March 23 launch date likely for PS3

The PS3 is still on track to reach Europe in March. But Sony has not yet to reveal an official date and price.

The speculation is that the PS3 launch will be towards the end of March.

Sony are set to announce the final details of the launch within the next fortnight.

Final Fantasy - Celine Dion

Final Fantasy - Celine Dion - My heart will go on



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Vanguard: Saga of Heroes

Vanguard is going into the final stages of beta testing and Sigil has revealed that this new MMORPG will launch on January 30th. "The immersive fantasy world is comprised of three massive, uniquely-themed continents for players to discover new creatures, new items and unlimited adventure. Players have complete freedom to roam the world whether flying dragons to islands in the sky or riding swift steeds to exotic lands." I've posted some screenshots for your perusal.

German law may ban video games

Scarface could be banned!

Developing or even playing video games in Germany could lead to imprisonment if a bill before the parliament there is passed.
The bill under debate, in the wake of a public outcry in Germany about reported links between gaming and violence, would outlaw the depiction of violent acts committed against human characters. It would apply to any video title played or distributed on German soil. The legislation could effectively put a ban on most first-person shooter, action and real-time strategy titles.

The law would mean many Hollywood franchise titles distributed in Europe's largest vidgame market could be banned as well.

Popular movie franchise titles falling under the violent category, such as the "Star-Trek" series, "The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II;" and "Scarface: The World Is Yours," would likely be outlawed.

Already, Germany has some of the world's strictest laws limiting violence in vidgames. Under present statutes, for example, games cannot be distributed unless depictions of blood or bloodletting are switched off.

Ironically, Germany's gaming scene plays host to major video tournaments where "Counter-Strike," "Quake" or other titles are played in arenas attended by thousands of spectators. But the large screens at what is seen as a major spectator sport in Germany cannot depict bloodletting during "Counter-Strike" or other first-person shooter battles.

The bill was introduced late last year after 18-year-old Sebastian Bosse shot up a high school in Emsdetten, Germany, injuring 37 before fatally turning the gun on himself. According to reports and police officials, the shooting was carried out methodically, as if Bosse were trying to advance to the next level in a vidgame. The investigation that followed revealed Bosse spent most his waking hours playing "Counter-Strike."

The incident was followed by a post on a videogame forum in which a death threat was made. According to police officials, a threat was made by someone who said he wanted to murder school pupils. The perpetrator remains at large.

For German politicians who drafted the legislation, the incidents were seen as a last straw. Since Bosse was reportedly addicted to vidgames and spent his waking hours gaming, the violent link is clear, German politicians and officials say.

According to Andreas Fess, a major in the German crime prevention unit of the Bund police department, which is lobbying for the legislation, a public survey found that most Germans feel that violent vidgaming and the school shooting were linked, and support banning the titles.

"It is always young men who commit these kinds of crimes, and it is always young men who play these kinds of games," Fess said. "They play more videogames than they watch TV or films."

So why not outlaw other media, such as violent movies with the German equivalent of R ratings, or gangster hip hop music? The difference, Fess said, is that vidgames cross the line because the player is pulling the trigger.

"In a film, you only watch the scenes," Fess said.

Frank Sliwka, chairman of Deutscher eSport-Bund, a German electronic sports association, claims vidgames are being unjustly singled out.

"Politicians have to do something, so they say ‘Let's have stronger laws for games,' " Sliwka said. "No one asked: ‘Where did Bosse get the gun in the first place?"

Violent vidgames are attracting attention by European politicians outside of Germany's borders as well. The European Commission has begun an investigation of violent videogames and their alleged ill effects. The EC study is backed by British EC parliament member Michael Cashman, who seeks to create a European-wide game rating system.

But Sliwka says politicians are merely playing on voters' fear and ignorance of the gaming genre. While films have existed for over a century, videogames are a comparatively new genre, and are not yet fully understood by the general public, he said.

"Videogames are new and the politicians don't know what they are," Sliwka said. "They have never played the games."

Source: "Variety"

Nintendo Wii Outpaces Sony PlayStation 3

The first results are out in the hotly contested market for video game consoles in Japan, and so far, the results do not look too promising for Sony and its much-promoted PlayStation 3.

Enterbrain, a market research company, released sales estimates showing that Sony fell far short of its goal of selling 1 million PlayStation 3s in Japan last year. Sony sold 534,336 consoles from their Nov. 11 debut in Japan to Jan. 7, Enterbrain said.

By contrast, Enterbrain reported that Nintendo sold 1.14 million units of its less expensive new game console, Wii, from its introduction Dec. 2 until Jan. 7. Xbox 360 from Microsoft, which has had limited success breaking into the Japanese market, has sold 311,053 units since arriving in December 2005, Enterbrain said.

"We can't keep Wiis in our stores," said Naoko Ito, a spokeswoman for Bic Camera, one of Japan's largest electronics retailers. "But we still have plenty of PlayStations." Analysts said these figures offer some of the first hard data on how PlayStation 3, which was introduced here a week before it was in the U.S. was faring.

Need For Speed

i was bored so i made a vid



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After delay, 'Warcraft' video game gets highly anticipated expansion

Every day, millions of people around the world gaze at their computer screens to explore a dangerous fantasy world of treasure-filled dungeons and flame-breathing dragons, a land where mortal enemies lurk around every corner.

