Sega Announces 2007-2008 Game Line-Up
May 11, 2007
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.
BlizzConn 2007 details
April 13, 2007
After a year off and after the massive success of World of Warcraft and Burning Crusade, Blizzard Entertainment has just recently announced the return of BlizzCon for the year 2007.
On August 3rd and 4th, players of such franchises as Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo will once again have the chance to mingle with other fans at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA. In addition to meeting and greeting, BlizzCon 2007 guests are sure to enjoy discussion panels with Blizzard developers, artist and developer signings, competitive and casual gaming tournaments, World of Warcraft Trading Card Game tournaments and demos, a silent auction, commemorative Blizzard merchandise and products, live orchestral performances of music from Blizzard games, and contests (and prizes, of course) for costumes, machinimas, and character sound-a-likes.
Said Blizzard president Mike Morhaime, “We were gratified by the response to our first BlizzCon in 2005 and have been looking for an opportunity to hold a follow-up event ever since. With BlizzCon 2007, we plan to deliver another entertaining and informative experience for the attendees, and we look forward to meeting all of them again this year.”
Tickets for BlizzCon 2007 will be available for the price of $100 (US) per guest, and will go on sale within the next few months. Guests must be ages 4 and older to attend.
Xbox 360 Elite Details Leak
March 27, 2007
Even though an official announcement has not yet been made by Microsoft, plenty of print and internet sources are unofficially heralding the forthcoming Xbox 360 Elite system.
Dean Takahashi of the San Jose Mercury News recently chimed in with his sources, claiming that the Elite (or, more specifically, its comparably larger 120 GB hard drive) will be featured as an introductory platform for Microsoft’s new IPTV service. As a result, the Xbox 360 will double as an IPTV set-top box, allowing users the luxury of viewing television programming after it’s piped through their console systems.
Takahashi also writes that, given Microsoft’s track record of redesigning motherboards and reducing chip costs on a yearly basis, another major change is in store for the Xbox 360 starting this fall. According to his sources, the microprocessors that power the Xbox 360 will be reduced in size from 90 nanometers to 65 nanometers, which will benefit Microsoft in a number of ways, including reduced costs, increased production capacity, and more efficient hardware.
Meanwhile, news broke out in a rather unexpected place as a Microsoft employee, labeled as an “XNA Framework Developer,” may have inadvertently admitted to the Elite’s existence. In a forum thread on the Microsoft Developer Network, one inquiring poster asked whether the HDMI output on the “revised 360″ would require any code changes. The developer, known as “Shawn Hargreaves,” responded by saying, “No changes required,” thereby possibly confirming the system’s existence!
EA Beats Sega to the Punch with 1080p Title for Xbox 360
February 8, 2007
Following yesterday’s news that Sega’s March 20 release of Virtua Tennis 3 would be the first Xbox 360 game to feature native 1080p support, an EA representative revealed that its upcoming NBA Street Homecourt will also support the high-end 1080p resolution on Xbox 360. NBA Street Homecourt is scheduled to ship for the Xbox 360 February 20, and a PS3 version is expected to arrive at retail on March 6.
Microsoft first announced support for native 1080p games and movies in its October 2006 Xbox Live update, and it announced a number of titles competing to be the first to offer the highest-end HD resolution; it now appears that NBA Street Homecourt will beat Sega’s Virtua Tennis 3 to retail with the 1080p resolution included.
NBA Street Homecourt is the fourth game in EA’s basketball series and the first for a next-gen console, and it will support multiple resolutions, including 16:9 1080p at 30fps, according to further information from EA representatives. Other features confirmed for the upcoming 3-on-3 basketball title include a new animation engine and control system, as well as the ability to create a player and play online via Xbox Live. A demo for the game, which lets players compete as either Denver Nuggets small forward Carmelo Anthony or Detroit Pistons shooting guard Richard Hamilton, is currently available for download over Xbox Live.
Gears of War: Most Played for Xbox 360
January 2, 2007
Microsoft has announced the year’s top most-played Xbox 360 games for 2006, with Epic’s Gears of War taking the top position, and UNO sitting atop Xbox Arcade Live sales.
The top Xbox 360 titles, compiled by number of unique GamerTags that have played the game, was topped Epic’s hit shooter Gears of War, followed by console pack-in puzzler Hexic HD, Call of Duty 2, Ghost Recon 3, and Bethesda’s RPG Oblivion.
