Nintendo has announced this week's line-up of Wii and DSi digital downloads due Friday.
Top of the list is WarioWare D.I.Y. Showcase, a WiiWare accompaniment to the DS make-your-own-microgame game which also hits Europe Friday. The WiiWare Showcase will allow players to download show off various DSi microgame creations on the big screen. This costs 800 Wii Points (£5.60/€8).
Also hitting WiiWare on Friday are Mega Man 10 DLC - Endless Attack mode (300 Wii Points - £2.10/€3) and Special Stage 2 & 3 (100 Wii Points - £0.70/€1 each), and Nordcurrent's imaginatively titled budget release 5 Arcade Gems (700 Wii Points - £4.90/€7).
DSiWare downloaders get a bevy of releases this week. Electronic Arts' Surviving High School (800 DSi Points - £7.20/€8) - an education-themed mini-game collection that promises to let you "cause all the drama!" - seems the most potentially interesting of the bunch.
Also available are touch-screen controlled VT Tennis (500 DSi Points - £4.50/€5), dinosaur adventure game DodoGo! (800 DSi Points - £7.20/€8), environmentally-themed puzzler Save the Turtles (500 DSi Points - £4.50/€5) and Simply Solitaire (200 DSi Points - £1.80/€2), which we sure hope provides just what it says on the tin.
Classic fighting game fans can also enjoy a Virtual Console version of SNK's The King of Fighters '95 for 900 Wii Points (£6.30/€9) this week.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Doodle Jump is best-selling iPhone game
Sales of the simple-but-fun offering have now surpassed the 4 million mark. There have never been lite versions of the game or special offers, so in terms of revenue that amounts to 4 million times 59p.
Wood R.P.G/R4 v1.06
Wood R.P.G/R4 v1.06 has been released by Yellow Wood Goblin via GBAtemp.
Quote from GBAtemp:
This GBATemp.net exclusive update includes some much anticipated support. GBA games can now be launched via the Slot-2 icon, in this GBATemp exclusive release, based on user choice. Korg DS 10+ now works, thanks to the Yellow Wood Goblin and this GBATemp.net exclusive release.
Download the Wode R.P.G / R4 V1.06 from here:
http://filetrip.net/f11040-Wood-R4-1-06.html
Quote from GBAtemp:
This GBATemp.net exclusive update includes some much anticipated support. GBA games can now be launched via the Slot-2 icon, in this GBATemp exclusive release, based on user choice. Korg DS 10+ now works, thanks to the Yellow Wood Goblin and this GBATemp.net exclusive release.
Download the Wode R.P.G / R4 V1.06 from here:
http://filetrip.net/f11040-Wood-R4-1-06.html
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
BioWare working on PS3 Dragon Age: Origins fix to Sony firmware update 3.3
BioWare is working with Sony to discover why Dragon Age: Origins struggles to run on PS3.
The problems started after Sony released firmware update 3.30 for the console last week. BioWare's community forums are clogged with reports of game crashes.
Some users have 'repaired' their game by deleting saved games.
The problems started after Sony released firmware update 3.30 for the console last week. BioWare's community forums are clogged with reports of game crashes.
Some users have 'repaired' their game by deleting saved games.
Police raid Gizmodo editor Jason Chen's home
Police have raided Gizmodo editor Jason Chen's home and seized computer equipment following the gadget blog's purchase and documentation of a misplaced iPhone 4G.
"Last Friday night, California's Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team entered editor Jason Chen's home without him present, seizing four computers and two servers," Gizmodo reported.
"According to Gaby Darbyshire, COO of [Gizmodo publisher] Gawker Media LLC, the search warrant to remove these computers was invalid under section 1524(g) of the California Penal Code." The post also reproduced the warrant and other documentation.
According to Reuters, the San Mateo County DA's office said Apple had contacted them to report a crime and that the raid on Chen's home was connected.
"The allegation was that there was a reasonable cause that a felony theft had occurred," he said. "This is the beginning of the investigation."
Last week Apple contacted Gizmodo to ask for its phone back and the site complied, having ripped it apart, detailed and photographed it extensively online.
"Last Friday night, California's Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team entered editor Jason Chen's home without him present, seizing four computers and two servers," Gizmodo reported.
"According to Gaby Darbyshire, COO of [Gizmodo publisher] Gawker Media LLC, the search warrant to remove these computers was invalid under section 1524(g) of the California Penal Code." The post also reproduced the warrant and other documentation.
According to Reuters, the San Mateo County DA's office said Apple had contacted them to report a crime and that the raid on Chen's home was connected.
"The allegation was that there was a reasonable cause that a felony theft had occurred," he said. "This is the beginning of the investigation."
Last week Apple contacted Gizmodo to ask for its phone back and the site complied, having ripped it apart, detailed and photographed it extensively online.
Casamassina quit IGN, joined Apple as global editorial games manager
Casamassina, IGN's resident Nintendo expert since he joined the website in 1997, quit IGN, joined Apple as global editorial games manager.
Quote from his blog:
Anybody who has read my work through the years will know that I’ve long been a huge Nintendo fan, but if there is one company that could entice me away from covering Mario and Zelda it’s the one owned by Steve Jobs. Beginning early May, I will join Apple as global editorial games manager, App Store. In a nutshell, I will be leading the charge for games on the App Store, so whether you browse through iTunes, iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad, the games content you see will be handpicked and organized by me and my team. I couldn’t be happier.
Quote from his blog:
Anybody who has read my work through the years will know that I’ve long been a huge Nintendo fan, but if there is one company that could entice me away from covering Mario and Zelda it’s the one owned by Steve Jobs. Beginning early May, I will join Apple as global editorial games manager, App Store. In a nutshell, I will be leading the charge for games on the App Store, so whether you browse through iTunes, iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad, the games content you see will be handpicked and organized by me and my team. I couldn’t be happier.
New PS3 Slim is cooler and greener
Sony has released a new version of the PlayStation 3 Slim, with a revised, energy-saving RSX chip.
The new CECH-2100A revision of the hardware features a 45nm graphics chip, shrunk down from the 65nm version seen in the launch version of the Slim, and retains the 45nm Cell CPU from the existing model.
