Ever since the Xbox 360 Kinect was launched, it has sold like gangbusters, breaking sales records and becoming a household item. One unexpected market for the Kinect though was the hacker community. Already, there have been so many new ideas invented using the console accessory that the potential seems limitless. Microsoft and the developers of the tech behind the Kinect have supported these efforts and are launching a development kit for Windows OS that will allow engineers even more freedom to tinker with the device. Peep the trailer below for more details.
The FTC has concluded a study in the United States in which they sent secret shoppers who were under the legal age into stores. These minors endeavored to purchase to video games that were above their age level. The results of the study were very interesting, and they prove that the the game industry CAN self regulate itself, and therefore the need for government intervention is moot. Hear that government? MOOT!
ESRB President Patricia Vance said: “The strong support that the ESRB ratings have enjoyed from retailers is crucial, underscoring their firm commitment to selling video games responsibly.
The FTC issued this report to Congress saying that, despite enforcement improvements across the board, “more needs to be done.”
Lovin’ the Gears of War 3 beta? Or did you enjoy the Halo Reach beta? Maybe your just a born tester. Whatever the case, Bungie would still love for you to apply to test their new stuff. Specifically, mobile and Playstation 3 testing will be done, and you can check out the position details here: http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=news&cid=31298 Let us know if you apply and get in. Then be sure to tell us all their secrets. Muahaha. 😉
So, any ideas as to what they are working on? What do you want them to be working on?
Like many 3DS users, one of the main things I have been waiting for is the May update to take place as it will officially launch the eShop for the Nintendo 3DS, allowing for demos, 3D videos, and other goodies to be downloaded on the system as well as the new virtual console and 3DSware. Best Buy now have made a new listing of a prepaid cash card for the Nintendo 3DS which is now available for pre-order which seems to work much like the standard Nintendo point system, allowing for users to replenish the eWallet for more purchasing and at the same basic price-point of just $20.
While this “leak” of sorts isn’t anything surprising really, it does make me wonder if standard Nintendo points will not be valid for the 3DS’ online selection. I can say though that I am praying to the Nintendo gods that we see some classic titles for the Game Boy and Game Boy Color such as Shantae, Pokemon Red/Blue, and Metroid II all see a release on the eShop eventually and if all those come to be, my real wallet will surely be put through the wringer. In a couple of weeks though, this update will be live and all answers will start to trickle out so now it is just a game of patience until then.
For those who crave brain teasing titles or just really enjoyed the Nintendo DS’ offering of Left Brain Right Brain on the Nintendo DS, Majesco have now released the ambidextrous developing brain game on the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Featuring ten different mini-games, this app will let players sharpen their skills by training the left and right hemispheres of their brain with activities based on speed, accuracy, association, recognition, memory and strategy.
Left Brain Right brain also features four different modes, Hand Exercises, Balance Check, Left Hand vs. Right Hand and Ambidexterity Check, along with a multi-player mode via WiFi or Bluetooth connectivity to let two players go head to head (or brain to brain) to see who has the better balance. You can grab this App for yourself via the itunes Appstore for the iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone or at www.itunes.com/appstore/ at a low price of just $.99. I now expect all you lefty’s (and even right handed folk as well) to get on this and begin your training at once so you can have the upper hand at things for now on (quite literally, in this case).
A moderator over at PSX-Scene seems to have a much better explanation than Sony as to why the PSN has been down these past 6 days. The long and short of it is that a new CFW (custom firmware, aka hack) called Rebug allowed users to turn their PS3 into the PS3 dev console, more or less. This basically gave them many of the privileges that developers have access to, along with access to the dev PSN network. Users discovered that while within this network they could use fake credit card info to access PSN (the fake info works because they are in the dev network, sony trusts people on the dev network to not input fake information) and basically steal vast quantities of PSN content. Sony’s reaction was to simply shut down the network and rebuild it with stronger security.
Much like other explanations, none of this is actually confirmed (since only a confirmation can come from Sony, which will never happen) so take this as you will. Check out the Reddit post where the moderator divulges all of this information for some more details and how they justify this as correct. It seems pretty accurate and logical. This explanation also fits in with Sony’s bare bones excuse of being attacked by an outside party as well as having nothing to do with Anonymous which was previously stated here.