UNO also found itself at the top of the most-purchased Xbox Live Arcade titles, followed by Street Fighter II Hyper Fighting, Geometry Wars Evolved, Marble Blast Ultra, and PAC-MAN.
While the Live Arcade list was dominated primarily by classic arcade and PC ports, Arcade originals like Bankshot Billiards 2, Texas Hold ‘em, Small Arms, Cloning Clyde, and LUMINES LIVE! filled out the bottom half of the top 20.
Sports and shooters dominated the original Xbox titles being played over Xbox Live, topped by Microsoft’s hit Halo 2, followed by EA’s Battlefield 2: MC, Star Wars: Battlefront 2, Madden NFL 2006, and Valve’s Counter-Strike.
Gears of War has sold more than 1 million copies in the USA and an estimated 2 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling game for the Xbox 360 video game system.
GameSpot named Gears of War the game of the year, along with best shooter game, best multiplayer game and best graphics (technical). Last month, it lost game of the year to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion at the Spike TV Game Awards but won studio of the year (for Epic Games), best graphics, best shooter, and best multiplayer game.
“Gears of War is certainly one of the best games of the year,” says Geoff Keighley, video game journalist and host of Spike TV’s Game Head. “It’s beautiful, engrossing and features very polished gameplay. It’s the kind of game you want to show off to the friends. I dare say it’s one of the first true next-generation games on the market.”
More important, Gears of War provided a boost for Microsoft’s game system at a time when much of the industry attention was focused on the launch of the competing Sony PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii systems.
“It’s no doubt sold a lot of Xbox 360s and has made existing 360 owners feel very good about their investment,” says John Davison, editorial director of Ziff Davis Media’s game group, including Electronic Gaming Monthly. “It came at exactly the right time and has proved to be a great counter to the launch of the PS3.”
Top 10 video games of 2006
1 Madden NFL 07 (PS2)
2 New Super Mario Bros. (NDS)
3 Kingdom Hearts II (PS2)
4 Gears of War (360)
5 Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter (360)
6 Final Fantasy XII (PS2)
7 Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (PS2)
8 NCAA Football 07 (PS2)
9 Madden NFL 07 (360)
10 Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day! (NDS)
PS3 is a Hit in Japan but May Be Delayed in Europe
November 13, 2006
Sony sold 88,400 units of its PlayStation 3 game console in the first two days after the launch in Japan, leaving most stores without any stock. Sony started selling the latest version of its blockbuster game console in Japan on Saturday, and all indications point to a strong start. Sony plans to have the PS3 on shelves in North America on Nov. 17, followed by a European launch in March.
According to Enterbrain, Sony sold 88,400 units combined on Saturday and Sunday, depleting stocks at most electronics retailers that were able to get their hands on a limited supply of the console. Sony was able to ship only 
100,000 units for the launch after a glitch in blue laser diode production disrupted its output plans.
An official at Enterbrain said the sales figure could be interpreted as a promising start for the PS3, with thousands of game fans lining up for hours at electronics stores in Tokyo over the weekend to be among the first to play PS3 games. Ridge Racer 7 and Mobile Suit Gundam: Target in Sight, both from Namco Bandai Holdings, were the top two selling games at about 30,000 units each. Of the total sold so far in Japan, Enterbrain said 54,600, or about 62%, were of the more advanced (60GB) model.
In related PS3 news, Sony Worldwide Studios boss Phil Harrison, responded to the question of whether the PS3 will definitely be out in March in Europe: “Given that all of our previous statements about launching in Europe simultaneously with the US and Japan turned out not to be the case, I would not like to make any definitive statements on that. It’s not my job to comment on hardware supply issues other than to say some very smart people are working very hard to catch up. In fact, the ramp up is already starting to happen in supply and output, just obviously too late for us to have launched in Europe at the same times as the US.”
Prior to 2006, the plan was that PS3 would not launch until spring, 2007 - following the same pattern as the PlayStation 2. The announcement and then cancellation of a worldwide launch has caused a good deal of confusion amongst European consumers and retailers.
