team at Siliconera, Luminous Arc was compared with the classic Final Fantasy Tactics. Atlus Editor Clayton Chan, who worked on both titles, said that they gameplay in Final Fantasy Tactics definitely wins, but the characters in Luminous Arc are hard to beat. That's high praise, considering not many games can stand next to FFT. See for yourself, at least when it comes to screens, after the jump.
Manhunt 2 wallpapers bring the violence to your desktop
If you happen to use your computer near someone who fancies themselves a Jack Thompson-alike, then boy have we got something for you: freakalicious Manhunt 2 wallpapers to dress up that desktop. There's nothing like a giant glaring eyeball of death to get you through the workday. Our spiffy new galleries balk at anything over 800px wide, so you'll have to hit the source for the bigger, better versions. To make up for it, we added some screenshots as well. Enjoy!%Gallery-3148%
MySims town populated with inconsiderate louts
Poor little Sim guy. So cute. So tiny. And yet, so alone in a crowd of loathsome miniature tormenters with nothing better to do than laugh at him for falling on his face. Shouldn't these people be out sprucing up the city? No wonder they had to bring you in on the job -- the other townspeople are obviously empty-headed wastrels who refuse to lift a finger toward the betterment of their town.Luckily for the guy in the hat, those cobblestones look more like marshmallows than anything else. He'll be up for his revenge in no time! Those girls better run.We've got several new shots from MySims and have tucked them away in Wii Fanboy's very first gallery, along with some older shots, for your viewing pleasure.%Gallery-3059%
New Guilty Gear screens and details
While these pictures are from scans and thus aren't the best quality, they come with a bonus bit of information: Guilty Gear XX Accent Core players will have a choice of two control schemes: Wiimote with full motion controls, or a more traditional control scheme. Just what we wanted!This latest Guilty Gear is due out in Japan near the end of July.
Spankin' new Gundam screens
Mobile Suit Gundam MS Front 0079 looks better with every screen and scan that we see, particularly considering what we have to compare it to. But looks aren't everything, and though we've been rough on Wii graphics lately (it's only because we love you, Wii!), the fact remains that Gundam games tend to be a love-it or hate-it proposition.Of course, it all may be a moot issue until or unless the game heads out of Japan, but that doesn't mean we can't look! See for yourself after the jump.
Forlorn Spidey has nowhere to sling his webs
No wonder Spider-Man 3 got such mixed reviews on the Wii version of the game -- someone forgot to finish the graphics. We can't think of any other possible explanation for something this atrocious. What's going on here? How can this be considered acceptable ... and how can anyone bestow even a middling-good score on such a sight? We love us some Spider-Man and all, but this game would have to be the best thing ever (moreso even than sliced bread) to wrangle an 83%. Maybe we're just pickier than most, but this looks like a sign that not only is there something wrong with how some third-party Wii games are being handled, but maybe the review system isn't all it's cracked up to be, either.[Via Digg]
Dragon Quest IX in full color
We've seen some of this before, particularly the lower right panel, but only in scans -- look at the difference in the full color screenshots! The production values on this are staggering; remember the jaggy screenshots from Chocobo Tales? The backgrounds in Final Fantasy III? Those games are beautiful in motion, but suffer somewhat in stills. If this comparison is any indication of what's in store for us with Dragon Quest IX, we're not sure we can handle that much awesome.
Giant stompy Gundam scans
These may not be the newest Mobile Suit Gundam MS Front 0079 scans, but they are big and beautiful ... much like the mecha themselves. In fact, it seems to be the full set from last week, but now that we can get the full picture, along with the gameplay footage we've seen, we're starting to get a little excited. We feel a powerful need to slice and dice, and not in the Cooking Mama-sort of way.
New Phantom Hourglass screens make waiting a little easier
Since June is fast approaching, and with it the long-awaited release of The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, Nintendo is letting us have another little taste of our most-wanted DS game. The holiday season is gonna be a long time coming. Doesn't it feel like we've been waiting forever? Oh well, no time to pout -- there are screens to be ogled! Check 'em out after the jump.
Reader WoWspace of the Week: Patrick and Kyle
This week, on a very special episode of Reader WoWspace... Two men, brought together by fate share a destiny they never thought was possible. This summer, from the producer of The Odd Couple, and the director of The Crying Game comes an experience you'll never forget - Patrick and Kyle's WoWspace!Okay, maybe not earthshaking, but I do find it interesting that it's a shared space. Do any of you share your WoWspace with another? If so, send it in! Here are the details:Patrick and Kyle's WowSpace from Southern Wisconsin.Characters from Left to RightGorgas - Level 70 Warlock (Skywall PvE)Rebourn - Level 14 Warlock (Arthas PvP)Budenhagen - Level 70 Rogue (Arathor PvE)
Alien Syndrome video and screens appear from the sky
You asked for gameplay footage of Alien Syndrome, and we have it, albeit within a brief ad. Sega's re-imagining of the classic run-and-gun looks pretty decent, and we're dying to test out the controls. Touching may be good, but strafing is awesome, and the controls on this sound like they're designed for power strafing. We also like just about any excuse to shoot things with the Wiimote. Hit the jump for both the ad and a new set of screenshots, and let us know what you think of Lieutenant Aileen Harding's futuristic shenanigans.