Additional tweaks to the motherboard also include the implementation of two 128MB XDR RAM chips in favour of the four 64MB modules seen in the original model. The cooling assembly of the new unit is also dialled back, and there's a different, lighter power supply contained within the console too.
All this can be witnessed in a tear-down of the new console by PocketNews.
The result is a machine that is cheaper for Sony to produce, cooler, and more power efficient. The site's tests of the new model reveal a 15 per cent drop in power usage compared to the existing Slim model
The new CECH-2100A revision of the hardware features a 45nm graphics chip, shrunk down from the 65nm version seen in the launch version of the Slim, and retains the 45nm Cell CPU from the existing model.
Additional tweaks to the motherboard also include the implementation of two 128MB XDR RAM chips in favour of the four 64MB modules seen in the original model. The cooling assembly of the new unit is also dialled back, and there's a different, lighter power supply contained within the console too.
All this can be witnessed in a tear-down of the new console by PocketNews.
The result is a machine that is cheaper for Sony to produce, cooler, and more power efficient. The site's tests of the new model reveal a 15 per cent drop in power usage compared to the existing Slim model
Monday, April 26, 2010
$25 WOW horse makes millions
Blizzard has had unprecedented success with virtual item sales on the release of the Celestial Steed - a special in-game mount for World of Warcraft that costs the princely sum of $25, €20 or £17.
According to WOW.com (via GamesIndustry.biz), a seven-hour queue of 140,000 people had formed within three hours of the mount's release last week.
That already represented revenue of $3.5 million - or more than a million dollars an hour - on sales of what is, essentially, just an art asset for the subscription game. The translucent flying horse leaves trails of stardust behind it as it gallops across the sky.
It's the first time Blizzard has sold an exclusive mount for the game, although it had previously tested the micro-transaction waters with cosmetic pet characters, costing £9 or €10, in its Pet Store.
There's no limit to the amount of money Blizzard can make from the item, either; its numbers won't be restricted.
"The number of available mounts is limited in the sense that there is a fixed number of codes available in the store," explained a spokesperson on the WOW forums. "These codes are not generated automatically with each purchase, instead they are generated separately and then added to the store in batches."
"The Celestial Steed is not supposed to be a limited time offer only, so we will of course add more codes in case the current batch of codes gets sold out."
Four years ago, Bethesda caused uproar among gamers when it charged 200 Microsoft Points, or £1.70, for a set of horse armour for its RPG The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. We've come a long way, baby.
According to WOW.com (via GamesIndustry.biz), a seven-hour queue of 140,000 people had formed within three hours of the mount's release last week.
That already represented revenue of $3.5 million - or more than a million dollars an hour - on sales of what is, essentially, just an art asset for the subscription game. The translucent flying horse leaves trails of stardust behind it as it gallops across the sky.
It's the first time Blizzard has sold an exclusive mount for the game, although it had previously tested the micro-transaction waters with cosmetic pet characters, costing £9 or €10, in its Pet Store.
There's no limit to the amount of money Blizzard can make from the item, either; its numbers won't be restricted.
"The number of available mounts is limited in the sense that there is a fixed number of codes available in the store," explained a spokesperson on the WOW forums. "These codes are not generated automatically with each purchase, instead they are generated separately and then added to the store in batches."
"The Celestial Steed is not supposed to be a limited time offer only, so we will of course add more codes in case the current batch of codes gets sold out."
Four years ago, Bethesda caused uproar among gamers when it charged 200 Microsoft Points, or £1.70, for a set of horse armour for its RPG The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. We've come a long way, baby.
XBOX Natal may learn from your actions
Xbox 360 general manager Marc Whitten reckons that in future Project Natal may be able to learn things about you based on what you wear and how you react to things happening on-screen.
"Natal isn't just about gaming - it's about all living-room experiences," he told Fast Company (thanks Kotaku).
"Imagine a sporting event - Natal could know which team you're for because it sees your jersey, or knows you thought a bad call was made when you yell 'boo'. It learns about you and gets smarter to create a more tailored entertainment experience."
Whitten also told the business site, "If you counted the number of buttons in your living room, it would send a chill down your spine," and that Natal was designed to get away from our reliance on complicated remotes.
Project Natal is due out later this year and should be unveiled in full at E3 in June. Check out Digital Foundry's extensive hands-on report which covers everything from how it works to how much lag you experience.
"Natal isn't just about gaming - it's about all living-room experiences," he told Fast Company (thanks Kotaku).
"Imagine a sporting event - Natal could know which team you're for because it sees your jersey, or knows you thought a bad call was made when you yell 'boo'. It learns about you and gets smarter to create a more tailored entertainment experience."
Whitten also told the business site, "If you counted the number of buttons in your living room, it would send a chill down your spine," and that Natal was designed to get away from our reliance on complicated remotes.
Project Natal is due out later this year and should be unveiled in full at E3 in June. Check out Digital Foundry's extensive hands-on report which covers everything from how it works to how much lag you experience.
PS3 3D firmware "available shortly"
The next PlayStation 3 firmware will pave the way for 3D stereoscopic gaming ahead of the launch of new Bravia TVs, and will be "available shortly".
That's according to the PlayStation Blog. Last week Sony announced that new 3DTVs would go on sale in June and be preceded by 3D firmware for PS3. (Buyers also get three free 3D games - WipEout HD, Super Stardust HD and PAIN - and a 3D demo of MotorStorm: Pacific Rift.)
The upcoming 3.30 firmware will be mandatory and also introduces new sorting options for Trophies, which are detailed on the blog. (We'd recount them here but frankly can't make head nor tail of them.)
For more on PlayStation 3's 3D revolution, check out The Making of PlayStation 3D, which explains how games are adapted for 3D on PS3.
That's according to the PlayStation Blog. Last week Sony announced that new 3DTVs would go on sale in June and be preceded by 3D firmware for PS3. (Buyers also get three free 3D games - WipEout HD, Super Stardust HD and PAIN - and a 3D demo of MotorStorm: Pacific Rift.)
The upcoming 3.30 firmware will be mandatory and also introduces new sorting options for Trophies, which are detailed on the blog. (We'd recount them here but frankly can't make head nor tail of them.)