It's the "World of Warcraft," the most successful online game ever, and it's a world about to get a whole lot bigger with Tuesday's release of a US$39.99 enhancement called "The Burning Crusade."

More than eight million registered users now pay up to $15 a month to gather with hundreds of other real people who masquerade as digital avatars in the never-ending fantasy world of Azeroth.

"The Burning Crusade" adds new locales such as Karazhan, Hellfire Citadel and Tempest Keep to Azeroth, and presents a spiralling war against demonic forces where the game's two opposing factions - the Alliance and the Horde - will face powerful new enemies.

Players will have access to the new realm of Outland that's nearly as large as the existing game world, and the highest level that characters can achieve has been raised from 60 to 70.

There are two new races to choose from as well: the remnants of an ancient space-faring civilization called the Draenei, and the Blood Elves, who are addicted to arcane magic.

But in a market already overpopulated with dwarves, paladins and trolls, is there room for even more of the same? If fans are any indication, the answer is a definite yes.

Trey Hancock, 26, has been shooting fireballs and frost novas to crush his mortal enemies in the video game "World of Warcraft" since it first launched in 2004. In his years of playing, the Houston resident led a guild of more than 200 people and raised four characters to the current top level of 60 - including his main character, a mage named Oraj.

Like many others, Hancock said he took a break in anticipation of the expansion, where his first goal will be to take Oraj to level 70.

"I haven't played for the last week because I know once it comes out I'm going to be playing it nonstop," he said.

It's just the sort of enthusiasm the company behind the game, Blizzard Entertainment Inc., is banking on.

"We were going to be happy if we got a million worldwide subscribers, we didn't feel like that was shooting the moon," said Rob Pardo, Blizzard's vice-president of game design and the lead designer for "World of Warcraft." "The way it blew up is far beyond our wildest expectations. But now that we are at the mark we are, we feel there's still an ability to grow that customer base even further."

Released in November 2004, "World of Warcraft" brought several new elements to the genre of massive multiplayer online roleplaying games, or MMORPGs. Most significantly, it was simple to play and a had high level of polish, according to Jon Wood, managing editor of the gaming website MMORPG.com.

"I think Blizzard looked at what was out there and found out what worked and what didn't work," he said. "The truth of the matter is, the game is very polished. The fact that it's very smooth and easy to learn has put them out front."

Pardo said polish has always been the mantra for the game's creators.

"It's extremely complicated, all the things we have to get right," he said. "We were on track for a Christmas release but we really felt like we should make sure the product's right for our customers."

"Warcraft's" popularity has transcended video game culture and spawned a series of action figures, comic books, novels and trading cards.

The game was even the focus of a recent "South Park" episode where Eric Cartman and friends balloon into overweight, pimply video addicts bent on defeating a rampaging player who threatens the very existence of the game.

The pop culture references extend into the game world, too. If you type "/dance" as a male Blood Elf, for example, your character will strut around with moves similar to the uber-dorky hero of the movie "Napoleon Dynamite."

"We're all entertainment geeks ourselves," Pardo said. "Part of our design process is having fun and putting in those references. It's kind of our way of giving homage to the things that inspire us."

David Daryani, owner of Tru-Gamerz video gaming centre in Dallas, said his customers regularly queue up to play the game, especially on the weekends. As a longtime "WoW" player himself, Daryani, 38, said he hasn't played much lately but was looking forward to seeing the new content and returning to his favourite activity: player versus player combat.

"If you have a bad day, you get on and say 'I'm just going to kick some Alliance butt,"' he said. "It just relieves some stress."

AX360 GAMING HEADPHONES

TRITTON introduces the Audio Xtreme 360 (AX360), one of the industry’s first high performance Dolby Digital and Pro Logic certified digital gaming headset for Xbox, Xbox 360, PS2, PC and DVD players. The AX360 provides true 5.1 digital, 360-degree surround sound with a removable microphone.

The AX360 connects to the gaming console optical port to deliver optimum Dolby certified 2.1 and 5.1 digital sound separation. For a radical and extreme gaming experience, the unit features eight strategically placed speakers, four in each ear cup. The external 5.1 audio controller amplifies each individual speaker to completely engulf users into the game. The AX360 gives total control with inline adjustments for front, side, rear, and subwoofer to customize the users own audio experience. The integrated rumble effect will blow your mind, giving you a more realistic and immersed game play.

With the AX360, gamers can hear when enemies are sneaking up behind them, the roar of engines as they pass the competition, bullets flying from side to side and explosions emitting from all directions over the battlefield. With the removable microphone that is XBOX Live compatible, gamers can communicate with other gamers directly from the headset. The AX360 sound box can support two headsets to share in the chaos. (Secondary headsets sold separately.) Connect to a PC via an optical port or 5.1 analog inputs through the G9 adapter provided. The AX360 is not only the perfect gaming headset, it is also ideal for enjoying DVD movies in crystal clear 5.1 Dolby Digital certified sound .

Twilight Princess: Watery Air in Zora's Domain

I found a place in Zora's Domain under the water where Link can use all of his terrestrial weapons!

Link walks under water without the Iron Boots, rolls really fast into a wall and bruises his noggin, turns into a wolf, shoots arrows underwater, warps to the surface etc.

I love finding things like this. I bet there's other places in the game where this can happen too.



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Doom + iPod + NES controller

A little side project I have been working on. Playing doom.wad games with a NES controller on my iPod



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