Zoobos » gaming

Sony Embarks on a New Crusade With 3-D Gaming

Renay San Miguel — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 20:52:04 +0000

The auditorium darkens, the audience members put on their 3-D glasses, and a screen fills up with point-of-view images of sci-fi warfare -- futuristic soldiers leaping from one military platform to another in special weaponized jetpacks, raining death and destruction. A scene from a potential sequel to James Cameron's "Avatar?" No, just another attempt to take that blockbuster film's success and translate it into another medium -- this time video games. The sequence from the forthcoming "Killzone 3" game was used to highlight Sony's 3-D strategy for its PlayStation 3 console.

Nintendo Looks Forward (3DS) and Backward (Warmed-Over Wii Games)

Richard Adhikari — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 21:48:02 +0000

Nintendo unveiled its highly anticipated 3DS portable game console Tuesday at the Electronic Entertainment Expo. The 3DS offers 3-D viewing without the need for special glasses. Nintendo also announced remakes of several of its popular older games for the Wii platform. The Nintendo 3DS has two stacked vertically screens. The top one is a 3.5-inch 3-D display; the bottom one is a touch panel. Players can adjust the depth of the 3-D effect using a slider on top of the 3DS. The 3DS has two cameras on the back to snap 3-D digital pictures, Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata said.

Kinect Reaches Beyond Gaming – but Where’s the Blu-ray?

Richard Adhikari — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 21:15:06 +0000

Microsoft once again demonstrated its motion-controlled video game interface at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo. It also announced a new version of its Xbox 360 gaming console. Project Natal, said Microsoft will now be known by its new official name: "Kinect." The Kinect is an array of sensors that will plug into any Xbox 360, a design that could be interpreted as a bid to lengthen the lifespan of the aging line of consoles. The new Xbox is colored black and is smaller than the original model.

Who Will Own E3?

Richard Adhikari — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Archrivals Microsoft and Apple are likely to make the big news at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, to be held June 15 through 17 in Los Angeles. 3-D gaming is also expected to make a strong showing. Microsoft's Project Natal, which lets Xbox 360 players control a game through body movements instead of hand-held controllers, will likely make an appearance, while Apple is expected to push the availability of games on its iOS devices -- iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.

Sony’s PS3 Can Play 3-D – All You Need Is a $3-5K TV to Go With It

Zubosky Jeff — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 22:04:59 +0000

It's a 3-D world, at least according to Hollywood. All the new kids' movies are doing it: the last in the "Shrek" series, "Alice in Wonderland" -- you name it, you need glasses to watch it. And in the world of video gaming, 3-D is something of a Holy Grail. Gamers have been waiting for the rich, immersive experience promised by the third dimension for a very long time. Now, Sony has made the first of what is likely to be many announcements of three-dimensional gaming on both living room and portable consoles. The PS3 will support 3-D games just as soon as ...

Zynga Opens a New Frontier for Social Gamers

Erika Morphy — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 22:27:57 +0000

Social game developer Zynga has introduced its latest creation -- "FrontierVille" -- on Facebook. "FrontierVille" is similar to Zynga's immensely popular "FarmVille" in that players and their networks maintain a place -- in this case, a frontier outpost. The game starts with a covered wagon and plot of land where the player starts digging to build a farm. Chores, which earn points, include buying supplies, keeping livestock alive, planting crops to feed the family, and harvesting them. Later, the player gets to explore the wilderness and found a town.

A New Entry Into the World of Location-Based Games

Zubosky Jeff — Thu, 13 May 2010 18:26:27 +0000

SCVNGR (pronounced scavenger) launched a new set of features and mobile applications on Thursday allowing consumers to create location-based games on a mobile phone.

Steam Heats Up Gaming for Mac Users

Richard Adhikari — Wed, 12 May 2010 17:56:21 +0000

Valve Software on Tuesday launched the Mac OS X version of its Steam online gaming platform. Steam, a portal through which users buy, download and play both old and new PC games, was until now limited to the Windows operating system. Valve will soon extend Steam to the Linux platform. Valve launched a collection of game titles Wednesday on Steam for Mac OS X. Additional collections will be unveiled each Wednesday, Valve said. The first collection will include "Torchlight" from Runic Games, as well as "Portal."

