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Having mastered soccer, robots try football
One of the nice things about modern robotic competition is that once the competitors get too skilled at a given sport -- soccer, for instance -- you can simply toss a differently-shaped ball onto the field, and even the greatest RoboRonaldo is instantly knocked down a notch or two. Such is the case with Japan's Robot American Football Tournament, where the soccer ball of RoboCup-style tourneys has been replaced with a classic US pigskin (made out of rubber to liven things up), although NFL-type, turn-based play is eschewed for what usually degrades into a frenzied-but-exciting demolition derby. Teams of four bots each are controlled remotely by high school students during the six-minute games, where the goal is to score more "touchdowns" than one's opponents by shoveling the ball into the end zone. While this concept certainly makes for an entertaining spectacle, we'd like to see organizers from the All Japan Robot Sumo Tournament Office tweak the rules just a bit more, because instead of standing on the sidelines, the student operators should be strapped into huge, hydraulically-powered mecha and forced to use flame-throwers and nail-guns on one another if they want to emerge victorious on the playing field.
Major Nelson 2.0
Xbox Live Programming Director Larry "Major Nelson" Hyrb has ordered a redesign of his must read blog in preparation for E3. Right now it's in sort of a transitional mode, but the Major promises a host of new features once things get rolling (no need to change your RSS feed by the way). While you're admiring the new look, take a minute to get on XBL and download the PGR3 Global Tournament gamer picture he was pointing out before his site went all 2.0.Speaking of the PGR3 tournament, competition kicked off on Monday. How'd you do?
360 will sponsor World Cyber Games thru '08
The WCG and Microsoft have announced that the Xbox 360 and Games for Windows will be the "premier sponsor" of the World Cyber games through 2008. Microsoft's sponsorship will include hardware, software and marketing support for all WCG events, including three pan-regional championships, the Korean Championship, the USA Championship and the Grand Finals in Monza, Italy (October 18-22). The Xbox 360 games for this year's series are PGR3 and DOA4. According to the lofty description on their website, the WCG is "not just a world game tournament, but also combines the world to create harmony and enjoyment through the shared emotions." Presumably, they're talking about the emotion you get when you kick a stranger's ass at DOA4. This a good move on MS's part that surely cements the Xbox 360's brand when it comes to the growing world of e-sports. Who will be the first Xbox 360 cyber-athlete to get mainstream press attention like PC poster boy Jonathan "Fatal1ty" Wendel? [Thanks Aaron]
PGR3 Speed Pack & auto-update hit gas
The previously discussed PGR3 "Speed Pack" update is now available for speedy download on Xbox Live Marketplace at 32.67MB for 400 MS Points. If you don't want to purchase the speed pack for all 400 points, each car is available individually for 60 points with the exception of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage which is available as a free download. The Speed Pack includes the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Audi RS 4, Chevrolet Corvette Z06, Dodge Viper SRT-10 Coupe, Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, Lamborghini Gallardo SE, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII FQ-400, Nissan NISMO R34GT-R Z-Tune, Pontiac GTO, Radical SR8, RUF RT12, and the Saleen S7 Twin Turbo.Even better, there's also an sweet auto-update with some major (Nelson) additions:Tournaments – Be one of 64 players to qualify with the best lap time using a car and route that’s predetermined. If successful, move on into the Elimination rounds to compete with 7 other drivers. The top 4 in each race move on until the final race where only the first place driver earns the victory. Tournament Channel (Gotham TV)– Watch other players race in tournament Elimination rounds. “Quit to Lobby” (Abandon option in PlayTime race) Host can now take all participants back to the lobby in a play time session, rather than booting them all back to the Play Time menu. “Lock to Host Car” and “Lock to Host Car Class” (PlayTime | Xbox Live | Create Race | Race Mode | City | Route) are two new toggles that the lobby creator can turn on or off to limit what type of cars his/her competition can use in a play time race over Xbox Live. Previously Played Routes List (PlayTime | Route Creator | Previous Live Routes) – Play other gamers routes that they created in the Route Creator over Xbox Live and store up to 10 in your “Previously Played Routes List”. You have the option to save or discard them and use them in your own sessions. All Cars Position Toggle (More | Options | HUD | Position toggle) – In races modes with multiple cars where target is not displayed, this shows the current place every car in the race is in throughout the event. Hide HUD Toggle (More | Options | HUD | HUD toggle) – This gives the player the option to turn off ALL in race HUD displays in all camera views. Voice Communicator Identifier – In a multiplayer race the name of the gamertag will now flash in the upper left hand corner when speaking into a voice communicator, making it possible to identify the speaker. Online Career rotating car class hoppers – All 8 hoppers in the Online Career (Breakneck Racing, Nurburgring F1 Challenge, Speedway Skirmish, Knockout World Tour, Nordschleife Drivers Club, Urban Rally, Gotham Duelling, and Dusk Til Dawn Racing) now change the required entry car class daily. Wheel Support – Control set for steering wheels and dynamic updates have been added for the Hori, Mad Catz, and Joytech Nitro wheels (all via the More | Options | Controller | Wheel A configuration). Online Qualifier Achievement – 50 gamerscore is now awarded for qualifying, then attempting the first elimination round of a tournament. PLUS: The HUD no longer remains invisible after looking back, hitting the Guide button, and then re-entering the game and it’s now possible to view if you have already purchased a car while shopping in the showroom via the “Cars Owned” tally under the Car Stats section. Now how about support for a wheel with true force feedback? Finally, an important reminder for PGR pros and Gotham TV viewers: The PGR3 Global Tournament punches the pedal on Monday, April 17.[Thanks to Sinz for pretty much writing this post]