For more on PlayStation 3's 3D revolution, check out The Making of PlayStation 3D, which explains how games are adapted for 3D on PS3.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Earthworm Jim heading to DSiWare
Nintendo has announced this Friday's digital releases for its platforms, with an enhanced version of Earthworm Jim for DSi the standout.
The Gameloft-authored remake of the 16-bit platformer retains its peculiar humour but adds sections where you have to make faces into the camera to receive bonuses. It will go for 500 DSi Points.
Elsewhere, DSi owners can spend 500 DP on Flipper, a puzzle game where you blast holes in the environment, build platforms and use power-ups to try and complete each level.
Alternatively there's a range of software for 200 DP: myPostcards, with which you make postcards and send them to friends; and Ball, Flagman and Donkey Kong Jr. Game & Watch releases.
On the Wii, Virtual Console fans can spend 800 Wii Points on the SNES version of Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures (uniting Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple of Doom and the Last Crusade).
Or you can spend 500 WP on WiiWare title The Will of Dr Frankenstein, in which you play a young orphan, Frankie, who helps a professor to build a strange machine. There's no word on whether you get to hide in a shack next to the De Lacey cottage for months before being rejected and set on a path to vengeance, however.
The Gameloft-authored remake of the 16-bit platformer retains its peculiar humour but adds sections where you have to make faces into the camera to receive bonuses. It will go for 500 DSi Points.
Elsewhere, DSi owners can spend 500 DP on Flipper, a puzzle game where you blast holes in the environment, build platforms and use power-ups to try and complete each level.
Alternatively there's a range of software for 200 DP: myPostcards, with which you make postcards and send them to friends; and Ball, Flagman and Donkey Kong Jr. Game & Watch releases.
On the Wii, Virtual Console fans can spend 800 Wii Points on the SNES version of Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures (uniting Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple of Doom and the Last Crusade).
Or you can spend 500 WP on WiiWare title The Will of Dr Frankenstein, in which you play a young orphan, Frankie, who helps a professor to build a strange machine. There's no word on whether you get to hide in a shack next to the De Lacey cottage for months before being rejected and set on a path to vengeance, however.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Review on Apple 4G HD iPhone
The following are reported by Gizmodo on the lost iPhone 4G features:
What's new
• Front-facing video chat camera
• Improved regular back-camera (the lens is quite noticeably larger than the iPhone 3GS)
• Camera flash
• Micro-SIM instead of standard SIM (like the iPad)
• Improved display. It's unclear if it's the 960x640 display thrown around before—it certainly looks like it, with the "Connect to iTunes" screen displaying much higher resolution than on a 3GS.
• What looks to be a secondary mic for noise cancellation, at the top, next to the headphone jack
• Split buttons for volume
• Power, mute, and volume buttons are all metallic
What's changed
• The back is entirely flat, made of either glass (more likely) or ceramic or shiny plastic in order for the cell signal to poke through. Tapping on the back makes a more hollow and higher pitched sound compared to tapping on the glass on the front/screen, but that could just be the orientation of components inside making for a different sound
• An aluminum border going completely around the outside
• Slightly smaller screen than the 3GS (but seemingly higher resolution)
• Everything is more squared off
• 3 grams heavier
• 16% Larger battery
• Internals components are shrunken, miniaturized and reduced to make room for the larger battery
What's new
• Front-facing video chat camera
• Improved regular back-camera (the lens is quite noticeably larger than the iPhone 3GS)
• Camera flash
• Micro-SIM instead of standard SIM (like the iPad)
• Improved display. It's unclear if it's the 960x640 display thrown around before—it certainly looks like it, with the "Connect to iTunes" screen displaying much higher resolution than on a 3GS.
• What looks to be a secondary mic for noise cancellation, at the top, next to the headphone jack
• Split buttons for volume
• Power, mute, and volume buttons are all metallic
What's changed
• The back is entirely flat, made of either glass (more likely) or ceramic or shiny plastic in order for the cell signal to poke through. Tapping on the back makes a more hollow and higher pitched sound compared to tapping on the glass on the front/screen, but that could just be the orientation of components inside making for a different sound
• An aluminum border going completely around the outside
• Slightly smaller screen than the 3GS (but seemingly higher resolution)
• Everything is more squared off
• 3 grams heavier
• 16% Larger battery
• Internals components are shrunken, miniaturized and reduced to make room for the larger battery
How Apple Lost the Next 4G HD iPhone
Story by Gizmodo:
Gray Powell—a North Carolina State University 2006 graduate andtalented amateur photographer—is an Apple Software Engineer working on the iPhone Baseband Software, the little program that enables the iPhone to make calls. A dream job for a talented engineer like Powell, an Apple fan who always wanted to meet Steve Jobs.
On the night of March 18, he was enjoying the fine imported ales at Gourmet Haus Staudt, a nice German beer garden in Redwood City, California. He was happy. [UPDATED] After all, it was his birthday. He was turning 27 that very same day, and he was celebrating. The place was great. The beer was excellent. "I underestimated how good German beer is," he typed into the next-generation iPhone he was testing on the field, cleverly disguised as an iPhone 3GS. It was his last Facebook update from the secret iPhone. It was the last time he ever saw the iPhone, right before he abandoned it on bar stool, leaving to go home.
The person who eventually ended up with the lost iPhone was sitting next to Powell. He was drinking with a friend too. He noticed Powell on the stool next to him but didn't think twice about him at the time. Not until Powell had already left the bar, and a random really drunk guy—who'd been sitting on the other side of Powell—returned from the bathroom to his own stool.
The Random Really Drunk Guy pointed at the iPhone sitting on the stool, the precious prototype left by the young Apple engineer.
"Hey man, is that your iPhone?" asked Random Really Drunk Guy.
"Hmmm, what?" replied the person who ended up with the iPhone. "No, no, it isn't mine."
"Ooooh, I guess it's your friend's then," referring to a friend who at the time was in the bathroom. "Here, take it," said the Random Really Drunk Guy, handing it to him. "You don't want to lose it." After that, the Random Really Drunk Guy also left the bar.
The person who ended up with the iPhone asked around, but nobody claimed it. He thought about that young guy sitting next to him, so he and his friend stayed there for some time, waiting. Powell never came back.
