Call Of Duty: Black Ops II tops UK chart after best launch of 2012

November 19th, 2012, 22:02 Posted By: wraggster

Call Of Duty: Black Ops II is the new number one in the UK all-formats chart. The latest installment in Activision’s all-conquering shooter series enjoyed the biggest UK videogame launch of 2012, and the fourth biggest of all time, according to chart compiler UKIE.It means last week’s number one, Halo 4, slips to second in the chart, with Assassin’s Creed III falling two places to number four with FIFA 13 holding onto third place.The sole other new entry in the top 10 is The Sims 3: Seasons at number nine, but there are several debutants further down the chart, the highest of which is Vita stinker Call Of Duty: Black Ops Declassifiedat number 16. Wonderbook: Book Of Spells is at number 25, one place ahead of F1 Race Stars, while Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing Transformed is just behind at number 27.01. Call Of Duty: Black Ops II (Activision)
02. Halo 4 (Microsoft)
03. FIFA 13 (EA)
04. Assassin’s Creed III (Ubisoft)
05. Skylanders Giants (Activision)
06. Need For Speed Most Wanted (EA)
07. Just Dance 4 (Ubisoft)
08. Borderlands 2 (Take-Two)
09. The Sims 3: Seasons (EA)
10. Football Manager 2013 (Sega)

http://www.edge-online.com/news/call...aunch-of-2012/

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

RetroArch 0.9.8-beta2

November 19th, 2012, 15:22 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.aep-emu.de/

A new version of the multi-system emulators RetroArch (formerly known as SSNES) is released for Windows, XBOX, WII, PS3 and XBOX360.

SSNES is called RetroArch from now on, and ´libsnes´ is called ´libretro´ from now on.

Quote:

What is RetroArch?

RetroArch is a modular multi-system emulator system that is designed to be fast, lightweight, and portable. It has features few other emulators frontends have, such as real-time rewinding and game-aware shading.
What platforms does it support?

RetroArch sets the standard on cross-platform portability right now.

Linux (x86 and x86_64)
Windows (32bit/64bit)
Mac OSX (PPC/Intel)
Playstation 3 (PS3 SDK/PSL1GHT (WIP))
Xbox 1 (XDK)
Xbox 360 (XeXDK/Libxenon)
Wii
Raspberry Pi
OpenPandora

Why is it special?

Right now RetroArch is unique in that it runs the same emulator cores on multiple systems (such as Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PC, etc).

For each emulator ´core´, RetroArch makes use of a library API that we like to call ´libretro´.

Think of libretro as an interface for emulator and game ports. You can make a libretro port once and expect the same code to run on all the platforms that RetroArch supports. It´s designed with simplicity and ease of use in mind so that the porter can worry about the port at hand instead of having to wrestle with an obfuscatory API.

The purpose of the project is to help ease the work of the emulator/game porter by giving him an API that allows him to target multiple platforms at once without having to redo any code. He doesn´t have to worry about writing input/video/audio drivers - all of that is supplied to him by RetroArch. All he has to do is to have the emulator port hook into the libretro API and that´s it - we take care of the rest.

Supported game / emu cores
bNES

Libretro port is: A Nintendo Entertainment System / Nintendo Famicom emulator.

Libretro author: Themaister

Original author(s): byuu

Compatible with: RetroArch PC

RetroConsole Level: TBD

Github: https://github.com/libretro/bnes-libretro
bSNES

Libretro port is: A Super Nintendo/Super Famicom emulator.

Libretro author: Themaister

Original author(s): byuu

Compatible with: RetroArch PC

RetroConsole Level: 3 (Performance/Compatibility), 4 (Accuracy)

Github: https://github.com/libretro/bsnes-libretro
Final Burn Alpha

Libretro port is: A multi-arcade system emulator.

Libretro author: Twinaphex, Themaister

Original author(s): Various

Compatible with: RetroArch PS3, RetroArch 360, RetroArch PC

RetroConsole Level: TBD

Github: https://github.com/libretro/fba-libretro
FCEUmm

Libretro port is: A Nintendo Entertainment System / Nintendo Famicom emulator.

Libretro author: Twinaphex, Themaister

Original author(s): Various

Compatible with: RetroArch PS3, RetroArch 360, RetroArch PC

RetroConsole Level: 0

Github: https://github.com/libretro/fceu-next
Gambatte

Libretro port is: A Game Boy/Game Boy Color emulator.

Libretro author: Themaister, Twinaphex

Original author(s): Sinamas

Compatible with: RetroArch PS3, RetroArch 360, RetroArch PC

RetroConsole Level: 0

Github: https://github.com/libretro/gambatte-libretro
Genesis Plus GX

Libretro port is: A Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, Master System, Game Gear, SG-1000 emulator.

