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Epic dismisses NVIDIA evidence, Gears not on PC (yet)
Epic's Mark Rein has responded to the Gears of War reference in NVIDIA's ForceWare driver, stating frankly that there's no "new information" to report on the possibility of a PC port. The NVIDIA connection was simply a result of Epic providing some Gears content to NVIDIA in order to tweak the performance of Unreal Engine 3 on the company's graphics chips. Further, Rein chided, "You know console games are developed on PCs, right?"Despite shooting down this latest rumor, Rein avoids outright denying that a version of Gears will eventually land on a Windows platform; because chances are it will.See also: Rumor: Gears of War PC-bound?
Casio sells its one billionth calculator
Just as broadcast radio was turning one hundred, Casio was selling its one billionth calculator, as the company reportedly announced that this past December held the milestone purchase. The firm's first electronic calculator, dubbed the 001, hit the market in 1965, and played a big part in the development of the chip industry by generating demand for LSI chips. The pocket-sized renditions the company is so well known for started in 1972 with the Casio Mini, only to be followed by the graphing scientific version in 1985. These monochrome graphing editions will always hold a special spot in our hearts, as there was just nothing like kicking back during class and crushing your previous Tetris record while the instructor gave you kudos for focusing so intently on your work, and of course, that wasn't the only game to ever get ported to the small screen. So here's to Casio for hitting the big 1 billion, but we've got to admit, it looks like TI is the current champ in terms of universal acceptability, but we can't argue too much with a figure like that.
Most wanted PS1 to PSP games 2 [Update 1]
We've been reviewing the PSP playable PS1 games that have been released thus far, but are they what we really want? We listed what we'd like to see from the PS1 library last month, but Modojo has their own list now. The list includes the predictable like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, but it also includes more cult games like Klonoa: Door to Phantomile (the ending of which made me cry). To see the rest of the list you'll have to go read the article. After you've done that though, come back here and let us know what games that you'd like to see make the leap from PS1 to PSP. [Thanks Justin ][Update 1: Linked to our previous list of Most Wanted PS1 games]
Crysis crisis averted: heading to Xbox 360? [update 1]
Update -- Joystiq (translation: this writer) got punked by the Spanish and the Day of the Innocents. Thanks to all the commenters who chimed in to let us know that this was indeed an April's Fools type hoax, and that it's not to be believed. Aye, dios mio!First Crytek said that their first upcoming graphical overload game Crysis couldn't be ported to the Xbox 360 or the PlayStation 3. Then they switched gears and said, "Oops ... looks like we were wrong." Now we have some evidence that confirms it'll be coming to the 360 sooner than you think.Granted, the proof is translated from todoxbox360.com, but if the Google translator is to be believed, then it looks like Crysis will be hitting Microsoft's bad boy at some point. The article doesn't say when, but it's tantalizing enough to make us drool. Crysis is visually amazing, and 360 owners would be happy to see it on their screens. Hopefully we'll have official word from Electronic Arts soon, although they're probably getting ready to ring in the New Year with millions of microtransactions.[Thanks, MECHAN1ZED and Janx]
Radilgy now Radio Allergy, GCN shooter westbound
Which is it? Radilgy? Rajirugi? Radirgy? None of these. O~3 Entertainment has settled on 'Radio Allergy' for the North American release of Milestone's GameCube port of the throwback arcade shooter. Radio Allergy is due February 2007 for a mere $20.Radilgy made its console debut on Dreamcast this past February in Japan -- yeah, that's right, Dreamcast. A few months later additional versions wound up on PlayStation 2 and GameCube. Radio Allergy is a vertical shmup with anime flair. It's no Ikaruga, but anytime a classic-style shoot-em-up makes it out of Japan it's a blessing.
