Video Game Buttons Blog

May 2, 2007

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Electronic Arts’ EA Playground, a sports game compendium with playground style games that’s already being compared to Nintendo pack-in title Wii Sports, will be for Wii and Nintendo DS users only.

In an interview with IGN, Electronic Arts revealed the tentatively-titled EA Playground. According to executive producer Dave McCarthy, the game “is all about capturing the sheer fun of being a kid.”  EA Playground will employ only the Wii Remote for gameplay. “On Wii, there’s a mix of games that cover frantic actions mapped to gestures (e.g. throwing and dodging in Dodge Ball) and others that take advantage of navigating the entire world (e.g. RC Car Racing),” McCarthy said. Whether the Wii and DS versions of EA Playground will connect is unknown.

EA Playground, which has not yet officially announced by Electronic Arts, is being developed by EA Canada, which handled Madden NFL 2007 on Wii.  Games already pictured for the Wii version include tetherball and racing remote control cars, although the preview also mentions a dodge ball simulation. The Nintendo DS version will include several unique games, such as bug hunt, which uses the touch screen, and spit balls, which uses the microphone.

All of the games feature a multiplayer mode, with simple cartoon style graphics somewhat reminiscent of Wii Sports.  It is presumed the game will not use Mii avatars, with the initial screenshots picturing a different stylized look for characters.  In the single-player campaign, players will choose a character and compete to become the best in the schoolyard.  Players will also maintain a sticker book filled by playing various games, completing special dare challenges, and exploring areas of the playground world.

EA Playground is the latest in Wii exclusives from EA, joining SSX Blur, MySims and Boogie.  EA’s Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and The Godfather: Blackhand Edition also make extensive use of the Wii’s unique interface.
 

May 1, 2007

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Will Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Elite end up simply confusing and alienating gamers looking for a solid game system? Has Microsoft has learned Nintendo’s prior lesson about focusing on the “hard-core” crowd?  The latest report from analyst group DFC Intelligence lays it all out.

“The launch of the Xbox 360 Elite means Microsoft is now chasing Sony after the high-end market.  The strategy of both Sony and Microsoft seems very similar to the one Atari and Nintendo unsuccessfully tried,” the repost states, explaining that the Xbox 360 Elite is a $479 system, the goal of which “is to target consumers that want to download and play high-definition video.”

However, there should be concern that what the Elite may end up accomplishing is confusing and alienating those consumers just looking for a solid game system.

The report notes that one problem with the new Microsoft console it its name: “With the word ‘elite’ Microsoft is implying that their existing users and all potential future Xbox 360 buyers that if they only spend $400 they are not elite.  At the same time Microsoft announced the Elite, Sony was announcing that they were eliminating the low-end $500 PlayStation 3 SKU.  Sony claimed that demand for the $600 PS3 SKU was over 10-to-1 that for the $500 SKU.  This illustrates a basic rule about the video game consumer: when you are talking big bucks consumers do comparison shopping.”

“The Xbox 360 Elite seems like Microsoft’s attempt to chase Sony for the high-end video-centric consumer.”  The report goes on to explain thst chasing Sony in that way is an unwinnable mission because the Elite targets a marginal - possibly non-existent - consumer that wants an HD system, but also wants “to cut corners when it comes to video playback by using a comparatively low-tech video game hardware system.”

And what about the Elite’s built-in HDTV DVD player or Internet Wi-Fi?  Nope, included.  That said, the PS3 offers more and costs less.

“But the issue of what the Elite lacks is not the primary concern. It is fine to try and satisfy the high-end consumer, but if doing so alienates your mass market base it can spell doom. Sony has more flexibility to go with a high-end strategy because they are still satisfying their core PlayStation 2 consumer base. With hot new products like God of War II, Sony Computer Entertainment is showing existing consumers they don’t need to rush to upgrade to the PS3 (or competing system). Compare this with Microsoft that basically slammed the door on the original Xbox and is now basically telling initial Xbox 360 purchasers they need to buy a whole new system if they truly want to do high-definition.”

It’s the issue of HDMI output that seems to be the biggest problem for the Elite. Specifically, most consumers don’t even know what an HDMI port is.  Just last year Microsoft maintained that you don’t need HDMI for HD and that regular component cables will in fact work just fine. 
 

