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Wii component connection on the cheap
For those of you who find adventure to be the spice of life, we've got one worth $6.71 USD. See, these Hong Kong cables, available for pre-order from superufo.com (they release on the 30th), look the part and are available at an insane price. Still, we've always been told if it seems too good to be true, then it probably is. Applying that lesson, we cannot bring ourselves to order them. Any of you willing to take the plunge or have you already made your own? Maybe third party products aren't your thing and you're going to wait out Nintendo's stock?[Via Joystiq; thanks to all that sent this in!]
Logitech fills lightweight PS3 pad with air
Oh boy, where to start? Maybe it was just that their previous gamepads were selling wireless to a wired world, or perhaps the good folks at Logitech just felt weird about building a gamepad that felt so light; either way, they've decided to give their new ChillStream controller a little something extra to distinguish it from the me-toos in the third-party controller rat race.Yup, they added fans into the controller, to keep your sweaty mitts cool. If this strikes you as an especially gimmicky move for one of the more reputable peripheral manufacturers, you're not alone dear reader. Maybe the extra weight and a potentially lower third-party cost will be enough to drive frugal gamers into the arms of the ChillStream ... or is that ChillStream into the arms of frugal gamers? The controller doesn't have rumble, it presumably has motion sensitivity, it doesn't appear to be wireless -- oh yeah, it has fans -- and it carries a suggested retail sticker price of $39.99. How much is that "affordable" first-party controller going to be?[Via CrunchGear]
Third-party games without online support until 2007
Turns out Call of Duty 3 isn't the only third-party title to lack online support for the Wii. According to a preview of Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam running over at IGN, no third-party titles will be online compatible until 2007. "Activision would not say why, but IGN has separately learned from multiple development sources that Nintendo will not release Wii Wi-Fi Connection libraries to third parties until early 2007, which means that no third party launch title will have an online mode."Ouch. While the most attractive titles launching on the Wii are those done by Nintendo themselves, with high-profile third-party launch titles such as Call of Duty 3, Madden NFL 07, Far Cry, and Red Steel that depend as much on a robust online experience as well as a strong single-player experience, this is sure to be a big blow to Nintendo's launch lineup.[Via Joystiq]
Nintendo: Their own worst enemy
As we all know, Nintendo once ruled the video gaming skies. Titles were published for their systems or fell into the abyss. Soon, however, there came a time when the almighty Nintendo looked around in confusion as its once-loyal companions deserted them for greener pastures. The Nintendo 64 and Gamecube, though still playing host to some of the finest games of all time, fell by the wayside due to lack of third-party support. It is a problem that has plagued Nintendo to this day, and something they are desperately trying to correct with the Wii. There were, of course, numerous reasons for the desertion. The N64's stubborn refusal to switch from a cartridge-based format, lack of online support, and high licensing fees all took their toll on the gaming giant. But fundamentally, when a true competitor came along, third parties sought to leave the most frightful prospect of publishing for a Nintendo system: Nintendo themselves.
ADC posts third-party game engine details for developers
The Apple Developer Connection has posted an article detailing various game engines and tools for Mac OS X game developers. In the spotlight is GarageGames' Torque Game Engine, OverTheEdge's Unity and Phelios' PTK engine. Perhaps there might be more to the possibilities of the Mac being a gaming system down the road?Check out Developing Games on Mac OS X Using Third-Party Game Engines to get started on that blockbuster game you've been kicking around.[via Macworld]
Rumor: Call of Duty joining the Revolution
A GotNext "spy pirate" has learned that Call of Duty will be making a stop on the Nintendo Revolution.If it's true that the unnamed next-gen iteration of the series will be "a launch or 'launch window' title," then CoD should be the first third-party FPS to use the Revmote.Exakt Entertainment will reportedly handle the Revolution edition for Nintendo, which would make sense as they ported Call of Duty: Finest Hour for the GameCube. Rumors of launch titles should be fallin' aplenty in the weeks leading up to E3, so keep your eyes and ears open, people. Also beware of premature April Fools' Day pranks. ("Spy pirate"?)[Thanks, Freddy Q; via 1UP]See also: Next Call of Duty leaked: Modern Warfare tackles terrorists Leaked: Call of Duty 2 for the Mac Call of Duty 2 multiplayer finally patched Joystiq hands-on: Call of Duty 2 (Xbox 360)