Apple’s Game Center Tilts the Playing Field

Renay San Miguel — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 22:30:48 +0000

Gaming enthusiasts who gobble up every tidbit of news they can about consoles, gadgets and titles didn't have a lot to digest Thursday when Apple revealed that the new iPhone OS 4 would include Game Center, a social gaming network. The news was just one feature mentioned in the overall update for the smartphone operating system; Steve Jobs' company certainly didn't unlock any new levels in the "details" category. We know that it's going to enable online game matchmaking, much like Xbox Live.

Next-Gen Nintendo DS: 3 Dimensions, No Glasses

Richard Adhikari — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 18:50:21 +0000

Nintendo on Monday announced that it will release a new model of its DS handheld console that can play 3-D games but won't require the user to wear special glasses. This device is due by early next year at the latest. The move may give Nintendo's DS an edge as the video game and entertainment markets inch toward 3-D. Nintendo's new device, nicknamed the "3DS," will be able to play titles that were created for current and previous DS models, Nintendo said. However, when playing specially designed 3-D games, users won't need special glasses to view 3-D images, Nintendo said.

Can a Clown-Nosed Wand Move the Needle for PS3?

Paul Hartsock — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:58:05 +0000

Sony put PlayStation 3 fans in a tizzy by whipping out its latest controller, which it calls the "Move." It looks a whole lot like a black version of Nintendo's WiiMote controller, only it's got this big, clown-nose ball on the end of it. That ball actually serves a purpose. The Move's motion is partially registered by a camera PS3 users will set on top of the television. The camera tracks the motion of the Move visually, and the ball changes to the color that contrasts best with the rest of the room, so it will be more visible to the camera.

PlayStation’s Got the Moves, but Who’s Got Game?

Richard Adhikari — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:12:16 +0000

Sony demonstrated its Move motion controller for the PlayStation 3 console at the 2010 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco on Wednesday, following up on its first demo at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles last June. Together with the Move, Sony will release the Move sub-controller, a one-handed controller that's similar to the Nintendo Wii "nunchuck" and is an optional accessory for some games. Sony said the Move and its sub-controller will be launched worldwide this fall. It says 35 game publishers and developers have signed up to support the Move.

Valve Opens Pipeline for Mac Gaming

Erika Morphy — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:09:58 +0000

Valve one of the largest distributors of online games, has announced that it will make its Steam online gaming service and proprietary gaming engine, Source, available on the Mac. The service, Steamworks for the Mac, comes equipped with Steam Play, a feature that allows play on either a PC or Mac at no additional charge. It also supports Steamworks APIs. The inclusion of WebKit into Steam and of OpenGL into Source gives the company a lot of flexibility, according to John Cook, director of Steam Development.

PCs for Pee-Wees

Zubosky Jeff — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:19:43 +0000

A new software package entertains kids while protecting them from the negative aspects of the Internet.

Is Sony Playing a Dangerous Game With PS3 Customers?

Renay San Miguel — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Gaming companies like Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft ask a lot of their customers. Every few years, they are encouraged by the companies to spend a few hundred bucks to upgrade to a fancy new console. But as far as I can recall, only Sony has ever asked its fans to not play those consoles. It happened Monday, thanks to a bug that kept those with older PlayStation 3s from accessing the PlayStation Network. An item on a company blog described the glitch as a problem with the console's internal clock, which apparently thought it was a leap year.

Microsoft Gaming Tech Has Broader Uses

Zubosky Jeff — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:43:00 +0000

Microsoft is working on software for 3-D displays of data and on-screen painting with intricate detail. And it hasn't forgotten smart watches.

Sony Offers Limp Apology to Livid PS3 Gamers

Richard Adhikari — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:02:30 +0000

Sony says a glitch that caused a global gaming lockdown for PlayStation 3 owners is due to a bug in the clock functionality of older PS3s. The lockdown affects owners of older PS3s as well as those who try to play newer games, which use trophies, such as "Heavy Rain" and "Final Fantasy XIII." It also prevents users from connecting to Sony's PlayStation Network. At press time, Sony was still working on the problem. The glitch struck Sunday when users powered on their PS3s, whether or not the devices were connected to the Internet.

