Sunday, February 03, 2008
Super Smash Bros. shortages
Less than a quarter of software delivered says retailer
Two popular import retailers have warned consumers that Nintendo Japan is struggling to fulfil day-one pre-orders for the highly anticipated Wii title Super Smash Bros. Brawl, due for release in the region tomorrow (Jan 31).
The game is likely to be one of the biggest first-party Nintendo titles released this year – excitement is high from Nintendo's loyal fanbase following a perfect 10 score from respected Japanese magazine Famitsu.
"Please note that Nintendo has badly cut pre-orders placed by all distributors and is only shipping very limited quantities into the market this week," states Play Asia on its website.
"Our first shipment of Super Smash Bros. Brawl has reached us today, only covering about 15 per cent of all pre-orders that we have received," added the importer.
National Console Support says the troubles are more likely a delay than a shortage, and initial supplies should be topped up over the coming week.
"Our initial shipments of Smash Bros. are scheduled to arrive on Thursday of this week. We were able to obtain more copies than we originally expected after receiving the bad news from suppliers on Sunday night," reports the company.
"Some of our suppliers in Hong Kong won't be getting any copies until this weekend which makes it more of a delay than an actual shortage," it continued. "We also note that most of our Japanese vendors will receive the bulk of their supplies on February 2 and February 4 which is a few days later than the official street date."
The title has already been delayed in the US, where it is due for release on March 9, and a European release is currently pencilled in for the second quarter.
EA extends online portion of Burnout Paradise demo
Servers will remain functional until February 15
Electronic Arts has decided to extend the online mutiplayer portion of the Burnout Paradise demo.
Earlier this week, EA indicated that it would be switching multiplayer off as of February 1 "in order to enable the best possible experience for gamers who have purchased Burnout Paradise." The company then urged players to buy the full game.
An EA spokesperson told GamesIndustry.biz that they have extended the deadline by two weeks, and will now be switching off the servers on February 15 instead.
"As you may know, Burnout Paradise is built to provide the ultimate in freedom and discovery online and offline. The demo did a terrific job of providing players a taste of that.
"Seeing how the social online multiplayer gameplay is such a huge part of Burnout Paradise, we've decided to keep the multiplayer demo functionality on for a bit longer," the spokesperson said.
Wii Fit No 1 in Japan for week number four
Over 1.2 million units sold since release
Nintendo's Wii Fit is the best-selling console game in Japan for the fourth week running.
The game has sold an estimated 1,283,000 units since it was released on December 1, 2007.
According to data from Media Create, the highest new entry in the Japanese charts for the week ended Jan 27 is Konami's World Soccer Winning Eleven: Ubiquitous Evolution 2008 for the PSP, at number two.
The full top ten for Japan follows:
1. Wii Fit (Nintendo) – Wii
2. World Soccer Winning Eleven: Ubiquitous Evolution 2008 (Konami) – PSP
3. Lucky Star: Misasagi Sakura Gakuen Sakura Fuji Festival (Kadakawa Shoten) – PS2
4. Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games (Nintendo) – Wii
5. Wii Sports (Nintendo) – Wii
6. Mario Party DS (Nintendo) – DS
7. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd (Capcom) – PSP
8. Doraemon Baseball: Dramatic Stadium (Bandai Namco) – DS
9. Yggdra Union (Sting) – PSP
10. Professor Layton and Pandora's Box (Level 5) – DS
4cr First Impressions: Super Smash Bros. Brawl
First of all I want to state that this post is not meant to rub it in that this game was delayed in the rest of the world. I am not talking about it to brag or gloat, but to tell you that when it does come out in your area of the world, your patience will be rewarded. It is worth the wait. And shockingly it lives up to the amazing amounts of hype people have been giving it. Read on for more first impressions (spoiler free).
Call me a pessimist if you want, but I came into this game expecting to be disappointed. It’s not that I didn’t think Brawl would be a great game, I mean if all it was, was a roster update of Melee it would still be a wonderful game. It’s just that the amount of hype and anticipation this game received was (I thought) building up for a massive letdown.
It wouldn’t be the first time. Look at titles like Halo 3, Final Fantasy VIII, Twilight Princess, and any other heavily anticipated games. They usually turn out to be wonderful, classic titles, but compared to the months/years of speculation and hype, they can never fully climb to the top of the pedestal their fans placed them on pre-release.
So I was prepared to have a good time, but not to actually encounter a game that is as good (or better) as I hoped it would be. Masahiro Sakurai is an evil genius. A genius in the fact that he delivers a game with beautiful graphics and, as far as I can tell, extremely balanced gameplay. He is evil because for the first time in years I stayed up until 5:00am on a work night playing his amazing game. Now I sit here exhausted and probably getting a bit sick, but I know that rather than take a nap, as soon as I have a free moment I will be back to the game.