Libretro author: Twinaphex, Themaister

Original author(s): Charles McDonald, Ekeeke

Compatible with: RetroArch PS3, RetroArch 360, RetroArch PC

RetroConsole Level: 1

Github: https://github.com/libretro/genesis-next.git
iMAME4All

Libretro port is: A multi-arcade system emulator.

Libretro author: ToadKing

Original author(s): Nicola Salmoria, Various

Compatible with: RetroArch PC, RetroArch PS3, RetroArch Pi

RetroConsole Level: 0

Github: https://github.com/libretro/imame4all-libretro
Mednafen PSX

Libretro port is: A Sony PlayStation emulator.

Libretro author: Themaister

Original author(s): Ryphecha (Mednafen)

Compatible with: RetroArch PC

RetroConsole Level: 4

Github: https://github.com/libretro/mednafen-psx-libretro
Meteor

Libretro port is: A Game Boy Advance emulator.

Libretro author: Themaister

Original author(s): Philippe Daouadi.

Compatible with: RetroArch PC

RetroConsole Level: TBD

Github: https://github.com/libretro/meteor-libretro
NXEngine

Libretro port is: A Cave Story/Doukutsu Monogatari engine.

Libretro author: Twinaphex, Themaister

Original author(s): Pixel, rogueeve

Compatible with: RetroArch PC

RetroConsole Level: TBD

Github: https://github.com/libretro/nxengine-libretro
Prboom

Libretro port is: A Doom engine.

Libretro author: Twinaphex, Themaister

Original author(s): id Software, Various

Compatible with: RetroArch PS3, RetroArch 360, RetroArch PC

RetroConsole Level: 0

Github: https://github.com/libretro/libretro-prboom
SNES9x Next

Libretro port is: A Super Nintendo/Super Famicom emulator.

Libretro author: Twinaphex, Themaister

Original author(s): Various

Compatible with: RetroArch PS3, RetroArch 360, RetroArch PC

RetroConsole Level: 1

Github: https://github.com/libretro/snes9x-next
VBA Next

Libretro port is: A Game Boy Advance emulator.

Libretro author: Twinaphex, Themaister

Original author(s): Forgotten, VBA-M Team.

Compatible with: RetroArch PS3, RetroArch 360, RetroArch PC

RetroConsole Level: 2

Github: https://github.com/libretro/vba-next

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

Toys 'R' Us offers 'buy one, get one for $1' game sale, lots more on Black Friday

November 18th, 2012, 21:41 Posted By: wraggster

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

Xbox, PS3, PS Vita: Holiday hardware sale

November 18th, 2012, 00:03 Posted By: wraggster

Nintendo is on the eve of launching a major offensive in the Console Wars with the launch of the Wii U on Sunday, November 18. Microsoft and Sony have just fired back with a range of deals designed to maximize sales of their own hardware (and hopefully steal some thunder from Nintendo, no doubt).
Here's a rundown of the deals Microsoft and Sony have announced:
$199 Ultimate PS3 Value Bundle: 250GB PS3 ($249 value), Uncharted Dual Pack (Drake's Fortune and Among Thieves), the inFamous Collection (inFamous, inFamous 2 and Festival of Blood), and a 30-day PS Plus trial membership.
PlayStation is also offering three PS Vita bundles, all at $199.99, available to shoppers on Black Friday (November 23) and Saturday, November 24, exclusively from select retailers:
$199 PS Vita Call of Duty Black Ops Declassified Bundle, featuring a Crystal Black PS Vita, Call of Duty: Black Ops: Declassified, and a 4GB Memory Card. Only at Best Buy.
$199 PS Vita Lego Batman 2 Limited Edition Bundle, featuring a Crystal Black PS Vita, and Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes. Only at Target.
$199 PS Vita Assassin's Creed III: Liberation Bundle, featuring a Crystal White PS Vita, Assassin's Creed III: Liberation, and a 4GB Memory Card. Only at Amazon and GameStop.
Xbox 360 consoles and bundles for Black Friday:
$149.99 special edition glossy white Xbox 360 4GB console and controller with “Skylanders” and exclusive “Skylanders” figurine. Available at Walmart.
$199.99 Xbox 360 250GB console with “Skyrim” and “Forza 4: Essentials Edition” at Best Buy, Fred Meyer, Fry's and Newegg.
$199.99 Xbox 360 4GB console with Kinect and “Kinect Disneyland Adventures” at Target, Amazon, Sam's Club, Meijer, Kmart and Microsoft Stores.
Additional retailers will offer a variety of exclusive deals including:
GameStop: Xbox 360 250GB console with “Call of Duty: Black Ops 2” for $249.99.
RadioShack: Xbox 360 4GB console with a wired headset for $169.99.
Toys R Us: Xbox 360 4GB console with $50 gift card for $179.99.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...-hardware-sale

