Latest Tony Hawk Title Announced
May 15, 2007
Activision officials have announced Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground, the latest game in the popular Tony Hawk skateboarding franchise, which will debut for PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PS2, and Nintendo DS later this year.
Few details have been announced, but an official statement notes that Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground will give players “the freedom to define their character, story and style based on the choices they make, the paths they choose and the style of skating they use on the proving grounds from Philadelphia and Baltimore to Washington, D.C.”
Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground is also expected to feature deeper character customization than that from previous Tony Hawk games, and it will include a new video editor, as well as a customizable lounge area for players to meet up online and organize games.
In addition, the game’s online component will be featured prominently. Activision notes that players will be able to segue from Proving Ground’s single player mode to the online mode “seamlessly.”
Proving Ground will also offer players the ability to utilize new gameplay mechanics such as skateable terrain altering and building, and bowl carving, as well as more “Nail the Trick” moves “such as Nail the Grab and Nail the Manual intensifying the thrill of pulling off big tricks.”
Neversoft president Joel Jewett claims that Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground is “largest, deepest and most compelling Tony Hawk game ever.” He added, “Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground drops players into the skateboarding world like never before…Proving Ground will throw you so deep into the lifestyle of skateboarding that you won’t be able to get out. Hands down, it’s the most exciting Tony Hawk title yet.”
Crackdown Bug Follows Downloadable Package
May 14, 2007
Last week, Crackdown fans were blessed with a very comprehensive downloadable package, but they may lose some of their saved files thanks to a bug.
The updates contain various gameplay upgrades, and a few free additions to enhance gameplay: namely, the addition of a vehicle impound garage and a “true” sandbox cheat mode. However, the more interesting upgrades come only with the “Gettin’ Busy” download package, which has been priced at 800 Microsoft Points. Users who purchase this option will be able to use three new agency vehicles, four new agency weapons, an Agent cloaking device, a street racing mode and a host of new co-op mode mini-games.
Unfortunately, some players who decided to dive straight in may have seen their saved files being reset due to a bug that has found its way into the game thanks to the new content. Currently, developer Realtime Worlds has been unable to find the source of the bug, but they have assured fans that they’re hard at work figuring out the cause of the problem.
“We are aware that the recently released Crackdown DLC is causing some gamers to experience a reset of their saved games when they engage in co-op play,” the developers explained on the team’s official forums. “The team is working extremely hard to identify the issue, and has provided steps to avoid the problem.”
The bug occurs when a player downloads and installs the new content, and immediately hosts or joins an on-line co-op game straight afterwards. Players are advised to load up a solo campaign, move to a new location in the gameworld, then quit, which will automatically save your game progress and stop the bug from occurring. Realtime is also advising gamers not to play online against other players that have downloaded the new content unless they’ve gone through the same process.
Microsoft Details Xbox 360 ‘Chatpad’ Keyboard at OGDC
May 11, 2007
Microsoft’s GM of Xbox Live, JJ Richards, further discussed the recently announced Xbox 360 mini-keyboard controller, revealing that the keys can be used for gameplay purposes.
During a panel on new opportunities in console technology, Richards showed a slide picturing the recently announced QWERTY thumb-keyboard, which will debut later this summer and is to be used with existing Xbox 360 controllers.
Richards stated “I can have chat in my games; now that it’s a proper keyboard.” OGDC moderator, Jeff Pobst of Hidden Path Entertainment, interjected, “Are those buttons available for gameplay?” Richards confirmed that they would be. “All of the sudden, I can have a controller with mini-buttons, if I want,” said Pobst. “It’ll be very interesting to see how developers take advantage of that innovation,” commented Microsoft’s Richards.
Later in the panel, Richards spoke about Live as the same service across platforms - the 360, and the PC - adding, “I want to kill the word ‘ports.’ Halo will be the first one to do that. Next month, Shadowrun will be the first one that does cross-platform play.”
With Live, Richards hopes that developers will “focus on the story, focus on a great game, everything else will be taken care of.” He concluded with “you build the content, we’ll allow you to ship it on the biggest platform you can.”