A recent look at the Elite by GamePro also prioved less than sterling: Ultimately, the Elite has nothing to do with enhancing the gameplay experience; it’s for multimedia whores. HDMI, a larger hard drive, new movies and TV content? Great. Remind me why the gamer in me cares? How will the Elite improve my games? From a game saving and demo download standpoint, a 20 GB hard drive is more than enough (hint: you were right the first time, Microsoft). After all, despite whom Elite is being pitched to, gamers are the ones really buying the product.”
 

April 30, 2007

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The New York Times has reported that more than 1,500 schools are expected to include Konami’s Dance Dance Revolution in their exercise curriculum by the end of the decade.

West Virginia alone plans to introduce 765 DDR games in its public schools by next year. In February, Konami and the West Virginia Games For Health project revealed the results of a 24-week clinical study into exergaming using Dance Dance Revolution, indicating that regular use of the game “improves arterial function in overweight children.”
 

“Traditionally, physical education was about team sports and was very skills oriented,” Los Angeles Unified School District’s physical education head Chad Fenwick said.  About 40 schools in Fenwick’s district currently offer DDR.  “What you’re seeing is a move toward activities where you don’t need to be so great at catching and throwing and things like that, so we can appeal to a wider range of kids.” 

The news is the latest to highlight the wellness benefits associated with playing DDR.  Earlier this year the XRKade Research Lab, the first university interactive fitness research lab for children, opened at the University of South Florida with the aim to offer new and innovative ways of combating childhood obesity, including DDR. The game is also featured at Texas-based NexGym Fitness Centers, which emphasize exercise through “high-energy fitness activities.’

Leighton Nakamoto, a physical ed teacher in Hawaii explained that “the new physical education” favors “lifetime fitness” over team competition and that “DDR is a part of that. They can do it on their own, and they don’t have to compete with anyone else.”
 

When EA’s Madden series had been given exclusive rights to NFL franchises in a 5-year deal, it seemed as if rival publishers and developers - like Take-Two’s 2K Sports line- would not be able to create NFL-based video games.  A recent announcement, however, shows that 2K Sports has managed to find a way around the licensing agreement by focusing on past players instead of present ones.  Take Two’s All-Pro Football 2K8 is scheduled for a summer release on the Xbox 360 and PS3 consoles and will feature nearly every single retired NFL great to ever wear a football uniform. 

 
“With All-Pro Football 2K8, we’re bringing the greatest players in football history back to the game,” said Greg Thomas, President of 2K Sports’ Visual Concepts. “Imagine an offense featuring John Elway, Thurman Thomas and Jerry Rice going against a defense led by Ronnie Lott, Mike Singletary and Reggie White. By highlighting the signature abilities of the game’s greatest legends, we have created a highly customizable and unique football experience tailored for the football fan.”

 
The known list of players is in excess of 200 so far, but here’s a list of notables (by position):

Center
Dermontti Dawson
Jim Otto

Corner Back
Lester Hayes
NightTrain Lane
Willie Brown

Defensive End
Chris Doleman
Deacon Jones
Dexter Manley
Elvin Bethea
Gino Marchetti
Jim Marshall
Leonard Marshall
Reggie White
Rulon Jones
Tony Tolbert
TooTall Jones

Defensive Tackle
Art Donovan
Bob Lilly
Dan Hampton
Dan Saleaumua
Jerome Brown
Leon Lett
Marty Lyons
Mike Golic
Randy White
William Perry

Fullback
Daryl Johnston
Ickey Woods
Merril Hoge
Tom Rathman

Safety
Eugene Robinson
Leroy Butler
Ronnie Lott
Solomon Wilcots
Jack Tatum

Half Back
Barry Foster
Barry Sanders
Christian Okoye
Dave Meggett
Earl Campbell
Emmitt Smith
Freeman McNeil
Gale Sayers
Marcus Allen
O.J. Simpson
Ottis Anderson
Paul Hornung
Ricky Watters
Roger Craig
Thurman Thomas
Walter Payton