During that time, he played with it. It seemed like a normal iPhone. "I thought it was just an iPhone 3GS," he told me in a telephone interview. "It just looked like one. I tried the camera, but it crashed three times." The iPhone didn't seem to have any special features, just two bar codes stuck on its back: 8800601pex1 and N90_DVT_GE4X_0493. Next to the volume keys there was another sticker: iPhone SWE-L200221. Apart from that, just six pages of applications. One of them was Facebook. And there, on the Facebook screen, was the Apple engineer, Gray Powell.
Thinking about returning the phone the next day, he left. When he woke up after the hazy night, the phone was dead. Bricked remotely, through MobileMe, the service Apple provides to track and wipe out lost iPhones. It was only then that he realized that there was something strange that iPhone. The exterior didn't feel right and there was a camera on the front. After tinkering with it, he managed to open the fake 3GS.
There it was, a shiny thing, completely different from everything that came before.
He reached for a phone and called a lot of Apple numbers and tried to find someone who was at least willing to transfer his call to the right person, but no luck. No one took him seriously and all he got for his troubles was a ticket number.
He thought that eventually the ticket would move up high enough and that he would receive a call back, but his phone never rang. What should he be expected to do then? Walk into an Apple store and give the shiny, new device to a 20-year-old who might just end up selling it on eBay?
Gray Powell—a North Carolina State University 2006 graduate andtalented amateur photographer—is an Apple Software Engineer working on the iPhone Baseband Software, the little program that enables the iPhone to make calls. A dream job for a talented engineer like Powell, an Apple fan who always wanted to meet Steve Jobs.
On the night of March 18, he was enjoying the fine imported ales at Gourmet Haus Staudt, a nice German beer garden in Redwood City, California. He was happy. [UPDATED] After all, it was his birthday. He was turning 27 that very same day, and he was celebrating. The place was great. The beer was excellent. "I underestimated how good German beer is," he typed into the next-generation iPhone he was testing on the field, cleverly disguised as an iPhone 3GS. It was his last Facebook update from the secret iPhone. It was the last time he ever saw the iPhone, right before he abandoned it on bar stool, leaving to go home.
The person who eventually ended up with the lost iPhone was sitting next to Powell. He was drinking with a friend too. He noticed Powell on the stool next to him but didn't think twice about him at the time. Not until Powell had already left the bar, and a random really drunk guy—who'd been sitting on the other side of Powell—returned from the bathroom to his own stool.
The Random Really Drunk Guy pointed at the iPhone sitting on the stool, the precious prototype left by the young Apple engineer.
"Hey man, is that your iPhone?" asked Random Really Drunk Guy.
"Hmmm, what?" replied the person who ended up with the iPhone. "No, no, it isn't mine."
"Ooooh, I guess it's your friend's then," referring to a friend who at the time was in the bathroom. "Here, take it," said the Random Really Drunk Guy, handing it to him. "You don't want to lose it." After that, the Random Really Drunk Guy also left the bar.
The person who ended up with the iPhone asked around, but nobody claimed it. He thought about that young guy sitting next to him, so he and his friend stayed there for some time, waiting. Powell never came back.
During that time, he played with it. It seemed like a normal iPhone. "I thought it was just an iPhone 3GS," he told me in a telephone interview. "It just looked like one. I tried the camera, but it crashed three times." The iPhone didn't seem to have any special features, just two bar codes stuck on its back: 8800601pex1 and N90_DVT_GE4X_0493. Next to the volume keys there was another sticker: iPhone SWE-L200221. Apart from that, just six pages of applications. One of them was Facebook. And there, on the Facebook screen, was the Apple engineer, Gray Powell.
Thinking about returning the phone the next day, he left. When he woke up after the hazy night, the phone was dead. Bricked remotely, through MobileMe, the service Apple provides to track and wipe out lost iPhones. It was only then that he realized that there was something strange that iPhone. The exterior didn't feel right and there was a camera on the front. After tinkering with it, he managed to open the fake 3GS.
There it was, a shiny thing, completely different from everything that came before.
He reached for a phone and called a lot of Apple numbers and tried to find someone who was at least willing to transfer his call to the right person, but no luck. No one took him seriously and all he got for his troubles was a ticket number.
He thought that eventually the ticket would move up high enough and that he would receive a call back, but his phone never rang. What should he be expected to do then? Walk into an Apple store and give the shiny, new device to a 20-year-old who might just end up selling it on eBay?
MMO Dofus has 30 million users
Attractive turn-based cartoon MMO Dofus has a whopping 30 million "registered players".
What's more, 3.5 million of those pay around €5 to play each month.
Ankama Games revealed the numbers at the Ankama Convention in Paris at the weekend. And you have to be wealthy to have your own convention - just ask Blizzard.
Further number-crunching revealed that Dofus counted, on average, 1 million players a day, peaking at 250,000 simultaneous connections. Alors!
It's not surprising, then, that Anakama reckons Dofus is the top MMO dog in France (where 60 per cent of players live) and the French-speaking regions of Belgium, Switzerland and Canada. Apparently there's a healthy following in Spain and Latin America, too.
Dofus scored 8/10 on Eurogamer in April 2008. Not content, Ankama transformed the game to Dofus 2.0 in December 2009, overhauling the graphics engine as well as server and client code. Dofus will grow again this year with new expansion Frigost, made specifically for level 100-200 characters.
Ankama's also taking the game east to Russia and Japan at some point in 2010.
That's in addition to making PVP spin-off Dofus Arena (due to launch on June 21st), co-operative dungeon crawler Slage, sequel Wakfu, and XBLA action-adventure Islands of Wakfu. Oh, and an animated TV series, created by Ankama itself, now in its second season in France and watched by 1 million people per episode. And a browser game spin-off from the TV series called Wakfu: The Guardians. And Dofus manga (800,000 copies sold).
What's more, 3.5 million of those pay around €5 to play each month.
Ankama Games revealed the numbers at the Ankama Convention in Paris at the weekend. And you have to be wealthy to have your own convention - just ask Blizzard.
Further number-crunching revealed that Dofus counted, on average, 1 million players a day, peaking at 250,000 simultaneous connections. Alors!