EA porting another geriatric sim to DS
DS Fanboy has posted some shots of EA's Theme Park port for DS. The publisher's Japanese studio, already tweaking Sim City for DS, has been handed the dirty work. Theme Park is expected to be pushed out by springtime.It's hard to get excited about a port of a 12 year-old sim-builder, but at least the DS is a suitable platform for such retro-activity. Anyone stirred by the motion?
OLPC XO: yes, it plays Doom
What good is another bonafide learning tool without a dash of fun beneath the hood? While OLPC XOs have just recently started rolling off production lines (and heading to eBay, most likely), it seems a few folks with a thing for 1992 have put the long-awaited machine to its best use yet. While Quanta Computer is slated to start a "test production" of these gizmos any day now, these bandits tested out its compatibility with a retro classic by installing (and successfully playing) the original Doom. Although this title has been the focal point of quite a few ports throughout the years, we'd say this rendition is definitely vying for king of them all, so be sure to continue on for the YouTube presentation.
Sid Meier's Pirates! swashbuckles its way to the PSP
For all your port haters out there don't look now because the PSP is about to get a port of a port in the form of Sid Meier's Pirates!. In the game, which was originally released in 1987 and re-made in 2004 on the PC, then released in 2005 on the Xbox and is now scheduled to be released in January on the PSP, players take control of a pirate who must find his kidnapped family members, gain revenge and obtain lots and lots of booty."We love the new possibilities from handheld systems like the PSP," added Sid Meier, Director of Creative Development at developer Firaxis Games. "Pirates! for the PSP system allows players to shape the heroic life of a pirate while embracing the pirate's way of life -- always on the go!"Thankfully, the PSP version, which will be published by Take-Two Interactive in North America and Europe, will feature some new features like new treasure hunts, widescreen display and four-player wireless multi-player, according to Gamespot. Pirates! is a game I always wanted to play on the Xbox but never got around to it, so I'm really hoping this version comes through.
Metareview - Final Fantasy III (DS)
At long last, the true Final Fantasy III finally localized for our precious consumption. But don't be fooled by the cutesy characters, they don't make 'em like this no more: Game Informer (80/100) - "[This is an old-school adventure, with all of the pitfalls and payoffs that entails ... Providing you're the type of person who doesn't have any trouble going back and playing 8-bit games, Final Final III [sic] is an excellent handheld homage to a bygone era." IGN (78/100) - "For any unassuming casual gamer out there, be warned, as Final Fantasy III hits hard and plays like the demanding days of old. We're talking tons of random battles (every five or so steps in some cases), inns that don't revive dead characters, and instant death battles that don't hesitate to kill unsuspecting explorers that feel the need to wander too far from the 'strongly recommended' path the game delivers ... Either you need this game or you don't. Plain and simple." Games Radar (70/100) - "[Tons] of uphill struggles and unaccommodating features [make] the experience borderline miserable at times. But for some of us, the Fantasy followers and old-style gamers, it's nice to sneak in such a guilty pleasure in between all the over-produced RPGs that hold your hand every step of the way." Current overall average: 77/100 (8 reviews)
Chili Con Carnage not a port after all
There has been a lot of confusion over Deadline Game's upcoming Chili Con Carnage. From publisher Eidos' initial press release, Andrew thought the game was more of a port of Total Overdose than anything else since it uses the same characters and gameplay. However, according to the game's director, Soren Lund, that's not really the case.Speaking to Computerandvideogames.com, Lund said the game is more of a re-invention rather than a port. While it has the same cast from Total Overdose, the game's stories are completely different, the gameplay has been refined to make the game a "more tight and compact action game" and the free roaming gameplay featured in Total Overdose has been omitted to "provide a much more streamlined and focused gameplay experience."However, Lund said the biggest difference gamers will see between the two games is the style gameplay. "We've made it a much more integrated part of the gameplay, that the player uses the games' different moves and the combo-system to achieve higher and higher scores thus being rewarded with better weapons, dual weapon overdrive, more loco moves, more health, more combo-time etc. etc.," he said. "We unlock new levels, game modes and playable characters depending on the player's level scores. And for the master players, we unlock unlimited ammo and trophies such as concept art and videos etc."As you can see, Deadline Games has seemingly worked hard at separating this game from Total Overdose in both story and gameplay. However, the test will be whether they can get that message out to PSP owners who are very tired of ports. We'll see when the game releases early next year.