Released This Week
October 16, 2006
Game Boy Advance:
Justice League Heroes: The Flash
Noddy: A Day in Toyland
SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody: Tipton Caper
Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2
GameCube:
Flushed Away
The Sims 2: Pets
SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab
Nintendo DS:
Contact
Flushed Away
Justice League Heroes
Nintendogs: Dalmatian & Friends
Scooby Doo! Who’s Watching Who?
SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab
Strawberry Shortcake Strawberryland Games
PS2:
Bully
Cabela’s African Safari
Destroy All Humans! 2
Eureka Seven Vol. 1: The New Wave
Family Guy
Flushed Away
Justice League Heroes
Kim Possible: What’s the Switch?
The Sims 2: Pets
SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab
Tokobot Plus: Mysteries of the Karakuri
PSP:
Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception
Cabela’s African Safari
Family Guy
FIFA 07
Ford Bold Moves Street Racing
Scooby Doo! Who’s Watching Who?
WTF: Work Time Fun
Xbox:Destroy All Humans! 2
Family Guy
Justice League Heroes
Xbox 360:
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 
PC:
Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs
Barbie: 12 Dancing Princesses
Battlefield 2142
Brigade E5: New Jagged Union
Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening Special Edition
D.I.R.T.: Origin of the Species
Evidence: The Last Ritual
Face Factory 3
The Guild 2
Jaws Unleashed
Jewel Quest Solitaire
Lineage II: The Epic Collection
Microsoft Flight Simulator X
Nancy Drew: The Creature of Kapu Cave
Panzer Command
Sid Meier’s Civilization Chronicles
Sid Meier’s Railroads!
The Sims 2: Pets
UFO Extraterrestrials
Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania
Zoo Tycoon 2: Zookeeper Collection
Released This Week
October 2, 2006
Game Boy Advance:
- Alex Rider: Stormbreaker
- Disney Princess: Royal Adventure
- Dora the Explorer: Dora’s World Adventure!
- Harlem Globetrotters World Tour
- The Little Mermaid: Magic in Two Kingdoms
- Princess Natasha: Student Secret Agent
- Rock’Em Sock’Em Robots
- Unfabulous
- Uno/Skip-Bo
GameCube:
- FIFA 07
Nintendo DS:
- Alex Rider: Stormbreaker
- F-24 Stealth Fighter
- FIFA 07
- Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties
- Hannah Montana
- Hardcore Pool
- The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
PlayStation 2:
- FIFA 07
- NHL 2K7
- NRA Gun Club
- SnoCross 2 Featuring Blair Morgan
- Star Trek: Encounters
Xbox:
- FIFA 07
PC:
- Backyardigans: Mission to Mars
- Barbie: Diary Mysteries
- Cabela’s Big Game Hunter 2007: 10th Anniversary Edition
- Cartoon Network All-Star Playback
- Dora the Explorer: Dora’s World Adventure!
- El Matador 
- Face Factory 2
- Family Feud
- FIFA 07
- Fish Tycoon
- Go Diego Go!
- Hidden Expedition: Titanic
- Hollywood Posh Pets
- Hoyle Bridge Club
- Jaws Unleashed
- NeverEnd
- My Little Pony: The Runaway Rainbow
- Pirate Poppers
- Plantasia
- POGO Family Fun Pack
- Pony LUV
- Space Empires V
- World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions
Released This Week
September 25, 2006
Game Boy Advance:
Alex Rider: Stormbreaker
Backyard Basketball 2007
Backyard Football 2007
Harlem Globetrotters World Tour
The Little Mermaid: Magic in Two Kingdoms
Princess Natasha: Student Secret Agent
Rock’Em Sock’Em Robots
Strawberry Shortcake: Sweet Dreams
Unfabulous
Uno/SkipBo
GameCube:
Baten Kaitos Origins
The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy
Naruto: Clash of Ninja 2
Nintendo DS:
Alex Rider: Stormbreaker
Bubble Bobble Revolution
The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
Mage Knight: Destiny’s Soldier
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
Rainbow Islands Revolution
PlayStation 2:
Dance Dance Revolution SuperNova
The Fast and the Furious
Ford Bold Moves Street Racing
Greg Hastings Tournament Paintball Max’d
The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy
Just Cause
NBA 07 Featuring The Life Vol. 2 (pictured above)
NBA 2K7
NBA Live 07
Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria
PlayStation Portable:
NBA 07
NBA Live 07
Spectral Souls
Xbox:
Ford Bold Moves Street Racing
Just Cause
NBA 2K7
NBA Live 07
Import Tuner Challenge
Just Cause (pictured above)
NBA 2K7
NBA Live 07
PC:
Backyardigans: Mission to Mars
Barbie: Diary Mysteries
Cabela’s Big Game Hunter 2007: 10th Anniversary Edition
Caesar IV
D.I.R.T.: Origin of the Species
Dora the Explorer: Dora’s World Adventure
El Matador
Family Feud
Ford Bold Moves Street Racing
Go Diego Go!