It's not surprising, then, that Anakama reckons Dofus is the top MMO dog in France (where 60 per cent of players live) and the French-speaking regions of Belgium, Switzerland and Canada. Apparently there's a healthy following in Spain and Latin America, too.
Dofus scored 8/10 on Eurogamer in April 2008. Not content, Ankama transformed the game to Dofus 2.0 in December 2009, overhauling the graphics engine as well as server and client code. Dofus will grow again this year with new expansion Frigost, made specifically for level 100-200 characters.
Ankama's also taking the game east to Russia and Japan at some point in 2010.
That's in addition to making PVP spin-off Dofus Arena (due to launch on June 21st), co-operative dungeon crawler Slage, sequel Wakfu, and XBLA action-adventure Islands of Wakfu. Oh, and an animated TV series, created by Ankama itself, now in its second season in France and watched by 1 million people per episode. And a browser game spin-off from the TV series called Wakfu: The Guardians. And Dofus manga (800,000 copies sold).
Monday, April 19, 2010
Interplay bringing Descent to WiiWare
Interplay has announced plans to release classic PC shooter Descent on WiiWare this autumn.
"Descent remains the most popular 1080-degree 3D blasting game. Translating its 3D worlds and gameplay to WiiWare is an exciting move", said Herve Caen, CEO of Interplay.
The port will be developed by G1M2, whose founder Scott Hawkins said: "Descent will pair perfectly with the motion-sensing Wii Remote controller and we can't wait to show players how intuitive the gameplay and control can be."
Descent, not to be confused with those horror films about women who get stuck in a cave, was a shooter in which you piloted a ship around mines grappling with six degrees of freedom - i.e. the ability to move up, down, left, right, backward and forward.
This was quite challenging on the PC keyboard, although easier with two joysticks apparently (never tried that).
It's not clear how exactly the Wii controls will work from G1M2's description, but hopefully it will be a bit simpler to keep track of your orientation.
"Descent remains the most popular 1080-degree 3D blasting game. Translating its 3D worlds and gameplay to WiiWare is an exciting move", said Herve Caen, CEO of Interplay.
The port will be developed by G1M2, whose founder Scott Hawkins said: "Descent will pair perfectly with the motion-sensing Wii Remote controller and we can't wait to show players how intuitive the gameplay and control can be."
Descent, not to be confused with those horror films about women who get stuck in a cave, was a shooter in which you piloted a ship around mines grappling with six degrees of freedom - i.e. the ability to move up, down, left, right, backward and forward.
This was quite challenging on the PC keyboard, although easier with two joysticks apparently (never tried that).
It's not clear how exactly the Wii controls will work from G1M2's description, but hopefully it will be a bit simpler to keep track of your orientation.
Doctor Who game footage on Saturday
The BBC has announced that first footage from Doctor Who: The Adventure Games will be shown on BBC One straight after Victory of the Daleks on Saturday night.
The footage will also be available on the official website along with more info on the games, which are developed by Sumo Digital in collaboration with Broken Sword creator Charles Cecil.
"Why would the first footage of Doctor Who: The Adventure Games be screened after this particular episode? Find out on Saturday night!" teases the press release.
Doctor Who: The Adventures Games will see Matt Smith and Karen Gillan reprise roles as the Doctor and Amy, with scripting from all the proper people.
The BBC is also keen that to be seen taking the games seriously. "There aren't 13 episodes of Doctor Who this year," BBC Head of Drama Piers Wenger said when the Adventure Games were announced. "There are 17 - four of which are interactive."
The footage will also be available on the official website along with more info on the games, which are developed by Sumo Digital in collaboration with Broken Sword creator Charles Cecil.
"Why would the first footage of Doctor Who: The Adventure Games be screened after this particular episode? Find out on Saturday night!" teases the press release.
Doctor Who: The Adventures Games will see Matt Smith and Karen Gillan reprise roles as the Doctor and Amy, with scripting from all the proper people.
The BBC is also keen that to be seen taking the games seriously. "There aren't 13 episodes of Doctor Who this year," BBC Head of Drama Piers Wenger said when the Adventure Games were announced. "There are 17 - four of which are interactive."
The BBC has announced that the first episode of Doctor Who
The BBC has announced that the first episode of Doctor Who: The Adventure Games will be released for download on 5th June.
The Adventure Games is a series of four downloadable episodes featuring the Doctor and his assistant Amy (voiced by Matt Smith and Karen Gillan respectively, as in the TV show) developed by Sumo Digital in collaboration with Broken Sword creator and all-round excellent man Charles Cecil.
The first footage of the game was shown after Saturday's Victory of the Daleks TV episode and shows the Doctor and Amy arriving in London during the 1960s, with the place in a rather bad state.
This appears to be due to our old friends the Daleks, who are trundling around getting up in everyone's grill as usual.
The Adventure Games is a series of four downloadable episodes featuring the Doctor and his assistant Amy (voiced by Matt Smith and Karen Gillan respectively, as in the TV show) developed by Sumo Digital in collaboration with Broken Sword creator and all-round excellent man Charles Cecil.
The first footage of the game was shown after Saturday's Victory of the Daleks TV episode and shows the Doctor and Amy arriving in London during the 1960s, with the place in a rather bad state.
This appears to be due to our old friends the Daleks, who are trundling around getting up in everyone's grill as usual.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Nintendo 3DS is proper DS successor
Reggie Fils-Aime has said that Nintendo's upcoming 3DS is more than a mere revamp of its existing dual-screen console.
"We have ideas of what we want to bring to the consumer that we can't do with the current [DS]," Fils-Aime, who is president of Nintendo of America, told BusinessWeek (thanks Kotaku).
"The Nintendo 3DS for us is our next handheld platform."
However, Fils-Aime also distanced the 3DS - which will utilise 3D visuals without the need for glasses and which will also run existing DS titles - from the hardware-heavy 3D efforts of companies like Japanese rival Sony.
"Fundamentally, this business is about software, not hardware. Software is what drives engagement by the consumer," he told BusinessWeek. "For us technology is not the end, it's the means to an end, which is around a great consumer experience."
Nintendo announced the 3DS in late March and said it would have more to add on the subject at E3 this June.
Sony 3D TV buyers get free games in June
Sony has announced that people buying its new Bravia HX803 3D TV in June will receive a PSN voucher entitling them to four 3D versions of PS3 games.