Linebacker
Chris Spielman
Chuck Noll
Dick Butkus
Gary Plummer
Harry Carson
Mike Singletary
Nick Buoniconti
Pepper Johnson
Brian Bosworth
Carl Banks
Derrick Thomas
Greg Lloyd
Jessie Tuggle
Ken Norton Jr

Quarterback
Archie Manning
Bart Starr
Bernie Kosar
Dan Marino
Joe Montana
Joe Theismann
John Elway
Johnny Unitas
Ken Stabler
Len Dawson
Lynn Dickey
Mark Rypien
Otto Graham
Roger Staubach
Troy Aikman
Warrren Moon

Offensive Tackle
Anthony Munoz
Korey Stringer
Richmond Webb
Roosevelt Brown
Tony Boselli
Tight End
Ben Coates
Jay Novacek
Keith Jackson
Mike Ditka
Todd Christensen

Receiver
Andre Reed
Anthony Carter
Don Maynard
Dwight Clark
Fred Biletnikoff
Irving Fryar
James Lofton
Jerry Rice
John Taylor
Rob Moore
Steve Tasker
Willie Gault

April 27, 2007

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, following details of Nintendo’s record breaking full year financial results yesterday, has labeled worldwide shortages of the Wii console as “abnormal” and promised to increase deliveries by May next month.

“We must do our best to fix this abnormal lack of stock. We have not been able to properly foresee demand,” Iwata was quoted in an Associated Press report.

Iwata did not confirm Wii’s current monthly production capacity, nor did he give any indication of how much Wii production is set to increase.  It has been so tough to get one’s hand on a Wii console since its fall launch that some are accusing Nintendo of purposefully withholding stock to stimulate consumer interest.  Iwata did, however, reveal that new Nintendo DS consoles, which are also difficult to obtain in certain markets (e.g. Japan) are being manufactured at a rate of 2.5 million units a month, the highest ever for a Nintendo console.  Whatever that means.

Nintendo revealed yesterday that the company’s net profit for the financial year (ended March 31) had risen by 77% to ¥174.3 billion ($1.47bn), with sales up by 90% to ¥966.5 billion ($8.10bn).  A total of 5.84 Wii consoles had been sold by the same date – roughly meeting the company’s target of six million.

April 26, 2007

Sony has announced the PlayStation Eye camera for the PS3, which should debut this summer with bundled EyeCreate software.

As key features of the upgraded Eye camera peripheral, Sony lists a more sophisticated microphone (4 channel audio, 48kHz) with the ability to reduce background noise and focus on spoken word for smoother, more accurate speech recognition, and a re-engineered lens with higher resolution input (640 x 480 at 60fps) to better perform in low-light conditions, a faster frame rate, a two-position zoom lens for close-up and full body options, and  free EyeCreate editing software, which allows users to save, edit, and add visual effects to photos, video and audio clips.

EyeCreate also enables user to capture videos and audio clips directly to the PS3’s hard disk drive and access a range of different capturing modes, including slow motion and time-lapse. Pricing for the peripheral has not yet been revealed.

Announced simultaneously was that Hasbro’s Wizards of the Coast will provide content for one of the debut titles to use the PlayStation Eye, the camera-based CCG The Eye of Judgment.  WoTC already produces major CCG Magic: The Gathering, and under the agreement, Hasbro will create, manufacture and distribute the trading cards associated with The Eye of Judgment video game.

In the game itself, through use of a 3 x 3 board and trading cards, each encrypted with CyberCode, players conquer the field by selecting a card and placing the coded card in front of the PlayStation Eye for their respective creatures to come to life and battle. Each creature has various skills which will determine the outcome of the battle. Players take turns placing cards as they jostle for control of the board; the winner is the first player to conquer five of the nine fields. The game is slated for release in fall 2007.

April 25, 2007

Third-party games peripheral manufacturer Piranha Accessories has launched the first gun accessory for Wii.

The first gun expansion controller shown for Wii was Nintendo’s own (pictured below) which looked more like a shotgun, and Nintendo has said nothing about it since. Piranha Accessories, however, isn’t holding back for Nintendo and released its own gun expansion.  The W14 Gun works in a similar way to Nintendo’s zapper; just clip the Wii Remote into the front of it so that the Remote’s sensor is aimed at the screen.