Full-priced F.E.A.R. port is no treat
Sierra has confirmed that F.E.A.R. for Xbox 360 is gold and will ship out on Halloween. Aside from last year's PC game, the port will include some new levels (apparently, not the Extraction Point expansion), Instant Action mode, and 16-player Xbox Live support.While it's the competitive price, we were surprised to see that F.E.A.R. will retail for $60, given that the meat of the game has been ported from a year-old PC title. Despite an early jump, F.E.A.R. is competing in a shooter-jammed holiday and a $50 -- or dare we say, $40 -- price tag would have been more inviting. Where does F.E.A.R. rank on your priorities list?
Joystiq interviews Doug Lombardi about Xbox 360 Source
Yesterday, Valve released the Source Engine middleware for the Xbox 360. But what does that mean for Xbox 360 games, PC games, and modders who use Valve's free version of Source? Valve intends for big developers to fluidly move between the two platforms. But the announcement also means one less hurdle for home developers to release an Xbox game, assuming they attract a publisher to clear the maze of licensing and distribution.Valve's Director of Marketing, Doug Lombardi answered a series of emailed questions to delve deeper into these issues. He explained the general difference between the free and middleware versions of Source, how this announcement could still apply to modders, and how PC and Xbox versions of Source games could technically be networked immediately.
Universal remotist finds fault with PS3, console lacks IR port
Opposable Thumbs highlights a little publicized PlayStation 3 detail that could bug universal remote users hoping to incorporate the console's Blu-ray player into their tidy home theatre setups: PS3 lacks an IR port.It's a small gripe at best, but one wonders why Sony made the curious decision to deviate from the infrared standard (the remote uses Bluetooth). Or maybe it's obvious: save money (albeit pennies) by cutting the IR port out of manufacturing costs, plus earn money by forcing consumers to buy the only PS3-compatible remote, yours. Then again, maybe this is simply Sony's bold attempt to phase out infrared; maybe it's part of the "next-gen begins when we say so" act. After all, third-party remotes will come, including a device that supports both infrared and Bluetooth (aka the "true-universal" remote). Now there's an idea ...
Crytek revises claim: Crysis could be ported
During Leipzig, Crytek senior game designer Bernd Diemer claimed Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 were too weak to handle Crysis. Now, slightly down the totem pole, Crytek lead artist Michael Khaimzon is saying he's confident that Crysis could be ported. "I don't think there would be any problem to convert anything we work on to the next-gen consoles," Khaimzon told GamesIndustry.biz, adding, "[but] I don't know of any official plans to do so" (besides these).Forget Khaimzon's wishy-washy "don't know of any official plans" garble; EA, the publisher, doesn't want this to be a PC-only franchise. Crysis will wind up on 360 and PS3 (and probably Wii too), in one form or another, within a year. Just look at what's happened to Far Cry. Ubisoft has pimped the franchise like a mo'fo. Think EA's gonna miss out on an equally ripe opportunity -- and fall to second place? Nah, ain't gonna happen.
Chili Con Carnage is a refried port?
When I first looked at Eidos' press release for their new PSP game Chili Con Carnage, I thought to myself "cool, a new exclusive PSP action game." However, Gamespot checked the developer's track record, and I angrily shouted a four letter word: PORT! It may be an original game, but the game shares too many similarities with Deadline Games' Total Overdose. They both feature the same gameplay, same character and the same story. Both games feature the same "Spicy Moves" (pictured). So, why did Eidos decide to call this game Chili Con Carnage instead of Total Overdose? I think they know that PSP fans are sick of ports, so by cleverly retitling the game, they're trying to pull a fast one on us. While questionably juvenile sites might be fooled, it won't work on the superior PSP Fanboys, right? If you're going to give us a port, might as well make sure it's one of a good game, instead of Total Overdose, which only scored a 71 from Metacritic.
