10 million Microsoft XBox games users may share games

Taking online multiplayer console gaming to the next level, Microsoft, architect of the Xbox Live gaming service, announced the formation of a "Creator's Club" that will allow hobbyists and amateur game developers to be able to play and share their games with the 10-million-member strong Xbox Live community. The company has said that all games created by a developer of any level will be up on the Live service to be played, but games will be reviewed for objectionable content and pulled down as and when necessary.

Talks about such community-driven gaming had been on since last year, and the issue came to the fore at the Game Developers Conference 2008 in San Francisco.

Source: Tech Tree

10 more Nintendo Wii Balance Board games in development

Spread your weight over at least ten titles.

Unlike the single focus of the costly set of wired baby rattles you bought for Samba de Amigo on the Dreamcast, it appears a sure thing that the Wii Fit’s Balance Board is going to be your interface into more than just a world of pretend weight loss. Speaking to IGN, President of Nintendo of America Reggie Fils-Aime has confirmed that there are over ten titles on the horizon that utilise the board’s unique control capabilities.

News had already surfaced that Namco Bandai's Family Ski, originally destined to be controlled only by the Wii remote and Nunchuck, would be modified prior to its release to be compatible with the board. This, coupled with Reggie’s revelation, means that the daunting prospect of parting with another wad of cash for a peripheral of limited use is somewhat less worrying. There are currently no announcements on what the other Wii Balance Board compatible games will be.

Source: Palgn Au

Nintendo to launch Wii Fit virtual gym

Video game players are traditionally to be found hunched over their computers but Wii Fit, which will hit European stores on April 25, is designed to give them a proper workout.

With obesity reaching critical levels in the UK, the Wii Fit may provide some people with an enjoyable alternative to visiting the gym. As it is designed to be used in the comfort - and seclusion - of a person's home, it allows the unfit to get back into shape without the embarrassment of attending exercise classes as a beginner.

The games console, which plugs into any TV, comes with a balance board, about the size of a pair of bathroom scales. Once stepped on, this board calculates a player's bodymass index based on their weight, height and age. The player then carries out a few basic balance exercises on the board to gauge their rough level of fitness.

More from The Guardian

Its good news for Mac gamers. Neverwinter Nights 2 for the Mac has been released.

Its good news for Mac gamers. Neverwinter Nights 2 for the Mac has been released.

Its being done by the guys over at Aspry and will be availble soon. I love computer games and although I can't afford every single one then more the better. Hopefully game companies will see the Mac as a viable gaming platform and start developing games natively.

In the mean time, Neverwinter Nights 2 boasts a story line in which you rise from peasant status into a fully fledge hero as you defend the Realms against one of the greatest threats of the age! You can build a character that suits for style of play including being good or evil, chaotic or lawful, with any number of skills, feats and professions available at the click of a button.

It sounds fun and I can't wait to try out the demo. From the site you need:

Minimum System Requirements:

Operating System: 10.4.11 (Tiger), 10.5.1 (Leopard)
CPU Processor: Intel Chipset
CPU Speed: 2.0 GHz
Memory: 1 GB
Hard Disk Space: 6.5 GB Hard Drive Space
Video Card (ATI): Radeon X1600
Video Card (NVidia): Geforce 7600
Video Memory (VRam): 128 MB
Media Required: DVD Drive

Multiplayer Requirements:

Internet(TCP/IP) or LAN play supported
Internet play requires broadband connection

Recommended System Requirments:

CPU Speed: 2.33 GHz
Operating System: 10.4.11 (Tiger), 10.5.1 (Leopard)
Memory: 2 GB
Video Memory (VRam): 256

Supported Video cards:

NVIDIA GeForce 7600, 8600
ATI Radeon X1600, X1900, HD 2400, HD 2600

Its not a low end spec and you will need a powerful computer to run the game, my Macbook pro can just about handle it.