New official NiGHTS screens
We know that NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams will use the Wii's Forecast Channel for seasonal effects in the upcoming game, and we know that multiple control styles will be available, but we hadn't seen much of the look of the game beyond a few scans. Now, all that's changed; official screenshots have finally been released, and you can stare and drool to your heart's content. Just try not to get it on the keyboard.
Rune Factory 2 screens burst into light
We don't even have the first Rune Factory yet, and already there are screenshots from the sequel. This is getting entirely too common with games we're interested in, like Professor Layton and his Many Mysterious Venues. Rune Factory 2, like its predecessor, is a spin-off from the Harvest Moon series. There's some debate as to whether or not we even need the first title, but we're willing to give it a spin when it finally comes out. In the meantime, we'll check out these shots from the sequel
More Crash screens than you could ever need
Well, these new Crash of the Titans screens did make us giggle, so we have a little hope for this forthcoming Wii title. The flood of screens didn't hurt, either. We've tucked several away after the jump for your viewing pleasure. How's it look? Besides, of course, the funny.
We find the fun in MySims DS scans
Finally, a look at MySims on DS that looks worth playing. We were starting to get a little sulky, because it looked like all the fun went into the Wii version and we were left with some lackluster Mii knockoffs, but these latest scans from Famitsu show off what DS owners can expect from the upcoming Sims redux. Hit the jump to see the scans, complete with inset screenshots.
TUAW Exclusive: Skitch screenshot gallery
We've been blogging Skitch, a new 'hybrid' photo editing and web services tool from plasq (makers of Comic Life), since Scott first met and fell in love with it at Macworld 07. Using the app through its development, it's clear that Skitch is going to knock people's socks off, with a well-executed blend of desktop editing and integration with web services like Plasq's new MySkitch and Flickr. For example: a major new feature in an upcoming public beta (that's right, I said 'public': join the mailing list for your chance to get a copy) includes iPhoto and Aperture integration: Simply double-click an item from the library panel shown here to begin applying all manners of Skitch editing. Another feature that brings the 'hybrid' element to the table is Skitch's tight integration with web services. Skitch can send pics to FTP, .Mac and even Flickr accounts, but it also integrations with a new MySkitch service that will debut. MySkitch does a lot of interesting things, like giving you embed code for zoomable thumbnails (ideal for the likes of eBay and blogs with thin columns), a direct link for sending in email and even forum-friendly embed code. Skitch doesn't stop there though: you can also remove images from these web services directly from within Skitch, effectively making it a one-stop management shop for your images both local and otherwise.That's enough blabbing about features for now though. The folks at plasq were kind enough to allow us to publish an exclusive Skitch screenshot gallery, and published we have. Check out more screenshots of Skitch's good side, and don't forget to hit up plasq's mailing list for a chance to snag your own copy when they release an upcoming public beta. %Gallery-2528%
New Brothers in Arms shots
DS games are looking pretty hot lately, but Brothers in Arms is just so gorgeous that we can't help but wonder what the catch is ... like maybe it will give us cancer or completely suck or something. Probably not, but we'll be keeping an eye out for anything that could cause lasting harm, either physical or emotional.While you ponder our weird paranoias, check out the screens. They're after the jump.
The Gamers' Gallery aims to be web's 'best damned screenshot viewer'
Evil Avatar's Nicholas Puleo (a.k.a. bapenguin) has launched The Gamers' Gallery, described as a public database of screenshots, game data, and news. As the domain name implies, the emphasis is on the images. "The Gamers' Gallery was created because all other screenshot viewers are severely lacking. I really just wanted to create the best damn screenshot viewer on the internet," says Puleo.So did he? Puleo admits TGG is still in its infancy, but the potential is there. Galleries aren't buried behind pages of fluff and the ability to vote and comment on images reinforces the community dynamic -- and adds comic relief. For a small fee ($10/yr) users can become contributing members, unlocking high-res images (without watermarks!) and the ability to create galleries and a custom webpage. We hope subscribers also get a watermark-free experience. Shameless stamping is one lasting "feature" that 'lacking viewers' rarely lack. Let's hope Puleo and staff decide to break the old habit (for the non-subscriber's sake).