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

Raspberry Pi driven Polargraph exhibits high precision drawing ability

November 17th, 2012, 18:27 Posted By: wraggster


This polar graph draws some amazing shapes on a dry erase board. Part of that is due to the mounting brackets used for the two stepper motors and the stylus. But credit is also due for the code which takes velocity into account in order to plan for the next set of movements.
The Go language is used to translate data into step commands for the two motors. This stream of commands is fed over a serial connection between the RPi board and an Arduino. The Arduino simply pushes the steps to the motor controllers. The inclusion of the RPi provides the horsepower needed to make such smooth designs. This is explained in the second half of [Brandon Green's] post. The technique uses constant acceleration, speed, and deceleration for most cases which prevents any kind of oscillation in the hanging stylus. But there are also contingencies used when there is not enough room to accelerate or decelerate smoothly.
You can catch a very short clip of the hardware drawing a tight spiral in the video embedded after the break.

http://hackaday.com/2012/11/16/raspb...awing-ability/

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

EVE radio breakout board for the Raspberry Pi

November 17th, 2012, 18:24 Posted By: wraggster


The Raspberry Pi is an excellent tool to build the ‘Internet of things’ we’ve been hearing about, but there’s still the issue of connecting the Raspi to other devices. The EVE Alpha – a breakout board for several wireless radio modules for the Raspberry Pi – hopes to change that with their Kickstarter campaign.
The idea behind the EVE is to provide a link between low-power radio modules found in a few of the microcontroller projects we’ve seen and the Raspberry Pi. It does this by simply serving as a breakout board, taking the GPIO pins on the Raspi and connecting them to solder pads for a few of the many radio modules currently available.
Already the EVE supports the RFM12B wireless tranciever, a Z-Wave module, 868-915Mhz SRF modules, and has a breakout for an XBee module, allowing the EVE to communicate using one of the many different XBee boards. There’s also a battery-backed real-time clock and temperature sensor thrown in for good measure making this board the perfect building block for an outdoor weather station or solar array.
It’s an awesome idea, and if you already have a few radio modules, incredibly cheap; just the PCB is only £6, and a board with all the SMD components is only £20.

http://hackaday.com/2012/11/17/eve-r...-raspberry-pi/

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

Time names its all-time 100 best video games

November 17th, 2012, 18:17 Posted By: wraggster

US magazine Time has named its all-time best 100 video games – and as you’d imagine there are some expected and definitely not as expected inclusions.
It divides its list into decades. The 1970s, for instance, includes obvious contenders such as arcade smash-hit Space Invaders and tennis sim Pong, as well as lesser known title Hunt the Wumpus.
The 1980s is more familiar with cult titles such as Pac-Man, Defender, Donky Kong, Paperboy, Super Mario Bros, Teris, The Legend of Zelda, Outrun and Prince of Persia.
The 1990s reflects the transition into modern gaming and includes the likes of Street Fighter II, Sonic the Hedgehog, SimCity 2000, Myst, Final Fantasy VII, Metal Gear Solid, Goldeneye 007, Thief, Resident Evil and Quake.
The 2000s offer a more eclectic mix of contemporary names such as Deus Ex, Katamari Damacy, Angry Birds, Knights of the Old Republic, Flower, Counter-Strike, Animal Crossing, Ico, Rez, Okami, Wii Sports, Modern Warfare, Braid and Demon’s Souls.
Only two post-2010 titles make the cut – Batman: Arkham City and Mass Effect 3. No Skyrim? No Journey? No Black Ops Declassified? Oh yes, that’s right.
You can see the full list here.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/time-...-games/0106560

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

Irish game industry shows huge jobs growth

November 16th, 2012, 23:59 Posted By: wraggster

Ireland's games market valued at seven per cent of UK and Eire, claims report

The first independent report on the Irish games industry has been published today and details massive growth for the island nations.
Compiled by Jamie McCormick in co-operation with GameDevelopers.ie, the report identifies 91 per cent jobs growth since 2009, with over 2800 people employed by over 80 companies.