Sega Announces 2007-2008 Game Line-Up
Publisher Sega has revealed its 2007-2008 line-up, including Condemned 2: Bloodshot for PS3/Xbox 360, a conversion of arcade gun game Ghost Squad to Wii, Happy Tree Friends: False Alarm for XBLA, RTS Universe At War adding an Xbox 360 SKU, and a new PC RPG deal with Gas Powered Games.
Condemned 2: Bloodshot for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, developed by original franchise creator Monolith Productions, and sporting “an all-new fighting mechanic and online multiplayer functionality”, will debut in early 2008 for the next-gen consoles. According to the firm, “Players will engage in visceral combat using a variety of firearms, blunt instruments and an all-new fighting system complete with defensive and offensive combo chains, [as well as an] all-new set of high-tech forensic tools.” Online multiplayer modes will include hand-to-hand deathmatch playable across the network.
Ghost Squad for Wii is a conversion of the arcade gun game title originally developed by Sega’s AM2 arcade division. The Wii version brings the arcade experience home and adds a number of new Wii-specific gameplay modes and features. The game features the use of the Wii Remote as a multi-purpose tool that allows players to easily control the targeting of on-screen enemies, defuse bombs, and rescue hostages, and will debut for the 2007 holiday season.
Happy Tree Friends False Alarm, based on the popular and gory animated series, Happy Tree Friends, is currently under development by Stainless Studios (Novadrome), and is scheduled for release via digital download on PC and Microsoft’s Xbox Live Arcade in fall, 2007. Sporting a “physics-based reactive environment”, Happy Tree Friends False Alarm is an action-puzzle game in which you use resources such as concrete, ice, gasoline, and nitroglycerin and “save the Happy Tree Friends from hilarious disaster situations and their own bad luck.”
Universe at War: Earth Assault, the already-announced PC RTS title from the former Westwood veterans at Petroglyph, is now also confirmed to debut on the Xbox 360 in Q1 2008. The title is themed around a near-future Earth under siege by aliens, and is scheduled for a PC release in 2007 for the holidays, before moving onto Microsoft’s next-gen console next year, with “…a control scheme built from the ground up to ensure smooth gameplay and ease of command for console gamers.”
Finally, Sega has announced a new partnership with Gas Powered Games, the creators of Dungeon Siege and Supreme Commander. Under the terms of the worldwide agreement, Sega and Gas Powered Games will collaboratively develop an original, and as yet unspecified role-playing game for the PC. A release date for the RPG is not yet announced.
Sony Details New PlayStation Network Expansion Specs at OGDC
During a panel discussion on the topic of new opportunities in console technology at the Online Game Developers Conference (OGDC from here on in) in Seattle, SCEA’s director of third-party developer relations took the opportunity to explain to an audience of developers - as well as detail the PlayStation Network with many fresh specifics.
Sony’s Michael Shorrock explained that the new PS Network was a “loyalty catalyst for PlayStation platforms.” “It’s designed to be a profitable eco-system for both developers and publishers. And it’s a marketing platform for games and content.” Shorrock hopes the Network enables “creativity in development, and flexibility in business models for both the development community, and the publishers.” Sounds good so far. He then showed a slide outlining Sony’s ‘Wheel of Services.’
Sherrock then discussed Son’ys “entire scope of services that we’ll be developing and releasing in the coming months ahead.” There are six key components, and Shorrock began with ‘Services/VOD’ which delivers full-length movies, television programs, or music direct to users. ‘PlayStation Store’ is where Sony has its commerce for downloading digital content. ‘Home’ is the 3D avatar-based world which will facilitate communication amongst consumers. ‘Online Games’ adds the human element to traditional gameplay. ‘In-game/Network Advertising’ is part of Sony’s “core group of services, and we’ll be announcing more about it shortly,” Shorrock promised. Finally, ‘Wireless’ deals with the wireless capabilities of the platform, “which will allow gaming via PSP and mobile devices, keeping users connected at all times.”
