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High Stakes poker brings EyeToy-enhanced Network play
Sony Online Entertainment has just revealed a new downloadable title for the PLAYSTATION Network. The much too awkwardly titled High Stakes on the Vegas Strip: Poker Edition will be released this summer on the Network for $9.99. A variety of play modes will be available, including Texas Hold'em, Super Hold'em, Billabong, Tahoe and Shanghai. Each style can be played as limit, pot limit or no limit poker.The greatest draw for the title will be its online multiplayer, with up to six people playing at once. Players will be able to play quick matches, or choose to play through an entire season. There will be online leader boards, in-depth statistics, and customizable characters. Over time, players will be able to collect points and unlock new items for their characters.One of the unique features of the game has to be its integration with cameras. Users will be able to connect a camera to the PS3 to enhance the game play experience. "Being among the first PLAYSTATION Network publishers to release a game that takes advantage of the EyeToy™ USB Camera (for PlayStation®2) and other PC compatible USB cameras is not only exciting, but also puts the player into a realistic game play setting featuring live audio and video feed," said Michael Lustenberger, VP of Marketing for Sony Online Entertainment. Screenshots can be found, after the break.
The '08 Olympics coming to Shanghai in a BIG way
We're having a tough time visualizing this: a giant ball-shaped LCD screen. Whatever it ends up looking like - we're thinking like the hologram of the Death Star from A New Hope - it's going to broadcast the '08 Beijing Olympics on the Metro Tower in Shanghai. The LCD ball (or is it ball LCD - who knows) is going to be 3,000 square meters when it's completed. This monster screen is going to cost a monster amount of cash too - $23.3 million but we can't think of a better way to watch the Olympics. We can only hope that the image is in HD.
EA denies reported investment in The9
According to official newspaper Shanghai Securities News this weekend, Electronic Arts was said to have reached a deal with Chinese MMO provider The9 to purchase a 19% stake in the company for about US $200 million. The newspaper cites unnamed sources and say that the two companies had reached a basic agreement but makes no mention of whether or not the deal has been finalized. EA spokesman Jeff Brown has told Reuters that "there is no signed agreement with The9," while declining to elaborate further. However, having no signed agreement currently does not mean that the company is not in the process of working toward the outlined deal. Could the report be wrong or is EA playing coy? We'll just have to wait and see. The9 has the rights to operate World of Warcraft, Guild Wars and Hellgate: London to China. The paper also reported a deal that would allow The9 to run EA's FIFA Online in China. Such an agreement has been rumored since EA named Hubert Larenaudie, with strong ties to The9, as president of EA Asia. See also: Joystiq interview: Hoyt Ma, The9 [Via WoW Insider]
"Rampant piracy" makes PSP the perfect gift in China
The Chinese video game market is a difficult one for manufacturers to deal with, simply because piracy is totally out of control in that region. Many publishers and console manufacturers avoid the market altogether. However, the Chinese market loves to play video games, and a blog called Shanghaiist is recommending the PSP for holiday gift givers this year:"Our buying decision this holiday season has every bit to do with the PSP being a nifty gadget as it does some of the extra "resources" available to us as residents of Shanghai, or China for that matter ... rampant piracy of games. The PSP is no different. Machines for sale here are from either Europe or Japan, but with firmware downgraded/modified so that they can handle "backup" (read "pirated") games."While I'm all for sales of the PSP increasing, I'm appalled at this recommendation. Telling people to buy a system because you can easily pirate games on it is really uncool. Of course, it seems like many people on the Internet also seem to think the PSP is all about homebrew and piracy as well. What have you experienced on the web?
Epic joins Shanghai development community
The number of foreign game developers descending upon China has become legion, and Epic Games is the latest to establish a foothold in the growing market. At the Tokyo Game Show, Epic VP Jay Wilbur outlined his company's plans to create an outsourcing division in Shanghai, which will be responsible for creating assets to be used both internally and by third party developers. Not only will Epic be cutting production costs, but their new office (and popular Unreal 3 engine) will most likely attract the attention of local outfits Shanda, The9, and the forthcoming Made in China Online Game Project.See also: Epic's Rein talks Gears, UT2007 American McGee gets episodic in Shanghai
Toys "R" Us to open store in China
First Best Buy took the plunge in China, now Toys "R" Us is following suit. In December, the North American toy retailer will open its first Chinese store at The Super Brand Mall in Shanghai Pudong. I noticed some construction activities when I was there a few weeks ago, but the store space didn't look very big. Store sizes are somewhat limited given the mall's Guggenheim-ish floor structure. Still, this should help spur console and handheld game sales in a market that has been traditionally dominated by PC gaming. Toys "R" Us will provide a nice complement to the mall's Lotus Supercenter, which sells only PC titles.See also: China online gaming trends House of Flying Daggers MMO in development
American McGee gets episodic in Shanghai
American McGee is looking for a few dark, twisted types to join his new independent studio in Shanghai, as he prepares to ride the wave of two contemporary trends in the gaming industry: episodic content and Chinese food.With Bad Day L.A. set to launch soon, the man behind Alice and Scrapland is now focusing his attention on building "an episodic game set in a dark, fairy tale universe." This project could be related to Oz or Grimm, a pair of graphic novels McGee is producing with Cellar Door Publishing.A former game designer for id Software and Electronic Arts, McGee also founded The Mauretania Import Export Company, and has served as the Creative Director for Enlight Software.
Motorola christens flagship Shanghai outlet
In what might be called a Destination Q with less Q and more David Beckham, Motorola has cut the ribbon on its first "Global Flagship Store" in downtown Shanghai this week. On second thought, it appears any comparison to Destination Q would be doing the new joint a disservice -- the first of four planned for mainland China, Moto's Shanghai outpost offers laser etching, custom phone tattoos, and onsite factory techs for when your MING starts misbehavin'. The store's design is being called "modular," offering the opportunity for smaller stores and kiosks worldwide based on the same concept. Hey guys, we'd be happy to offer you a mulligan on Destination Q if you want to take that flagship of yours and bring the battle with Nokia (fo' reals this time) to your hometown.[Via Mobiledia]
Best Buy to open Shanghai store
Looking to gain a foothold in China's burgeoning electronics and gaming market, American retailer Best Buy will be opening their first Chinese store in the Xujiahui district of Shanghai this summer. Executives at Chinese electronics chains Suning, Yolo, and Gome are denying rumors that they have formed an alliance to combat their new "laowai" competitor. However, Suning CEO Sun Weimin has suggested that the mainland retailers will continue their strategy of cooperation.Although console gaming is not very popular in China at the moment, online PC gaming is huge, and the presence of another "legitimate" games retailer should aid the Chinese government's plan to crack down on software and DVD piracy. Indeed, Chinese gamers will soon be able to plunk down 480 yuan and pre-order official copies of games 12-18 months in advance.
Virgin Mobile poised to launch MVNO in China
Interfax China is reporting that Virgin Mobile is close to signing a partnership with wireless carrier China Unicom that would make the UK-based company the first foreign MVNO in post-WTO China. Although Virgin would still require approval from the Chinese government, which carefully scrutinizes all proposed foreign business presences, the company will benefit from past deals in which Spain's Telefonica and Germany's Vodafone have made invesments in domestic telecom firms. Virgin already has offices in Shanghai, and CEO Richard Branson recently told reporters to expect a Chinese launch this fall, so it would seem pretty likely that this venture, which is well over a year in the making, has the necessary government support to proceed.