It values the Irish consumer market between 2001 and 2011 at over €2 billion and measures it at least seven per cent of the overall UK and Eire market.
McCormick told Develop that the purpose of the report is to draw attention to the Irish games industry, which is rarely discussed independently of Britain.
For the first time, it outlines regional jobs numbers, county company numbers, the split between indigenous and international companies, and the types of jobs currently available among people working in the Irish games industry.

http://www.develop-online.net/news/4...ge-jobs-growth

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

GameStop reports physical decline and digital boom

November 16th, 2012, 00:16 Posted By: wraggster

International games retail giant GameStop has reported a decline in physical sales but a boost in digital for the quarter ending October 27^th.
Net losses for the period reached $624.3m compared to net earnings of $53.9m the year before, but this includes goodwill and other impairment charges of $678.8m stemming from an impairment test that “was required under ASC 350 of generally accepted accounting principles due to a temporary decline in the company’s stock price during the second quarter”.
Like-for-like sales fell 8.3 per cent year-on-year with total global sales falling 8.9 per cent to $1.77bn. New software, pre-owned software and new hardware all fell steeply.
It’s a different story when it comes to digital, however, with sales rocketing 31.8 per cent year-on-year to $127m. Sales of tablets and pre-owned mobile phones hit $43.2m and remain in track to hit GameStop’s annual sales forecast of $150m-$200m for the bracket.
Adjusted net earnings for the period were $47.2m, down from $53.9m.
“Diligent operational efforts in a tough video game market as well as continued margin expansion of 200 basis points resulted in third quarter earnings exceeding expectations,” CEO Paul Raines stated.
“We are now focused on delivering a successful holiday quarter driven by great titles, an unrivalled loyalty program, exciting new businesses and the Wii U launch.”
CFO Rob Lloyd added: “During the quarter, we reached an important milestone of repurchasing $1 billion of our stock since 2009. Our on-going buyback program and quarterly dividends highlight our commitment to improving total shareholder return through disciplined capital allocation.”

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/games...l-boom/0106460

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

Walmart Black Friday deals include cheap consoles, very cheap games, confusing uDraw

November 15th, 2012, 01:11 Posted By: wraggster

<center style='font: 14px/22px "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;'></center>For those brave enough, and cheap enough, to venture into Walmart after 8pm on November 22, some Black Friday deals await, including a 4GB Xbox 360 with a Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure starter pack for $149, a Wii for $89, and a 250GB PS3 with the Uncharted Dual Pack and the Infamous Collection for $199.

The retailer is also discounting some games, including Epic Mickey 2, Modern Warfare 3, FIFA Soccer 13, NBA 2K13, Borderlands 2, Medal of Honor Warfighter, and Just Dance 4, to $25 each. $15 games include Dance Central 3, Max Payne 3, Black Ops, and Spec Ops: The Line. Dead Island, Gran Turismo 5, and more are $10.

Finally, in the offer that is most likely to confuse and irritate people, Walmart is advertising "Wii U-Draw" for $10. That's actually the uDraw Game Tablet for Wii, and not the Wii U, which also includes a tablet. Some kind of fight is going to break out over this confusion, we're afraid.

http://localad.walmart.com/Walmart/E...Walmart-121123

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

Japan: New Animal Crossing boosts 3DS sales as Vita slips to record low

November 15th, 2012, 00:34 Posted By: wraggster

Japanese 3DS sales doubled during the week ended November 11 as system exclusive Animal Crossing: New Leaf sold over 600,000 copies to storm the software chart.
<figure style="margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px currentColor; width: 300px; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); text-transform: none; line-height: 21px; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; clear: both; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; word-spacing: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: right; display: block; white-space: normal; position: relative; orphans: 2; widows: 2; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;" class="article-image article-image-alt article-image-300"></figure>While 3DS sales jumped from 94,000 units the previous week to 187,000, Vita sales fell from close to 5,000 to 4,000, a new record low for the handheld.According to Media Create sales data republished on NeoGAF, 3DS has sold over 3.8 million units in Japan year to date. In comparison, PSP has shifted 694,000 units and Vita 590,000.
Elsewhere on the latest software chart, the PS3 version of Dynasty Warriors 7: Empires debuted at No.2, one place ahead of fellow new entry Halo 4, which helped more than double weekly Xbox 360 sales to 2,900 units.
Software sales November 5-11 (lifetime total)

1. Animal Crossing: New Leaf (3DS, Nintendo) - 603,064 / New
2. Dynasty Warriors 7: Empires (PS3, Koei Tecmo) - 70,102 / New
3. Halo 4 (Xbox 360, Microsoft) - 39,312 / New
4. Tales of Xillia 2 (PS3, Bandai Namco) - 34,789 / 399,228
5. New Super Mario Bros. 2 (3DS, Nintendo) - 23,224 / 1,343,554
6. Bravely Default: Flying Fairy (3DS, Square Enix) - 14,847 / 249,260
7. Silent Hill: Downpour (PS3, Konami) - 13,516 / New
8. World Soccer Winning Eleven 2013 (PSP, Konami) - 12,335 / 50,722
9. Okami HD (PS3, Capcom) - 11,013 / 79,657
10. Yakuza 1 & 2 HD Edition (PS3, Sega) - 10,073 / 68,211