As of right now, there are no price or availability details on Piranha’s site, but the gun is said to be available now for $19.99 (around £14) - if you manage to get your hands on one.  The W14 Wii gun from Piranha is already being talked about as a cool new option for Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles.

The W14 Wii gun (pioctured below) features a rubber coating for a better grip, a realistic design, a real trigger, a Wii Nunchuck and Remote in one, safe and strong hold for the Remote, and Plug & Play accessibility.

Ubisoft reps have announced a new brand in its Tom Clancy franchise with EndWar, a World War III strategy title developed by Ubisoft’s Shanghai studios, and led by Rome: Total War creative director Michael de Plater.

The new game marks the latest new endeavor in Tom Clancy’s best selling game franchise which also includes Ghost Recon, Rainbow Six and Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell.

Though few details have been announced ahead of EndWar’s major reveal, its creative direction from former Creative Assembly designer Michael de Plater should point to a real time strategy title somewhere in line with the critically acclaimed Rome: Total War.

With a future setting in a fictitious World War III, Ubisoft promises EndWar will “push the envelope of technology, showcasing artificial intelligence, graphics, physics and animations” that it says was not possible prior to the launch of this generation’s new consoles. The game is set for a launch some time within the next year.

Said Ubisoft chief creative officer Serge Hascoët, “Our development teams are invigorated to be creating the first 100 percent next-generation Tom Clancy brand. A strategy game like no other, EndWar will allow gamers to lead their own armies against hundreds of others online in real global locations on the massive battlefields of World War III.”

April 24, 2007

AG Edwards analyst Bill Kreher has revealed that Guitar Hero II for Xbox 360 is now sold out in 99 out of 100 GameStop stores surveyed.

In Kreher’s April 10th survey, 89 out of 100 GameStop stores were sold out of Guitar Hero II for Microsoft’s Xbox 360, but the new survey shows a continued case of “demand outstripping supply with only 1 of 100 GameStops having GH II in stock (1 unit) and again no extra guitar (X-Plorer) controllers.”

“Roughly half of the stores without copies available expect a shipment to arrive at some point during this week. We believe Activision is currently seeking ways to increase production and fulfill consumer demand,” Kreher noted in his commentary to clients.

Of Guitar Hero II publisher, Kreher also re-iterated, “We continue to believe ATVI is poised for market share gains in first half fiscal ‘08 based on momentum from Guitar Hero and solid prospects for movie-supported franchises including Spiderman and Shrek.”

Kreher’s queries on whether next-gen hardware was available at each of the 100 GameStop stores revealed results tying in with recent anecdotal information: “Our questions on hardware availability continue to reflect high demand for the Wii. Of the stores we contacted, none had a Nintendo Wii available. Our survey also found PS3s and Xbox 360s in all 100 stores.”

Kreher has also said that, according to his retail checks, the retail Wii drought isn’t expected to end any time soon: “We were told by 5 GameStops that they expected to receive orders this week.”  The stock problems couldn’t be narrowed specifically to either high demand or short supply, he explained.  “Most of the outlets we talked to explained that they go extremely fast once they are received — people even follow the delivery trucks to the stores.”

“Most of the sales associates did not have a clue when the next shipment would be in, explaining that sometimes when the packages get off the trucks they are surprised to find Wiis inside.  We have heard from numerous stores that sometimes they will receive 10 units, then the next shipment only 2 units.  It is very volatile and unpredictable.”

Xleague.TV, the TV show dedicated to e-Sports, has unveiled the lineup of games that’ll feature in the launch of its leagues and tournaments.  The lineup enables gamers to compete across Xbox 360, PS3 and PC platforms, covering sports, FPS, RTS, and racing genres.

Here’s the launch line-up in full:

XBOX 360
Pro Evolution Soccer 6
Rainbow Six: Vegas
Project Gotham Racing 3
Gears of War
Halo 2
Dead or Alive 4

PS3
Resistance: Fall of Man
Motorstorm

PC
Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars
Quake 4

Xleague.TV’s web site launches next month, and will be subsequently followed by the debut of the TV show itself on Sky in May.