Shorrock sees the ability to have user-created content, which appeals to Sony’s consumers: “It’s what they’ve asked for, and it’s what they want.” Shorrock noted that Sony is looking for “lots of content,” particularly when it “shows the power of the PS3.” (Translation: high-def games, use of the Sixaxis controller, new IPs.)
“I’m happy to announce that we’re open for business, here with the development teams and the publisher community,” Shorrock told the audience of online developers. It’s free for consumers, he said, “and it’s a place for developers to self-publish and explore a variety of business models.” He referred to set areas of Home as ‘pavilions’ that might be set apart for a number of different reasons. “It’s an open system, so publishers may have, [for example,] an Activision pavilion. They may have a variety of games in there…”
The OGDC moderator inquired if pavilions must be purchased or leased by publishers. “What we’re creating is a very flexible model for developers and publishers,” Shorrock responded. “We’re open to proposals, how you might like to proceed.” Some publishers, he said, might want their pavilions to be free, while others might want to charge. “Our business model is flexible enough to allow for either way.” Gotta give it to him; he’s saying all the right things.
Sony Announces New Mobile Games
May 9, 2007
Sony Pictures Television has announced a list of mobile games to be released in 2007, which features God of War: Betrayal, Spider-Man 3, Spider-Man Puzzle, Jeopardy! 2007, Jump That Car, and Snoop Dogg Cruisin’.
God of War: Betrayal takes place after the events of God of War. Humans and gods mistakenly accuse Kratos of betraying the Olympians, and Kratos must clear his name and win back the favor of Olympus. Featuring an original story from the writer of the console game, this title features interactive environments and a specialized 2D character animation engine, boasting “triple the number of frames per second versus recent competitive titles.”
Spider-Man 3 is a 2D side-scrolling game featuring combination moves and a destructible environment. Spider-Man Puzzle is a casual mobile game in which the player matches three or more identical game pieces on a grid-shaped board in order to advance, score points and defeat evil villains. The game features story-driven elements.
Jeopardy! 2007 is a sequel to the original and features a newly designed interface. Content is created by the actual writers of the TV show. Players can win over 75 different virtual trophies and badges in five modes of play including single, against computer, and play against other contestants in daily tournaments. Jeopardy! 2007 is a subscription game.
In Jump That Car, players pilot a buggy through environments filled with hills and valleys, taking jumps and trying to make landings. Power-ups can be collected and players can race alone, against a ghost buggy of their previous best time or play a crash mode, where the farthest crash-landing wins.
In Snoop Dogg Cruisin’ players must impress Snoop with hopping and tilting skills using customized low rider cars.
Liam Neeson Featured in Fallout 3
May 8, 2007
Bethesda officials have announced that the upcoming - and highly secretive - Fallout 3 will feature the voice talents of internationally recognized actor Liam Neeson.
There may be more pressing gaming news out there, folks, but I really loved Batman Begins. And Fallout 3 should be very cool, as well.
As part of Fallout 3, Neeson will play the role of the player’s father and will “appear prominently” during the game, Bethesda has said. According to Fallout 3’s executive producer Todd Howard, the role “was written with Liam in mind, and provides the dramatic tone for the entire game.”
Signing such a well-known actor is nothing new for Bethesda, which enlisted the vocal stylings of Sean Penn, Patrick Stewart, Lynda Carter, and Sean Bean for their very highly acclaimed The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.
Unfortunately, other than the Liam Neeson bit, no other details have been revealed about Fallout 3, the latest sequel to Interplay’s 1997 post-apocalyptic role-playing PC classic. It was recently revealed that Bethesda purchased the Fallout series IP outright from former holders Interplay, and while no release date has been announced for the anticipated title, a teaser web site featuring a countdown to a trailer expected to debut in early June has been launched.
“It’s been a pleasure bringing the father to life and working with the wonderfully talented people at Bethesda on Fallout 3,” said Neeson. “I hope the fans of the franchise and the game will be excited by the results.”
PS3 Predicted as Next-Gen Victor
May 7, 2007
In his latest Entertainment Software Publishing and Retail industry report, video game analyst Michael Pachter says that the “quality and quantity of the underlying available content” will be the key decider over the next-gen, giving the slight edge to the PS3.