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

Molyneux: Games have failed to become another true entertainment form

November 14th, 2012, 23:55 Posted By: wraggster

Curiosity nearly killed the keynote at this year's Montreal International Game Summit. 22 Cans' debut mobile effort was so overwhelmingly popular upon its launch last week that the crush of people overwhelmed the studio's servers, putting the team into a crunch mode that scuttled founder Peter Molyneux's plans to appear at the show in person. Instead, Molyneux appeared via Skype, and gave the audience some perspective on just how much gamers' interest in the game outstripped 22 Cans' expectations.
“My assumption was that a few thousand people would start tapping away at the cube,” Molyneux said, perhaps adding a few thousand per day and reaching maybe 50,000 in a month. Instead, the game hit 50,000 players within three hours of launch. The userbase has also grown dramatically, with nearly 2 million players to date, and an expected 300,000 tappers each day. Together, those players have tapped half a billion cubelets.
As for what all those cubelets are hiding, Molyneux ruled out some things during his keynote.
"Back in the '80s, the dream that we all had in this industry was that we would be truly another form of entertainment. You know what? To a certain extent we failed on that dream"
Peter Molyneux

“I can reveal now exclusively that it is not a dead cat,” Molyneux said. “It's not a pile of money, or unfortunately, a trip on Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic. And most sad of all, it's not Half-Life 3.”
The demand for cube-tapping wasn't the only unexpected thing about Curiosity's launch. Molyneux said he was also surprised to see people carving their own sophisticated images into the cube, incredible and artistic images destined to be destroyed even as they were being created. He showed an exceptionally detailed picture of a woman holding an umbrella, a Space Invader, the Pokemon Mew, and other, less artistically ambitious creations.
“Far and away, the most number of single pictures have been penises,” Molyneux confirmed. However, there was an unexpected bright side to even that trend. Molyneux said there is a contingent of Curiosity players that has taken to redecorating the penis pictures, transforming them into other, more artistically acceptable images.
Clearly energized by his first foray into mobile development, Molyneux also implored the independent developers in the audience to take advantage of the new platforms to realize the potential of the gaming medium.
“Back in the '80s, the dream that we all had in this industry was that we would be truly another form of entertainment,” Molyneux said. “You know what? To a certain extent we failed on that dream. We failed in it because we've made some fantastic experiences for a very small number of people. Now is the opportunity to make fantastic, amazing, unique experiences, to use all this technology to make amazing, delightful, incredible worlds for millions of people.”

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...-million-users

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

Next-gen consoles need next-gen business models

November 14th, 2012, 23:49 Posted By: wraggster

Console game sales (at retail) are once again down by more than 20 percent over last year. The high point of console game sales was 2008, and the industry has steadily declined since then. Sales of downloadable content (DLC) have certainly offset some of that decline, but overall the top console game companies have been struggling against this market trend. The top games are selling more copies than ever, but the game that does merely OK (and makes a profit) is an endangered species. Fewer games are being produced for consoles as publishers strive to make every game profitable, and avoid potential losers.
Many observers put the blame for slower sales on the fact that current consoles have reached six or seven years in the market, well past the usual expiration date of console hardware generations (typically four or five years). Late in the console cycle, sales always decline, they say. True enough, but some analysts note the growth in mobile, social and online games may be taking away some of the console gamers, or at least part of their attention and their money.
The hopes of console game publishers now rest on the next console generation. The Wii U launching this week will, in this view, begin the revival on console game sales. New games, with new game play features and better graphics, will boost sales. That hope is missing a key part of the changes that have taken place in the game industry over the past several years. To understand this more fully, a review of game industry history is in order.
"Console games are falling further and further behind games on other platforms when it comes to business models"

The console game business began in the 1970s and grew to the amazing level of $2.3 billion in sales by 1983, mostly on the strength of Atari. By 1985, total industry revenues had dropped more than 97 percent to around $100 million. What happened? The great crash was caused by a wave of crummy games (with the E.T. Cartridge as the prime example) flooding retailers. People stopped buying console games, retailers returned huge numbers of games, and the industry collapsed. It wasn't until Nintendo managed to solve some of the key issues causing the crash that the industry was revived, led by the success of the Nintendo Entertainment System.
The key issue that Nintendo identified behind the crash was the lack of quality control. It wasn't just that Atari's games were bad. The rise of Activision and other companies creating games for Atari's consoles meant that there were large numbers of games fighting for shelf space, and no assurances that any of them were any good. Many of them weren't, and consumers were overwhelmed by the bad games. Nintendo solved that problem by assuring retailers that Nintendo would restrict the number of games released, and through a strict licensing process ensure that all games met a quality standard.