The PS3 will receive a 3D compatibility firmware update before the launch of the new Bravia, and then a further firmware update to support 3D Blu-ray playback will follow before the end of 2010.
The four games will be free to anyone forking out for one of the TVs, and they are WipEout HD, MotorStorm: Pacific Rift, PAIN and Super Stardust HD.
WipEout HD is the full game, apparently, but doesn't include the Fury add-on; MotorStorm is a single-level 3D demo, PAIN will be three episodes plus the tutorial; and Super Stardust HD is the full game not including DLC.
There's no word on whether the games will be sold separately to non-Bravia 3D users, but we've asked Sony to clarify.
The new HX803 series TVs offer 1080p HD 3D support and boast proprietary features like High Speed Precision (minimises interference between left and right eye images), LED Boost (increases brightness) and 3D Up Conversion (the equivalent of DVD upscaling for the 3D era - taking 2D images and adding depth where possible).
Sony's 3D technology uses active shutter glasses, which open and close shutters so that your eyes see alternating images to create the impression of 3D.
The glasses have a battery life of "approximately 100 hours" and will be available in special sizes for children and animals, possibly.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Apple Postpones IPad’s Debut Outside U.S. to Late May
Apple Inc., trying to revive demand for tablet-style computers with its iPad, said sales of the device are topping estimates, prompting the company to delay its introduction outside the U.S. by a month.
The company shipped more than 500,000 iPads during the first week and expects demand to exceed its supply for the next several weeks, according to a statement today. It postponed the device’s introduction outside the U.S. until the end of May.
The product builds on the success of Apple’s iPhone and iPod, staking out the middle ground between smartphones and laptop computers. Apple is betting the design is enticing enough that consumers are willing to pay a premium over low-cost notebooks. Rivals such as Microsoft Corp. have failed to turn tablet computers into popular consumer devices.
The company shipped more than 500,000 iPads during the first week and expects demand to exceed its supply for the next several weeks, according to a statement today. It postponed the device’s introduction outside the U.S. until the end of May.
The product builds on the success of Apple’s iPhone and iPod, staking out the middle ground between smartphones and laptop computers. Apple is betting the design is enticing enough that consumers are willing to pay a premium over low-cost notebooks. Rivals such as Microsoft Corp. have failed to turn tablet computers into popular consumer devices.
Chinese Touch is a language learning tool for Nintendo DS with a focus on Chinese.
Chinese Touch is a language learning tool for Nintendo DS with a focus on Chinese. In contrast to many other applications (there are not that many for Nintendo DS anyway) Chinese Touch does not try to provide a complete course for a specific level of language skill, but is meant more as a generic tool to make your own learning docs easily portable and more accessable for your individual needs. Many learners, especially tech-savvy ones, already transcribe word lists or even text from their text books to the computer (try it, its a good training already) to take advantage of dictionary programs, flashcard applications and so on or even use digital sources in the first place. So all you have to do is to convert your digitally available texts and word lists into a collection of UTF8-encoded plain text files and copy them onto to your flash memory cart into the directory structure Chinese Touch understands. That way Chinese Touch can assist you in practicing reading and writing and memorizing words right on your DS wherever you are, whenever you have a couple of minutes of spare time, using your prefered learning materials.
Source: http://code.google.com/p/chinese-touch/
Source: http://code.google.com/p/chinese-touch/
Wood R4 v1.04 kernel (English ), replacing R4 1.18 firmware and only supports the Original R4 Flash Linkers: R4 Team is alive
Yellow Wood Goblin has just released his brand new firmware, Wood R4 v1.04, on GBAtemp. This firmware is a replacement for the R4 1.18 firmware and only supports the Original R4 Flash Linkers. This Firmware is not for R4 clones, use of it on clones may result in unforeseen problems. When asked why support the R4, his response was "why not?"! The code is based in part on advancements made during the last public release of Wood R.P.G., users can expect the same coding quality, the same compatibility, basic wii-connectivity, and future updates.
Setup:
Place the _rpg directory and the _DS_MENU.DAT into the ROOT of your microSD card.
Compatibility:
Everything that works on Wood R.P.G. should work on Wood R4. Wood R.P.G. has 99.8% compatibility. I won't say it is 100% because there could be the occasional glitch or bug.
Support:
There is confirmation that this is working on the Original R4, the R4 SD clones, and the M3 Simply.
Skins:
This is a port of Wood R.P.G. so this will use the same skins used on the R.P.G. as the GUI has not changed.
Saves:
Wood R4 supports RAW format save files named ROM-NAME.nds.sav. You will need to rename your save files in order to make use of them.
Why use this over YSMENU?
This is a full firmware replacement. Expect all of the features of a modern firmware. Including Wii-connectivity, Cheats, Themes, Short-cuts, etc. Everything Wood R.P.G. does on the Acekard R.P.G. this firmware does on the R4 (except for on the fly A.P. patching for yet to be released ROMs). This firmware will continue to be updated, tweaked, fixed, optimized, etc. It is time to say goodbye to YASU's YSMENU by giving your R4 Wood!
Setup:
Place the _rpg directory and the _DS_MENU.DAT into the ROOT of your microSD card.
Compatibility:
Everything that works on Wood R.P.G. should work on Wood R4. Wood R.P.G. has 99.8% compatibility. I won't say it is 100% because there could be the occasional glitch or bug.
Support:
There is confirmation that this is working on the Original R4, the R4 SD clones, and the M3 Simply.
Skins:
This is a port of Wood R.P.G. so this will use the same skins used on the R.P.G. as the GUI has not changed.
Saves:
Wood R4 supports RAW format save files named ROM-NAME.nds.sav. You will need to rename your save files in order to make use of them.
Why use this over YSMENU?
This is a full firmware replacement. Expect all of the features of a modern firmware. Including Wii-connectivity, Cheats, Themes, Short-cuts, etc. Everything Wood R.P.G. does on the Acekard R.P.G. this firmware does on the R4 (except for on the fly A.P. patching for yet to be released ROMs). This firmware will continue to be updated, tweaked, fixed, optimized, etc. It is time to say goodbye to YASU's YSMENU by giving your R4 Wood!