What this doesn’t confirm, however, is any sort of ETA on when the network will be back up. : / While it’s great to keep getting bits and pieces of information that are slowly starting to piece together what is really going on here, it would be nice to get some hard info on when all of this will be over and done with for a change. Some reports have claimed that the network will be back up today for Japan and back up in EU and NA tomorrow. Here’s to hoping those are accurate claims.
Now last year a title was released in the U.S. called Death Smiles. It was a classic Japanese bullet hell styled game that was brought over with the help of Aksys Games and developed by Cave. Now this year it seems that Cave will be handling everything themselves because in the ESRB rating for the game they are listed as the publisher for the title as Cave Co. Ltd.
Whether this is because they thought Aksys handled the game poorly or if they made enough money from the first title that they could handle the second title completely on their own has yet to be seen. But either way we have ESRB’s rating to see what the game will contain (as well as a video from the Japanese version of the game). The rating itself places the game at a T rating and goes into full detail about a number of the things that a parent might have to worry about. Catch the full description below.
This is a side-scrolling shooter in which players control small characters that fly through the air and destroy fantastical creatures. Players shoot various projectiles (bombs, bullets, lasers, arrows, etc.) at elephants, pigs, goblins, bats, and monsters in constant air battle. Enemies and objects explode in fiery bursts and bright particles. In one still-frame cutscene, an unconscious man is depicted on the ground with small bloodstains next to his mouth. Some cutscenes depict female characters in suggestive poses or revealing outfits (e.g., a character whose top falls off, a woman covering her chest). A few static images depict women with partially exposed breasts (e.g., a character lying face-down on a massage table; a goddess whose breasts are obscured by thin strands of hair)
Well, being a PlayStation 3 owner hasn’t been the best thing lately especially if you have been wanting to play online with any of the new releases that have been released in the past week. This is due to the fact that the PlayStation Network has been down for quite some time now. Despite all of the finger pointing and groups around the internet either saying that they did do it or didn’t do it, it doesn’t change the fact that millions of people are without access to the PSN.
In an effort to really not make much progress, Sony’s Patrick Seybold has released a statement on the PlayStation Blog of little actual consequence or information. You can read the full statement below but all it does is reveal that there is actually no progress at the moment, or no progress that they wish to reveal at this time.
I know you are waiting for additional information on when PlayStation Network and Qriocity services will be online. Unfortunately, I don’t have an update or timeframe to share at this point in time.
As we previously noted, this is a time intensive process and we’re working to get them back online quickly. We’ll keep you updated with information as it becomes available. We once again thank you for your patience.
It looks like Nintendo has fallen a tad short of their mark for 3DS sales by the end of their fiscal year. Nintendo originally had expectations that the 3DS would sell 4 million units worldwide but unfortunately that number has only reached 3.61 million as of March 31st 2011 which is when their fiscal year ended. These sales included the launch days for both the European release and the North American release.
On the other hand sales for the different 3DS games has reached 9.43 million units but exactly what titles have sold the most was not released by the company although they did state that two games had managed to break the million mark on their own which would make them platinum titles. You can take a guess below as to which two these titles were.
The exact sales for Japan, the US and others can be seen below; or you can read the entire fiscal year report here with the sales figures on the last page.
One of the more interesting additions to Portal 2’s already impressive puzzle variety is the inclusion of the different gel that has been placed in the game. These gels, depending on which one you use, can help make the area it is sitting on either super slippery, super bouncy or even allow you to place a portal on a surface you otherwise couldn’t before. However there could have been more gel in the game, but Valve thought it may have caused some problems.
EA themselves has interviewed Valve’s lead writer Erik Wolpaw and in this interview he revealed that a fourth gel was going to be placed in the game that would have allowed players to walk up and down the side of walls. Now the reason that this wasn’t put in Wolfpaw says was because during the playtesting the testers found that the gel caused some problems. “While this added a new twist to the game, the effect was so disorientating that it made people nauseas.” was what caused the gel to be cut from the game.
Also done in an effort to help players with motion sickness the team “made changes to frame rate and movement that will help anyone play Portal 2 even if they do experience a feeling of nauseas while playing other first-person games.” Playing through Portal 2 can sometimes be a stomach churning experience but at least it isn’t quite as bad thanks to these changes they made.