The process proved successful, and Nintendo led the rebirth of the console game business. Every other successful manufacturer of game consoles since has followed the general pattern set by Nintendo. The console manufacturer requires game developers to buy development systems (often very expensive), go through a qualification process, and have all titles approved by the console manufacturer before they can be sold for the platform. Publishers selling games in retail stores had to pay a fee per game to the console manufacturer, ranging from $7 to $12 per unit. The process just to become a certified developer can take months, and games can spend weeks or months being approved.
Recently, with the advent of digital distribution on consoles, this has changed somewhat for downloadable games. Developers don't have to jump through quite the same hoops, though there's still an approval process that can take weeks or months to get through, with no assurance of approval. The rules for indie games are even looser on Xbox Live Arcade but there are still plenty of restrictions. Sony and Nintendo have numerous hoops to jump through as well.
The experience of Fez is instructive. “Every developer gets to release one patch for free as part of their inclusion on XBLA, but subsequent patches are expensive - certification costs tens of thousands of dollars,” Rob Fahey pointed out in an article on Fez's troubles. The difficult and sheer expense of Microsoft's process meant developer Polytron felt it necessary to skip putting out a patch for Fez, which was corrupting save games for a number of users. Microsoft's process encouraged a poorer game experience for consumers.
"Part of the success of mobile, social, and online games has to be attributed to the freewheeling environment, where developers are free to choose the business model, implement any sort of design, and make changes or add new content as often as they like"

Meanwhile, mobile games go through a minimal process and wait perhaps a few days to appear in the store. Developers can post changes and new content as often as they wish with no restrictions. Charge any price you like, or none at all. There are some restrictions, but most developers easily avoid problems in getting games into the stores. Games on Facebook have some process to get through, but nothing compared to a console game. Online games have no process at all to deal with, other than technical issues.
Riot Games, whose massively successful free-to-play online game League of Legends has created an audience of tens of millions of gamers (and hundreds of millions in revenue), can't see itself doing a version of the game for consoles. “The infrastructure of consoles is so different; we couldn't push out constant updates and changes, or have that direct communication and feedback that is so crucial to our success,” said Riot president Marc Merrill.

Free-to-play games have already taken over the mobile game market, accounting for the majority of the top-grossing games on smartphones and tablets. MMOs are almost all free-to-play these days; if EA can't succeed with Star Wars: The Old Republic as a subscription game, it's pretty clear that model isn't viable for new MMOs. The free-to-play online game has become a huge business in Asia both for PCs and for mobile platforms, leading to the development of multiple billion-dollar companies across China, Korea and Japan.
Consoles are just beginning to experiment with the concept of free-to-play games. Sony has allowed some free-to-play games on the PS3, and Microsoft is now beginning that trial as well. Nintendo may consider it some day. Console games are falling further and further behind games on other platforms when it comes to business models.
Part of the success of mobile, social, and online games has to be attributed to the freewheeling environment, where developers are free to choose the business model, implement any sort of design, and make changes or add new content as often as they like. Customers are learning from mobile, social and online games that good games don't have to cost $60 up front. They're also learning that some games can respond to what users like and don't like, add new content and options every week or even more often.
Console gamers are, surveys show, playing mobile, social and online games too. That means the variety of games and their business models on other platforms hasn't escaped their notice. Games as a service, with a stream of new content and updates, is becoming more and more popular on a variety of platforms. Consoles risk getting left behind in the overall marketplace if they cannot offer the full range of compelling game experiences that players can find on other platforms.
"What if Nintendo threw open the doors to developers and allowed anyone to develop games for the 3DS or the Wii U for a $99 license fee?"

The social aspects of games are more important than ever, with connections to Twitter and Facebook becoming a key part of EA's plan to transform its game franchises into 24/7/365 gaming experiences. Ubisoft is also linking key franchises on different platforms through Facebook. Console manufacturers seem reluctant to allow connections to other social networks, preferring a walled garden for their users. Cross-platform play is clearly something publishers would love to have, but console makers want to keep gamers confined to their platform.
Right now Microsoft and Sony are placing the final touches on the technology to put into their new consoles, and exactly how to price them for the increasingly complex gaming marketplace. Nintendo's new console is about to arrive, hoping to carve out a substantial audience before Sony and Microsoft launch their new consoles. It seems strange that a tremendous effort has gone into engineering new consoles, yet console business models are changing very slowly.
There's a huge competitive advantage waiting to be unlocked for the console maker that dares to unleash its business from the shackles of the past. What if Sony made the only console that had League of Legends? Or if Microsoft's new console was the only console where you could play World of Tanks, World of Warplanes and World of Warships? What if Nintendo threw open the doors to developers and allowed anyone to develop games for the 3DS or the Wii U for a $99 license fee?