15 new PSP games coming from Sony Computer Entertainment
The summer months will see the release of games like Fat Princess, ModNation Racers, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, Valkyria Chronicles 2 and Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep. Should these games still not satiate your handheld appetite, it appears Sony is planning on releasing at least 15 PSP games in the imminent future.
A recent update to the ESRB database showcases a number of games coming from Sony Computer Entertainment America, including Finger Connection, Homerun Hitters, Love Cupid, Busy Sweets Factory, Charge! Tank Squad!, Music Quiz, One Two Boat Racing, Pile Up Bakery, Pinball Duel, Quiz Animania, Ramen Heaven, Sheep Defense, Shogi, Sweet Reversi, and Tonzurakko. Most (if not all) of these games appear to be downloadable efforts, considering the simplistic quality of their descriptions; however, these games are unlikely to be part of PlayStation Minis, as they are rated exclusively for PSP. (Minis can be played on both the PSP and PS3.)
A recent update to the ESRB database showcases a number of games coming from Sony Computer Entertainment America, including Finger Connection, Homerun Hitters, Love Cupid, Busy Sweets Factory, Charge! Tank Squad!, Music Quiz, One Two Boat Racing, Pile Up Bakery, Pinball Duel, Quiz Animania, Ramen Heaven, Sheep Defense, Shogi, Sweet Reversi, and Tonzurakko. Most (if not all) of these games appear to be downloadable efforts, considering the simplistic quality of their descriptions; however, these games are unlikely to be part of PlayStation Minis, as they are rated exclusively for PSP. (Minis can be played on both the PSP and PS3.)
Monday, April 12, 2010
iPhone Gets Online Gaming Network, Multitasking
During the hour-long presentation at Apple’s Cupertino, California headquarters, Apple CEO Steve Jobs also showed off what he called the “tent poles” of the upcoming firmware update for his devices. He later said that all of these updates will work on the iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch 3rd generation, and many will work on the iPhone 3G and iPod Touch 2nd generation.
Multitasking: This may not seem like a boon for games on the device, but the ability to play a game, quickly switch over to another App or the home screen and then flick back will be a great addition. Apple’s multitasking works by tapping the home button. This brings up a multitask tray which you can use to switch between Apps. During the live demo the tray seemed to max out at four Apps.
Multitasking, it appears, will be limited to seven types of services: Audio, voice over internet protocol, location tracking, push notification, local notification, task completion and fast App switching. This is a fancy way of saying that the iPhonedoesn’t have true multitasking, but that their version of it will cut down on killing off your battery power or slowing your App to a chug.
Folders: The new firmware update will allow you to create folders on your device so you can, say, put all of your games in one folder and not spread them!out all over your home screen. With folders you can now have up!to 2,160 apps on your device, space permitting.
During the hour-long presentation at Apple’s Cupertino, California headquarters, Apple CEO Steve Jobs also showed off what he called the “tent poles” of the upcoming firmware update for his devices. He later said that all of these updates will work on the iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch 3rd generation, and many will work on the iPhone 3G and iPod Touch 2nd generation.
Multitasking: This may not seem like a boon for games on the device, but the ability to play a game, quickly switch over to another App or the home screen and then flick back will be a great addition. Apple’s multitasking works by tapping the home button. This brings up a multitask tray which you can use to switch between Apps. During the live demo the tray seemed to max out at four Apps.Multitasking, it appears, will be limited to seven types of services: Audio, voice over internet protocol, location tracking, push notification, local notification, task completion and fast App switching. This is a fancy way of saying that the iPhone doesn’t have true multitasking, but that their version of it will cut down on killing off your battery power or slowing your App to a chug.Folders: The new firmware update will allow you to create folders on your device so you can, say, put all of your games in one folder and not spread them!out all over your home screen. With folders you can now have up!to 2,160 apps on your device, space permitting.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Nintendo DSI XL rumours have started
With the advent of a new console like the Nintendo DSI XL, the coinciding question often becomes; will all my attachments still work with it? As is often the case with technology, not everything is tested on it when it is being manufactured so there is a lot of trial and error that occurs after the fact. However with such a hotly anticipated device like the DSI XL it is natural that forums will fill up with questions and rumours will quickly spread.
4gbr4card
So it can be difficult to ascertain what is true and what is not. The R4 has long been a fan favourite as an attachment product to the DS range of consoles but there is no official word from the manufacturer as to whether its current device will be compatible or if they are creating a new version of it. This is of upmost concern to gamers who love using the R4 system. Of course then the other thoughts become about memory cards.
dsi_xl_video100
What capacity memory cards should be used in this newer generation DS model? With its capability for gaming, WIFI social networking, movie viewing, music playing and eBook functionality, one would think a memory card will be a necessity. However, would it not also be necessary then to have something like a flash cart product like the R4 to fit the memory card in the first place?
flashcardsfordsdslitedsi
It is easy to see how all of this talk can become rumours and so called truths instead of there being any fact in it at all. Manufacturers will have to make announcements soon though as to what their intentions are with the Nintendo DSI XL; fans do not like being left in the dark about their favourite devices.
4gbr4card
So it can be difficult to ascertain what is true and what is not. The R4 has long been a fan favourite as an attachment product to the DS range of consoles but there is no official word from the manufacturer as to whether its current device will be compatible or if they are creating a new version of it. This is of upmost concern to gamers who love using the R4 system. Of course then the other thoughts become about memory cards.
dsi_xl_video100
What capacity memory cards should be used in this newer generation DS model? With its capability for gaming, WIFI social networking, movie viewing, music playing and eBook functionality, one would think a memory card will be a necessity. However, would it not also be necessary then to have something like a flash cart product like the R4 to fit the memory card in the first place?
flashcardsfordsdslitedsi
It is easy to see how all of this talk can become rumours and so called truths instead of there being any fact in it at all. Manufacturers will have to make announcements soon though as to what their intentions are with the Nintendo DSI XL; fans do not like being left in the dark about their favourite devices.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Apple files patent for iPhone gaming accessory
Apple is going into the mobile gaming business – big time! Apple's patent provides us with a first view of their exciting new gaming accessories that are now in development. Some units are dedicated while others include a unique receptacle system so that your iPod could be inserted to play games with a game pad that even has controls on the reverse side to control your characters jumping and maneuvering. Some units will have a Wii like motion sensing capability while others will wirelessly connect to your home theater or HDTV.