I put a good 6 hours into the game yesterday (I started late) and I believe that I haven’t even scratched the surface of Smash Bros. Brawl. I haven’t tried out most of the play modes, didn’t try the level editor, didn’t go online and only got to about the 10% point on the “Subspace Emissary” adventure mode. It hasn’t been my goal to unlock characters or collect trophies (though I definitely will do that later for my full review). Right now I am just enjoying the game. I chose characters and stages randomly and I loved all the surprises I found.
The battles are very much like those found in Melee so veteran players will be right at home. The inclusion of the smash ball leads to some new strategy though. Trying to activate a Final Smash and avoid being hit by another players Final Smash. The backgrounds are exciting and the stages have amazing variety. Pro players will once again have to both master their choice of characters and learn the ins and outs of the games stages.
As for the graphics the game is one of the best-looking Wii titles right now. The characters and backgrounds are colorful and detailed. The animations are smooth and the special effects are wonderfully flashy. It’s not as big of a leap in graphics as Smash Bros. 64 to Smash Bros. Melee, but it is definitely a good-looking title.
I have tried controlling the game with the Wii remote alone, the Wii remote/nunchuck combo and the GameCube controller. Of these, so far I like the GameCube controller the best, but that might be because that is what I am used to using for Melee. This weekend I am going to pick up a Classic Controller and give that a try. I’m inviting some friends over so I am also looking forward to experiencing the multiplayer in full.
The music in this game is fantastic and there are so many songs! I really can’t believe the amount of music in this game. 36 composers worked on the games soundtrack and I have heard it reported that there are literally hundreds of songs to be heard. The developers went totally overboard with the music, but actually they went overboard with everything.
The amount of game content is almost overwhelming. There are so many things, to unlock, collect, play with, customize that I think it will take me weeks just to play with everything much less master the game. And with the added bonus of online play this game could keep a gamer entertained for hundreds of hours. It is probably the best value for your money of any Wii title.
Just the added-on adventure mode really could have been a stand alone game by itself. It has a great (though slightly simple) story, beautiful cut-scenes and fun “beat ‘em up” gameplay. It felt like a classic 2D game and I wish more games of this type were being made for consoles. The only negative I found was that the Smash Bros. characters don’t jump the same way most platform game characters do. I found my jumps landing places I didn’t want them to (like bottomless pits). However, the more I played the more I got used to it. By the end of the game I am sure it will become second nature. For someone who loves side-scrollers this mode alone is with the price of the game.
I realize that saying all of this is not going to make your wait any easier. But I want to assure you that when you finally do get this game into your hands you will realize that as much as we would have loved to have it last year, the amount of extra effort put into this title has paid off. I hope you can take comfort in the fact that the game you eventually buy will be worth the agony some of you are going through. Miyamoto once said, “A delayed game is eventually good, a bad game is bad forever”. In this case, the repeatedly delayed Smash Brothers Brawl could be the next Nintendo Masterpiece.
______________________________________________
Thanks to Vinnk on 4CR for the article.
Indie Games - Barkley, Shutup and Jam: Gaiden
While you and I and the rest of the western world dredge through the next painful month waiting for Brawl to finally make its way across the ocean, may I be fortunate enough to present to you this shining beacon of hope during these dark times. Barkley, Shutup and Jam: Gaiden (Episode 1 of the Hoopz Barkley Saga) is a superb example of good ole’ 2D RPG gaming. No, I’m really not kidding, and after playing it I bet you’ll feel the same way.
I can’t begin to describe the awesomeness that is this game. It plays like a mix of Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger, and a little Earthbound. The story, though focused largely on B-Ball, is accessible and hilarious to even those who know nothing about the sport (me). Add a post-apocalyptic cyberpunk world, some fun side quests, and an all around enjoyable experience, and you have the groundwork for what could be one of the most epic sagas in indie gaming history.
Oh, and the theme for Space Jam is the title menu music. As if you needed another reason to play this game.
Barkley, Shutup and Jam: Gaiden
Source: 4CR
Wii will race to the End of Resident Evil for charity
The gaming marathon mad folks over at cameronbanga.com (aka Four48) have issued a challenge in their latest charity driven attempt.
They will be competing with seven other teams from around the world to see who can reach the end of Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition first. Currently, two teams have dropped out leaving six left to slaughter their way through the zombie hordes.
You can make your donations (which will go to Child's Play) on their website as well as follow the multiple teams' progress via live streaming video.
Source: Kotaku
$500,000 for Video Game Voice-Overs
For a time, indescribably horrific voice acting was a hallmark of video games. However, with the game industry now pulling in nearly $18 billion a year in the US alone, publishers and developers have learned that it takes some solid investment in talented people to make the voice acting in video games not only professional but enjoyable from a gamer’s point of view.
Renowned actors as Sir Ian McKellen, Liam Neeson, Patrick Stewart, Ron Perlman, Keith David, Samuel L. Jackson, Chow Yun-Fat, and others deliver top-notch vocal performances for audiobooks, film narration and video games, a trend that sees no stop to celebrity voice acting any time soon.