Sure, some execs could have palpitations considering all the things that could go wrong. Copyright violations! Improper content for kids! Pornography! Rampant ESRB ratings violations! Cats and dogs, living together! Mass hysteria! It sounds apocalyptic, but Apple and Google have managed to thrive despite having a minimal process in place. Standards and copyright laws may get violated, but those are quickly corrected.
Ah, but if you throw the doors wide open, you might end up with the App Store problem of hundreds of thousands of games, many of them repetitive or boring or just plain bad. True enough, but Apple and Google seem to be surviving that, too. App discovery is a big problem, and getting bigger for mobile games, but there are solutions being worked on. (Amazon has dealt for years with the problem of finding the right product amongst millions, and has developed some good tools for that.)
The console makers don't have to go the full distance that Apple and Google have gone towards openness. Steps can be taken in that direction, though, like allowing unlimited updates for content or patches, without charging burdensome fees. New ways of monetizing games should be encouraged, not forbidden. How about ad-supported games? Or a premium games channel (which is where PSN is doing some interesting experimentation with PlayStation Plus and the rotating library of free games)? At least free up the publishers to try a greater variety of price points; let the publishers find out the optimal price points for their games. And for cryin' out loud, Microsoft, take Microsoft Points out in the woods near Redmond and give it a quiet burial in between Clippy and Microsoft BOB. Just price your products in the local currency, like every other online store does.
"There's no technical reason why consoles have to be burdened with cumbersome business practices; they are now just because that's the way it's been for decades"

The point here is that gamers expect more from games these days than just a one-time purchase. Declining sales of full-priced games (those that aren't named Halo 4 or Call of Duty or FIFA) points to a desire for better value, or perhaps lower prices to start with. Much of the game industry's resource in time and money is now headed towards platforms with fewer restrictions on creativity in game design, implementation, and business models than current consoles. Publishers like EA and Activision aren't crowing about huge investments in new consoles the way they used to before a new console generation; instead they're talking about the growth in their digital revenue and their new mobile game divisions.
There's no technical reason why consoles have to be burdened with cumbersome business practices; they are now just because that's the way it's been for decades. Those practices slow development time, restrict the number and variety of games that appear, and generally make doing business with a console manufacturer less attractive than creating for other platforms that lack those restrictions. Consoles used to counter that by offering a much larger audience than PC games could. That's no longer true, looking at the tens of millions that play the top mobile, social and online games. Those markets are bigger at the high end than the best console games, and generate more profitability for a lower investment. That's just looking at the current console generation; is there anyone that thinks the next generation of consoles will sell more units than the current generation has sold?
Changes in business practices don't need to wait on manufacturing, or the right moment before the holiday selling season. The earlier business practices are changed, the better it will be for next-gen consoles, because that will mean developers have more time to absorb the changes and make games to suit them. Sure, the console makers will want to keep their new hardware secret until the launch, so they won't reveal the details to every developer in advance. That's fine, test-drive the changes on the big publishers you already work with. Then, when you're ready to tell the world about the new console, you can also tell the world that anyone can develop for it.
It's time for a revolution in console business practices, and that may have a greater impact on the number and quality of games (and the size of the audience) than an increase in processing power or rendering capability. Differences in polygon count and frame rate from today's consoles to next-gen consoles may be hard to see unless you're a hardcore gamer looking closely, but anyone can spot the difference between $60 up front and free-to-play.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...usiness-models

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

Mesh networking with multiple Raspberry Pi boards

November 14th, 2012, 23:47 Posted By: wraggster


Since he’s got several Raspberry Pi boards on hand [Eric Erfanian] decided to see what he could pull off using the robust networking tools present in every Linux installation. His four-part series takes you from loading an image on the SD cards tobuilding a mesh network from RPi boards and WiFi dongles. He didn’t include a list of links to each article in his post. If you’re interested in all four parts we’ve listed them after the break.
He says that getting the mesh network up and running is easiest if none of the boards are using an Ethernet connection. He used the Babel package to handle the adhoc routing since no device is really in charge of the network. Each of the boards has a unique IP manually assigned to it before joining. All of this work is done in part 3 of the guide. The link above takes you to part 4 in which [Eric] adds an Internet bridge using one of the RPi boards which shares the connection with the rest of the mesh network.
If the power of this type of networking is of interest you should check out this home automation system that takes advantage of it.