The patent shows several physical devices, which act as cases for portable electronic devices (i.e. iPhones). They have physical buttons and D-pads, as well as vibration and camera functions.
There's even one design that looks just like a DS, with the iPhone acting as one of two screens.
It's intriguing stuff, although it's already caused a rumpus. The firm behind the iControlPad accessory blogged last Friday that "We were very surprised to see that Apple have allegedly filed a patent for our original iControlPad design some 6 months after we revealed it".
The patent shows several physical devices, which act as cases for portable electronic devices (i.e. iPhones). They have physical buttons and D-pads, as well as vibration and camera functions.
There's even one design that looks just like a DS, with the iPhone acting as one of two screens.
It's intriguing stuff, although it's already caused a rumpus. The firm behind the iControlPad accessory blogged last Friday that "We were very surprised to see that Apple have allegedly filed a patent for our original iControlPad design some 6 months after we revealed it".
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Sharp shows 3-D displays for mobile devices
It has been reported that Sharp's latest 3-D displays deliver bright, clear imagery without the cumbersome glasses usually required for such technology. Now the bad news: They only work on a 3-inch (7.5-centimeter) screen held one foot (30 centimeters) from the viewer's face.
Sharp Corp. demonstrated liquid crystal screens Friday for mobile devices that showed 3-D animation, touch-panel screens that switched from one 3-D photo to another and a display connected to a 3-D video camera.
Movies and TVs in 3-D are no longer surprising. Sony Corp. and Panasonic Corp.of Japan, as well as South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics, already sell or are planning 3-D TVs.
The drawback until now has been the need for special glasses, which show different images to the right eye and the left eye. Sharp's 3-D technology doesn't require them because the displays are designed to shoot different images to each eye.
The technology may be applied to TVs in the future, said Executive Managing Officer Yoshisuke Hasegawa. But he acknowledged it now works better when the distance between the viewer and the screen is fixed.
The smaller displays, shown Friday, are intended for mobile devices such as cell phones, game machines and digital cameras.
The 3-D animation on the handheld screen looked like a miniature version of the 3-D animation we are used to seeing on larger TV screens, though images were less convincing than those seen in a darkened cinema.
Photos on the touch screen were less clear and even a bit blurry from certain angles, though Sharp said its latest technology does away with such "ghosting" effects.
Still, the system promises gaming and technology fans the potential for pop-up e-mail messages and taking 3-D photos of friends.
The technology is likely to show up in the next DSi portable game machine, which Nintendo Co. says will be 3-D. Sharp refused to confirm the names of companies it was supplying.
Sharp expects 3-D to replace two-dimensional displays the same way color replaced black-and-white in movies and television.
Sharp Corp. demonstrated liquid crystal screens Friday for mobile devices that showed 3-D animation, touch-panel screens that switched from one 3-D photo to another and a display connected to a 3-D video camera.
Movies and TVs in 3-D are no longer surprising. Sony Corp. and Panasonic Corp.of Japan, as well as South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics, already sell or are planning 3-D TVs.
The drawback until now has been the need for special glasses, which show different images to the right eye and the left eye. Sharp's 3-D technology doesn't require them because the displays are designed to shoot different images to each eye.
The technology may be applied to TVs in the future, said Executive Managing Officer Yoshisuke Hasegawa. But he acknowledged it now works better when the distance between the viewer and the screen is fixed.
The smaller displays, shown Friday, are intended for mobile devices such as cell phones, game machines and digital cameras.
The 3-D animation on the handheld screen looked like a miniature version of the 3-D animation we are used to seeing on larger TV screens, though images were less convincing than those seen in a darkened cinema.
Photos on the touch screen were less clear and even a bit blurry from certain angles, though Sharp said its latest technology does away with such "ghosting" effects.
Still, the system promises gaming and technology fans the potential for pop-up e-mail messages and taking 3-D photos of friends.
The technology is likely to show up in the next DSi portable game machine, which Nintendo Co. says will be 3-D. Sharp refused to confirm the names of companies it was supplying.
Sharp expects 3-D to replace two-dimensional displays the same way color replaced black-and-white in movies and television.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Modern Warfare 2 Stimulus Pack Is Live But With Defect
The following is the status update from Kotaku regarding the Modern Warfare 2 Stimulus Pack:
Update: The pack is now working.
Update 2: Now it appears that marchmaking isn't working on Xbox Live. Larry Hryb writes that the service is in a "bad state" right now and they're working quickly to resolve it.
Update 3: Microsoft's official support page is reporting that the map packs still aren't working and lists a slew of other things that Xbox Live users can't currently do:
Creating new Xbox LIVE accounts, managing those accounts, or recovering an account on a different console
Buying downloadable items from the Xbox 360 console, Xbox.com, or Games for Windows – LIVE
Paying for downloadable items with a credit card
Signing into Games for Windows – LIVE on a PC
Redeeming downloadable items with Microsoft Points, buying additional Microsoft Points, or viewing your points balance
Using prepaid cards or codes for downloadable items or Xbox LIVE subscriptions
Purchase transactions using the Games for Windows LIVE client.
Update 4: Modern Warfare 2 DLC is up and running. Live status is still suffering issues.
Update: The pack is now working.
Update 2: Now it appears that marchmaking isn't working on Xbox Live. Larry Hryb writes that the service is in a "bad state" right now and they're working quickly to resolve it.
Update 3: Microsoft's official support page is reporting that the map packs still aren't working and lists a slew of other things that Xbox Live users can't currently do:
Creating new Xbox LIVE accounts, managing those accounts, or recovering an account on a different console
Buying downloadable items from the Xbox 360 console, Xbox.com, or Games for Windows – LIVE
Paying for downloadable items with a credit card
Signing into Games for Windows – LIVE on a PC
Redeeming downloadable items with Microsoft Points, buying additional Microsoft Points, or viewing your points balance
Using prepaid cards or codes for downloadable items or Xbox LIVE subscriptions
Purchase transactions using the Games for Windows LIVE client.
Update 4: Modern Warfare 2 DLC is up and running. Live status is still suffering issues.
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