So how much are these actors being paid to lend their real-world pipes to virtual heroes? According to Screen Actors Guild rules, union voice actors can expect to be paid $760 for one four-hour recording session.
That’s just the fee for a professional voice actor with union status.
Now, if you were to talk celebrity voice talent, that figure increases exponentially. Speaking to Reuters, Blindlight production company general manager Lev Chapelsky said that some stars have demanded $750,000 for an hour’s worth of work, and one voice actor actually received $500,000 for a single session. Chapelsky told Reuters that top talent commonly receives “in the high five figures for a single session.”
Videogames have helped resuscitate the careers of many film and television actors, whose distinctive voices can make them a hot commodity in the game world even as their status in Hollywood fades.
Many once-familiar actors have carved out second careers as video-game characters.
Videogamers, will more likely recognize Keith David for his role as the Arbiter, the deep-voiced alien “co-star” in Microsoft’s best-selling “Halo” videogames.
Marty O’Donnell, audio director at Bungie Studios, which created “Halo”, said he stumbled across David’s distinctive voice when listening to a documentary the actor was narrating, and knew he was perfect for the Arbiter.
O’Donnell sees celebrities are a boon for the gaming industry, because there are a lot of great actors out there not currently working on the latest triple-A film.”
Roughly 1,200 to 1,500 lines of dialogue per character are recorded for story-driven games. “Halo 3″ had more than 35,000 total lines of dialogue, according to O’Donnell.
With blockbusters like Halo 3, it’s clear that residuals in games will be a major bargaining issue in upcoming SAG negotiations.
Residuals are payments to actors for subsequent showings of their work, such as when a movie is shown on TV.
Currently, voice actors don’t get residuals for games, and it’s an issue that echoes the complaints of Hollywood’s striking writers that they should be paid more for digital distribution of their works.
Source: Reuters
Saturday, February 02, 2008
StarCraft Online rumoured for Chinese operator
Report suggests NetEase working with Blizzard on new MMO
Chinese online games operator NetEase is said to be breaking into the overseas market backed with a huge MMO licence – StarCraft Online.
According to a report on Tradingmarkets.com, NetEase will be operating StarCraft Online, a title developed by World of Warcraft team Blizzard.
Blizzard has not confirmed the existence of any such game, although it has advertised for staff for a new MMO title, currently under wraps at the US developer.
Last May Blizzard revealed a sequel to the popular PC real-time strategy title StarCraft, saying it had been working on the game since 2003.
NetEase operates Fantasy Westward Journey in China, an internally developed MMORPG, which recorded 25 million registered users in April 2005.
According to Tradingmarkets.com NetEase CEO Ding Li has said the company has not signed any contracts, but the company is seeking foreign partners for licensing and co-development deals.
Source: Games Industry
Chinese online games operator NetEase is said to be breaking into the overseas market backed with a huge MMO licence – StarCraft Online.
According to a report on Tradingmarkets.com, NetEase will be operating StarCraft Online, a title developed by World of Warcraft team Blizzard.
Blizzard has not confirmed the existence of any such game, although it has advertised for staff for a new MMO title, currently under wraps at the US developer.
Last May Blizzard revealed a sequel to the popular PC real-time strategy title StarCraft, saying it had been working on the game since 2003.
NetEase operates Fantasy Westward Journey in China, an internally developed MMORPG, which recorded 25 million registered users in April 2005.
According to Tradingmarkets.com NetEase CEO Ding Li has said the company has not signed any contracts, but the company is seeking foreign partners for licensing and co-development deals.
Source: Games Industry
Halo energy Sword sells for $525 on EBay
Link to listing here
"Initally thought to be purely cerimonial. Few has been seen in combat, but they are invariably carried by high ranking elites. We don't understand how if functions, but it cuts through any armor with ease."
Energy Sword Specs:
Overall Length: 36" (3 feet)
Width : 14"
Custom handle fit for any elite
Solid Stainless Steel Blade with mirrored finish
An Energy Sword Collector's Card that will feature Master Chief, Arbiter, Grunt, White Elite, Red Spartan or White Spartan. You may choose any character or I can send you one at random.
A Solid Wood Walnut Wall Plaque to display your Energy Sword anywhere.
Certificate of Originality. This will certify that you are receiving a high quality original sword from Lionheartsrealm, not some cheap knockoff.
World of Warcraft WoW Mana Energy Potion now available
Taking into account that WoW has over 100.4 gizillion subscribers at last count, we surmise that a drink based on mana potions in the game should sell incredibly well. It's hard to tell how this thing will taste without actually drinking and subsequently puking it up, but it's supposed to give you 5-8 hours of uninterrupted "jitter-free energy".
This translates into 5-8 hours of grinding for gold in Warcraft, something you could pay an Asian kid $2 to do for you. Combine this with the Final Fantasy Potion, and you'll get both your HP and MP back—plus a free trip to the hospital.
Source: Gizmodo
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)