http://hackaday.com/2012/11/14/mesh-...rry-pi-boards/

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

Motorola unveils HC1 headset computer

November 14th, 2012, 14:28 Posted By: wraggster

The company has developed a headset computer, which is designed to offer hands-free computing to workers in tough environments.
Motorola has developed the HC1 for use within demanding lines of work to aid hands-on professionals such as engineers and rescue teams.
Designed to fit over the head, the device is complete with camera and eye view attachments and allows users to access documents and additional information with either voice commands or a simple turn of the head.
The HC1 is also cable of streaming live video back to it's control base, making it an ideal solution in a number of areas and professions.

http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...omputer/029609

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

Vuzix Smart Glasses M100 to battle Google Glass for Android eyewear supremacy

November 14th, 2012, 01:25 Posted By: wraggster

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

Bookies tip Black Ops 2 for Christmas No.1

November 12th, 2012, 23:21 Posted By: wraggster

Bookies Paddy Power and Ladbrokes have revealed their odds for this year's contenders for the UK Christmas No.1 chart spot.
<figure style="margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px currentColor; width: 300px; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); text-transform: none; line-height: 21px; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; clear: both; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; word-spacing: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: right; display: block; white-space: normal; position: relative; orphans: 2; widows: 2; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;" class="article-image article-image-alt article-image-300"></figure>Both firms told MCV they make Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 the favourite, ahead of FIFA 13and the likes of New Super Mario Bros U,Medal of Honor: Warfighter, Assassin's Creed 3 and Halo 4.Alex Donohue of Ladbrokes said: "It would be one of the upsets of the year if Black Ops didn't land the top spot this Christmas."
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim claimed the Christmas No.1 spot last year, marking the first time in eight years the Xmas top spot didn't go to an EA or Activision game.
Paddy Power odds:

• 1/20 - Call Of Duty: Black Ops II
• 8/1 - FIFA 13
• 20/1 - Medal of Honour: Warfighter
• 28/1 - Borderlands 2
• 33/1 - World Of Warcraft: Mists Of Pandaria
• 33/1 - Assassin's Creed III
• 33/1 - New Super Mario Bros. U

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

Valve's Newell says three different controllers are in hardware beta, already out in

November 12th, 2012, 22:51 Posted By: wraggster

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

UK boxed video game sales plummet in October

November 12th, 2012, 21:34 Posted By: wraggster

Q4 has got off to a rough start for UK?games retail, with fewer games sold in October than September.
In total 2.83m games were sold last month, a fall of 29.5 per cent over the same period a year ago. This is also 20.5 per cent down over September, which benefitted from the late release of FIFA 13.
In terms of revenue, the UK High Street generated £83m, which is 29.8 per cent down year-on-year and 22.8 per cent down month-on-month.
The market dipped due to the lack of a major blockbuster in October. The data released by Chart-Track runs up to October 27th, so does not include Assassin’s Creed III.
FIFA 13 was the No.1 seller, with Resident Evil 6 at No.2, Dishonored at No.3, Skylanders Giants at No.4, and Medal of Honor: Warfighter reaching fifth place.
Electronic Arts was once again the top publisher.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/uk-bo...ctober/0106218

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

Halo 4 becomes UK number one, though can’t top Halo 3 or Reach’s debuts

November 12th, 2012, 21:31 Posted By: wraggster

Halo 4 has, rather predictably, taken the top spot in this week’s UK all-formats chart, knocking last week’s best-selling game, Assassin’s Creed III, down to two.Despite its success, 343 Industries’ reboot didn’t exceed week-one sales of Halo 3 or Halo Reach (the 15th and 12th biggest-selling SKUs, respectively, with 4 becoming the 18th).While those two games launched in September, 4 returns to the November slot the series’ first two games occupied – a crowded space, what with the ‘event launches’ of Assassin’s Creed III and Call Of Duty: Black Ops 2 bookending it, and Hitman Absolution to follow in a fortnight, all of which could have chipped away at potential sales.Borderlands 2 has re-entered the top ten following a TV advertising deal, while Medal Of Honor: Warfighter continues to lose ground, slipping to number 4.LittleBigPlanet Karting was the only other new entry this week, making a lacklustre debut at number 24.01. Halo 4 (Microsoft)
02. Assassin’s Creed III (Ubisoft)
03. FIFA 13 (EA)
04. Need For Speed: Most Wanted (EA)
05. Football Manager 2013 (Sega)
06. Skylanders Giants (Activision)
07. WWE 13 (THQ)
08. Borderlands 2 (Take-Two)
09. Just Dance 4 (Ubisoft)
10. Medal Of Honor: Warfighter (EA)

http://www.edge-online.com/news/halo...reachs-debuts/

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here