‘FarmVille’ Provides a Sugar-Coated Taste of the Ag Biz

Zubosky Jeff — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Even while calling Chicago home, Laura Hawkins Grimes is a country bumpkin. Her scenic rural spread has three dairy farms, two ponds and a log cabin, all skirted by a white picket fence as scarecrows stand sentry over her blackberries. The best part is the 40-year-old sex therapist never has to leave her computer to tend to it all. She's one of tens of millions of occupants of "FarmVille," a near-utopian, wildly popular online fantasy game where folks rush to another neighbor's aid, ribbons readily come as rewards, plants don't get diseased and there's never a calamitous frost.

‘FarmVille’ Provides a Sugar-Coated Taste of the Ag Biz

Zubosky Jeff — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 13:00:00 +0000

100M Cellphone Users in Grip of ‘Tetris’ Addiction

Barbara Ortutay — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:38:33 +0000

More than 25 years after its birth, "Tetris" is the best-selling mobile game of all time, having surpassed 100 million paid downloads on cellphones around the world. Adam Sussman, vice president of worldwide publishing at Electronic Arts' mobile unit, said the milestone marked "a huge moment not just for EA but for mobile gaming in general. It speaks to the evergreen appeal of 'Tetris.'" EA Mobile and the company it licenses the game from, Blue Planet Software, plan to formally announce the milestone on Thursday in Montreal.

‘Zelda: Spirit Tracks’ – Thorny Challenges Make Up for Cuteness

Zubosky Jeff — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:40:11 +0000

It's easy to take a series like "The Legend of Zelda" for granted. With more than a dozen releases over 23 years, even the most dedicated "Zelda" fan can be forgiven for having skipped a game or two. Some of those games -- the original and 1998's "Ocarina of Time" -- are justly regarded as landmarks. Some admirers prefer darker-tinged entries like 2000's "Majora's Mask" and 2006's "Twilight Princess." The one title that divided "Zelda" loyalists most was 2003's "The Wind Waker," which gave protagonist Link a younger, more cartoony appearance.

Hawk’s ‘Ride’ – Everything Except the Fresh Air

Zubosky Jeff — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:47:04 +0000

"Tony Hawk: Ride" is a groundbreaking video game that fits right in with the namesake skating legend's no-rough-edges appeal. It's a silky smooth experience with an inventive wireless skate deck controller and a friendly learning curve -- but watch out. You can fall here too. More on that later. After connecting and calibrating the board in the Xbox 360 version of the game, I selected a character with skin, hair and clothes to suit my taste. The moment of truth came when I stepped on the controller board.

The Making of Mario

Barbara Ortutay — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

You might call him the Mickey Mouse of video games. He's reminiscent of a doughnut, round and sweet and comforting. He's also a vessel, devoid of a real personality so you can live vicariously through him. Mario, the pot-bellied Italian plumber with a penchant for rescuing princesses, collecting golden coins and gobbling magic mushrooms, has been around for nearly three decades. And even though he hasn't changed much, the latest game he stars in, the newly released "The New Super Mario Bros. Wii," is one of the holiday season's top titles.

What’s Apple Game Plan?

Richard Adhikari — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Last year, Apple began marketing its iPod touch as the "funnest iPod ever," a nod to the significant popularity of the game applications available on the iPhone/iPod touch App Store. Games designed by third-party developers have been big sellers for the platform, and now Apple itself looks like it wants in on more of the fun -- it's advertising for an in-house game developer. The candidate must "help design and implement interactive multimedia experiences on the iPhone and iPod touch" and be a creative thinker who can "contribute and comment on the design process."

What’s Apple’s Game Plan?

Richard Adhikari — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Game Makers Go for Shock Value With Simulated Terrorist Scenario

Barbara Ortutay — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:59:40 +0000

Footage leaked from "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2" reveals that players of the upcoming video game can shoot innocent civilians in an airport in a realistic rendering of a terrorist attack. The game, which has an "M" rating for mature audiences, comes out next month in what its publisher hopes may be the most lucrative launch in the history of entertainment, not just for games but counting music and movies too. In a statement, game publisher Activision Blizzard said Wednesday the footage was taken illegally.

PC Gamers: A Dying Breed?

Zubosky Jeff — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Gamers are often devided into two categories: those who play on consoles and those who play on PCs. A console gamer will drop few hundred dollars for Sony's PS3, Microsoft's Xbox 360, or Nintendo's Wii, but a PC gamer who wants to purchase a desktop or laptop optimized for gaming could pay thousands just for the machine. Some hard-core PC gamers may then spend even more money tricking out their systems with liquid cooling, overclocked processors, multiple monitors and numerous customized control units.