Gitaroo Man Lives again, port headed to North America
Koei is bringing Gitaroo Man to North America again, with a remake of the acclaimed, but obscure 2002 PlayStation 2 title for PSP. Gitaroo Man Lives! is essentially a port of the original rhythm game (Gitaroo Man) with the new (ad hoc) Duet Mode included. Gitaroo Man Lives! will ship to North American retailers on November 14.While the remake will no doubt please some gamers who missed Gitaroo Man's first tour, we can't help but feel a bit slighted by the release. Coupled with news that a PaRappa the Rapper port (with some bonus features) is also headed to PSP, it's become glaringly obvious that many publishers are using the PSP as a sloppy seconds machine. Instead of producing new content, companies are dusting off old titles, applying a little gloss -- and maybe tacking on ad hoc multiplayer -- and shipping these "remakes" off to retail. What's even more disappointing is that these ports, as well as the downgraded PSP versions of multiplatform releases and franchise spin-offs, are consistently earning higher critical marks than the PSP's original content. Gangs of London? Bounty Hounds? Rengoku 2? Are these games even on your radar? Why is it so frickin' hard to make exceptional PSP games that can't be played on any other platform? LocoRoco? Is that all we've got?[Via press release]
TGS 06: PaRappa hands-on
Ross "I got to go TGS, so I'm better than you" Miller posted up some new impressions of PaRappa the Rapper on Joystiq. Here's what he had to say:"The graphics have been cleaned up and the audio is a bit crisper than the original, but our lovable rhymester still stutters his words even when we hit the buttons perfectly. None of the new features have been revealed, including the promised multiplayer mode. We recommend dusting off the original game for now, and wait to see if the extra features / multiplayer warrant a new purchase."It's sad to see that the game is only a port, and not a true sequel. Considering how it's a PS1 game, wouldn't it be better off as a download for emulation? Silly Sony.
Mercury Meltown sliding onto PS2
Gamers complain that too many games make the jump from PS2 to PSP. But, fanboys don't get too pleased either when a game makes the transition from PSP to PS2. Not too many games have done it in the past, but it appears that the upcoming Mercury Meltdown will also be getting a PS2 rendition, joining other titles such as Lumines, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, and the upcoming Tokobot. The PS2 version will not feature any enhancements, except for the ability to use the second analog stick to control the problematic camera. The PS2 version will come out one month after the PSP version, which comes out in October.[Via Gamespot]
More mini-games on Bliss Island
The mini-game collections keep on coming to the PSP. The newest one to be announced today is Bliss Island, a port of a fairly popular PC arcade game. You'll be play Hoshi the Zwooph who has the unique ability to shoot out bursts of air. All the challenges featured in the game will revolve around the mastery of the ability. The game will feature 80 mini-games and also feature wi-fi multiplayer. A demo of the PC version of the game is available for free by visiting Funsta.[Via IGN]
New Prince of Persia announced
The angsty Prince is back in a new game entitled Prince of Persia: Rival Swords. Like Revelations before it, Rival Swords is essentially an enhanced port of a PoP console game. Rival Swords takes the gameplay from last year's critically acclaimed The Two Thrones and adds new levels and multiplayer modes. For example, you will be able to race through levels against a friend, or play through new chariot levels and re-enact your favorite scene from Ben-Hur. The game will hit Holiday 2006 in Europe, and then hit American shores in 2007.Should we get excited? I'm a bit doubtful on this one. Revelations met critical disapproval due to its high number of glitches and ridiculous loading times, and the same developer (Pipeworks Software) is working on this port. They might be able to work out the bugs this time around, but with so many original games heading to the system soon, a port can't really grab my attention.[Via IGN]