G.T.R. 2
Hidden Expedition: Titanic
Hollywood Posh Pets
Hoyle Bridge Club
Jaws Unleashed (pictured above)
Just Cause
Mage Knight: Apocalypse
NBA Live 07
Pacific Storm
Paparazzi
ParaWorld
Pony LUV
ShopMania
Weekend Play Pack
World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions
Meet the “Real Heroes” of America’s Army
September 15, 2006
America’s Army: Special Forces Overmatch is the official United States Army game and the new version of the hit PC game America’s Army: Operations (launched in 2002 on July 4, naturally), which garnered approximately 7.5 million online registrations. America’s Army: Special Forces Overmatch was released officially yesterday at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the finest, most demanding military institution in the country.
Special Forces Overmatch not only allows players to use new weapons and vehicles during simulated counterterrorism missions, but players also have the opportunity to meet several “Real Heroes” who have fought in Afghanistan and Iraq. The “Real Heroes” appear as part of the game’s virtual recruiting station and training sessions designed to prepare players for the missions. “Our part is to get the story out of our soldiers and the people we served with, to push the message that we are normal people,” says Jerry Wolford, a 39-year-old sergeant in the U.S. Army, who was wounded in 2003 and earned a Silver Star for protecting other troops while helping secure bridges over the Euphrates River in As Samawah, Iraq. “Because of our training, we reacted the way we hope everybody would.” Action figures of Wolford and seven other soldiers will be sold online and in stores soon. Players can see video of the soldiers and learn about their citations on the America’s Armysite. “The Real Heroes young adults can learn about the accomplishments of some of the heroic men and women that make the Army the world’s premier land force,” said Colonel Casey Wardynski, Project Director for America’s Army. Col. Wardynski says the eight featured soldiers will also visit schools and America’s Army public gaming competitions.
Some new features of Special Forces Overmatch include the following:
Virtual Recruiting Station – Meet SFC Gerald Wolford of the 82nd Airborne, SGT Tommy Rieman of the 51st LRRPS, SSG Matthew Zedwick of the 7th Cavalry Regiment and MAJ Jason Amerine of the Special Forces and read their bios, review their military medals and decorations, watch videos describing their Military Occupational Specialties: Infantry, Special Forces and Airborne and Ranger School training. Players logged in with an active player account are granted a one-time Experience Point bonus for each Real Hero they meet; a 3% XP bonus is applied after visiting each in VRS.
Dynamic Content Delivery System - DCDS adds new content and updates existing content at any time. Maps and gameplay changes can be provided with greater frequency than ever before.
New Artificial Intelligence - Special Forces Overmatch debuts two new missions that will pit Rangers and Special Forces against an overwhelming force of enemy AI soldiers and vehicles. U.S. forces will be outnumbered by as much as 5:1.
Enhanced Training – Gain valuable experience in Javeline (an anti-armor weapon) missile system, M1114 Up-Armored HMMWV w/ CROWS (the vehicle pictured), rifle marksmanship, Eagle Tower Confidence Course Challenge (which accurately depicts the course found at Fort Benning, GA), weapons familiarization (instruction in M9 Pistol, AT4 Anti-Armor Rocket, and Bunker Defeating Munition (BDM)) and built-in full motion video support.
Explore the Army – ETA provides free play on selected missions to players who do not have an active player account.
Improved Player Stats - Player stats are now kept and viewable in the player’s “Record Brief” section of the user interface. These stats are focused on teamwork, completion of the mission, and the welfare of your troops.
Finally, players can go through a simulated boot camp or team up with other real players to engage in online 3D multiplayer battles. America’s Army: Special Forces Overmatch is rated T for Teen.
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