Imagination Plays Starring Role in DS ‘Scribblenauts’

Zubosky Jeff — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:09:36 +0000

Apple has turned the iPhone into a popular device for video games. Sony is about to introduce the PSP Go, a slick new version of its handheld PlayStation Portable. However, both companies are still playing catch-up with Nintendo, which has dominated the portable game market for decades. The secret: a steady supply of terrific games. Here's a roundup of some of the best new releases for the Nintendo DS. "Scribblenauts" boasts a thoroughly original gimmick: It encourages players to use their imaginations.

PAX ‘09: For the Gamers, By the Gamers

Renay San Miguel — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:00:00 +0000

The Electronic Entertainment Expo focuses on the gaming industry and its media, and the Game Developers Conference revolves around ... well, developers. However, the Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle is all about those who, in the words of one PAX official, "pay the salaries." Gamers really do rule at PAX. Despite a recession that has started slashing away at industry revenues, the fifth edition of PAX on Sept. 4 through 6 pre-sold so many one- and three-day passes to the public that for the first time in its brief history, show officials had to shut down registration.

Monopoly City Streets Mashup Struggles to Pass Go

Renay San Miguel — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:03:45 +0000

Yes, there's a slump in the real estate market. Tell that to the players who tried to log on Wednesday to a new online version of the classic Monopoly game that substitutes Google Maps for the board; gamers can "buy" real streets in cities around the world and build skyscrapers a la Donald Trump. The temptation to own Broadway in New York or Colfax in Denver proved to be so popular that the game's servers could not keep up with demand. The Monopoly City Streets blog acknowledged that technical difficulties were making it hard for players to pass go on the first day of online activity.

The iPhone’s Gaming Growing Pains

Renay San Miguel — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Consider the juice inside a hot new portable gaming device: It has a speedy processor, a powerful graphics chip, plenty of memory and wireless capabilities for instant downloads. You can play the latest blood-soaked first-person shooters like "Resident Evil," dizzying platformers like "Assassin's Creed" and some killer racing games that don't even require punching combinations of buttons and triggers; just lean the device this way or that, thanks to a built-in accelerometer, and you're careening down boulevards at top speeds in a shiny red Ferrari.

‘Batman: Arkham Asylum’ Is Crazy Good

Zubosky Jeff — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:02:18 +0000

The video game industry has defeated more superheroes than Lex Luthor could ever dream of. Superman, Aquaman, Iron Man, X-Men: all rendered lifeless by forces more focused on making a buck than on delivering thrills. So, calling "Batman: Arkham Asylum" one of the best superhero games ever is kind of a backhanded compliment. Let's just call it a great game, period. For DC Comics fans, it's a must-buy, but it's hugely entertaining even if you aren't versed in the whole Batman mythology.

Thinner PS3 Comes With Slimmed-Down Price Tag

Renay San Miguel — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:37:03 +0000

The prospect of a cheaper PlayStation 3 has been churning its way through the gaming world's rumor mill all summer long, and now it's reality. The big question for industry analysts and gaming enthusiasts: Is it too little, too late for Sony? The blogosphere buzz ratcheted into high gear Tuesday with reports of promotional materials appearing on Web sites for Kmart and Sears touting a "new low price and a new exciting PlayStation 3." The PlayStation Blog then live-blogged the news late Tuesday morning Pacific Time from Cologne, Germany.

Thinner PS3 Comes With Slimmed-Down Price Tag

Renay San Miguel — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:37:03 +0000

World Of Warcraft Video Game Compared To Cocaine

Zubosky Jeff — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:45:11 +0000

A Swedish youth organization said the computer game World of Warcraft is dangerously addicting.

The Youth Care Foundation describes the online fantasy game as “the cocaine of the computer games world,” The Local reported Thursday.

“There is not a single case of game addiction that we have worked with in which World of Warcraft has not played a part,” foundation official Sven Rollenhagen told the newspaper Metro.

A Swedish youth was hospitalized last year after he collapsed during a 20-hour World of Warcraft binge, the report said.

Swedish National Institute of Public Health said Sweden has a large problem with computer game addiction.