“We believe that the Xbox 360 and the PS3 are far more similar than their predecessors were and believe that the economics of game development will serve as a disincentive to third party publishers to offer exclusive content for either console,” Pachter explains. “In a perverse way, the similarity between the two platforms will likely serve to lower the costs of porting software from one platform to the other, and we anticipate that virtually every third-party title produced for one will be produced for the other.”
That lack of differentiation, Pachter concludes, will give the Wii an initial competitive advantage, as by nature of its control mechanisms, publishers are far more inclined to create separate SKUs. Scoring that content exclusivity is the “wildcard” in next generation console sales, and Nintendo’s particular advantage, he says, is its “deep library of internally developed games/brands,” concluding, “we think that Nintendo’s Wii will gain the greatest share of the hardware market in 2007.”
However, while the analyst says Sony may struggle to secure third party exclusivity, he does expect that a combination of blockbuster internally-produced games, the growing installed base for the PSP and continued robust PS2 software sales will make up for the third party shortfall.
On top of that, Pachter also says that aside from game content, “we expect the ultimate outcome of the console wars to be decided by the motion picture studios. Should the studios embrace Sony’s Blu-ray standard for high definition DVDs, we think Sony will gain an insurmountable advantage over Microsoft; should the studios embrace Sony rival Toshiba’s HD-DVD format, we think that Microsoft can maintain its first mover advantage and will dominate software sales for years to come.”
By the end of the cycle, though, Pachter predicts, “we see Sony ‘winning’ the console war with 36% of the market, with Nintendo ‘capturing’ second place at 34% and Microsoft finishing third at 30%” — a virtual “dead heat,” with all three generating “significant profits.”
LucasArts, Day 1 Team Up on ‘Fracture’
May 3, 2007
Officials from LucasArts and developer Day 1 Studios have announced the development of Fracture, a new original title for next-generation console platforms.
Fracture development, as well as a few details, were first announced this past August, and LucasArts and Day 1 have now revealed that the title will involve an “intriguing storyline” concerning a conflict of ideologies leading to war in the year 2161.
Little has so far been revealed regarding Fracture’s gameplay, but LucasArts and Day 1 officials note that the third-person action title will involve terrain deformation so that players can “literally change the battlefield on the fly.” In Fracture, gamers play as Mason Briggs, a demolitions expert, and utilize an array of weapons to fight for the cybernetic Atlantic Alliance against the genetically-enhanced soldiers of the Pacifican army. Those damn Pacificans.
Among the examples offered by LucasArts and Day 1 regarding Fractured’s robust terrain deformation technology are the ability for players to burrow beneath otherwise impassable structures using rockets, as well as the use of vortex grenades to pick up surrounding rocks and debris to be used as weapons.
“LucasArts sees simulation-based gameplay as an essential component of a true next-gen experience, and that’s exactly what Fracture delivers,” said Peter Hirschmann, vice president of product development at LucasArts. “Day 1 Studios has done a phenomenal job of creating true next-gen tech that not only dazzles on a visual level but also serves as a core gameplay mechanic. Unlike many other next-gen games on the market, Fracture simply isn’t possible in the previous generation of consoles.”
Fracture is currently expected to ship this summer for the PS and Xbox 360.
Sony’s Home Beta Tests Begins
The first phase of the beta test is already underway, and a second phase, which will offer spots open to the public, is scheduled for this summer, SCEE reports.
Sony’s Phil Harrison had stated previously that the first version would arrive sometime in April, and it seems that phase one of the Home beta has already commenced.
A voicemail from a Sony representative informed GamePro last week that a very small number of random members from the “PlayStation Underground” (Sony’s club of PlayStation hardware owners) had already received exclusive invitations to partake in the beta trial for Home, which would be closed to the public.
In addition, a recent press release from Sony indicates that the test has already begun, and would be occupied by an “initially small group of both internal staff and known beta testers.” The release also indicates, however, that more positions will be open at some point during the summer, particularly those who will have registered at the Home beta trial site.
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