Source: MacTricksAndTips

PC games rivals form alliance against consoles

Gaming consoles like Sony’s PlayStation 3 have taken up too much of the spotlight and PC companies are taking notice. At this year’s Game Developers Conference, arch rivals like Intel and AMD are putting aside their differences to wage war against consoles. The aptly-named PC Gaming Alliance or PCGA already has an impressive list of members like Acer/Gateway, Activision, Dell/Alienware, Epic, Microsoft and Nvidia.

Randy Stude is Intel’s director of the Gaming Program Office and represents the company is the founding member. The PCGA is an open organization and membership is available to anyone who has the money to pay dues. Advocating PC games is the group’s primary function and Stude said the public needs to know that computer games aren’t going away and provide a gaming experience that equals or surpasses console games.

“We’re trying to get rid of the fallacy that PC gaming is dying,” said Stude.

To prove his point, Stude cited market research figures that showed US PC gaming revenues growing 12% to $2.7 billion last year. He added that PC game revenue make up 30% of the entire game market.

Educating consumers on system specifications will be one of the primary challenges for the PCGA. Stude said consumers are often confused about minimum system requirements for graphically challenging games. Fellow PCGA board members agreed that consumers can be easily led astray because they automatically think an expensive computer will play the top games. “It’s easy to get an $1,800 boat anchor (of a computer),” one member said.

But you just can’t educate consumers to get the message out and Stude says his group will also work with developers to streamline their minimum system requirements. To us it almost sounded like the will develop a rating system (similar to ESRB) that will score games according to performance requirements.

Stude agreed with reporters that cooperation between members could be somewhat difficult, but he describes board meetings so far as amazingly “harmonious”. Looking at the membership roles, you’ve got a strange alliance between two discrete graphics card makers Nvidia and AMD/ATI with integrated graphics champion Intel.

Source: tgdaily

The future of gaming is on the internet or network say experts

The future of the games industry lies with the internet and content delivered from central servers, a panel of game luminaries has predicted.

"Everything is moving towards the network," said Neil Young, general manager of EA Los Angeles.

Phil Harrison, Sony's head of worldwide studios, said: "Public utility computing is absolutely the future of the games industry."

The panel was assembled by developer Dave Perry to discuss industry issues.

The panel included online gaming pioneer Raph Koster, Fable creator Peter Molyneux and Dungeon Siege creator Chris Taylor.

"A huge game changer for our industry is for there not to be a requirement for there to be a machine in the home," said Mr Young.

More from the BBC

New "Codename: Panzers PC video game - Cold War" Screenshots Released

Developer Stormregion and publisher 10TACLE STUDIOS today released new screenshots and the box art for "Codename Panzers: Cold War." The screenshots offer a glimpse of the variety in the game's levels as well as demonstrating the completely re-worked Gepard3 graphics engines performance. The new real-time strategy game from famed Hungarian studio Stormregion is set in the early 50's, during the Cold War. From Berlin's Tempelhof Airport players set out on a campaign that will take them through Western Europe to far-off Kazakhstan. The newest episode of the "Codename Panzers" series is due for release on PC in March 2008.

During the Cold War conflict, a period in which the differences of opinion between the Allied occupying forces and the Soviet Union become ever sharper, an airplane accident occurs over Tempelhof Airport during the Berlin Blockade, with grave consequences. The tragic collision of an American airplane carrying relief goods with a Russian fighter plane costs not only the lives of both crews, but also overstretches the already tense relations between the occupying forces. Under the command of the merciless Stalin, the Red Army has undergone a tremendous expansion at the end of the Second World War and has more-or-less been waiting for the right time to extend their territory to the West by attacking the NATO.

WARRIORS OROCHI VIDEO GAME COMING TO SONY PSP PlayStationPortable and AND PC

KOEI, recognized worldwide as the premier brand of strategy and action games, announced today that Warriors Orochi will ship for PSP (PlayStation Portable) system on March 25, 2008 and for Windows-based PC in March 2008. Warriors Orochi is in stores now for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system.

Warriors Orochi for PSP boasts the massive seamless battlefields of the console versions, while previous games in the series for handheld platforms had combat taking place on battlefields divided into smaller “cells”. The handheld release includes all 79 playable characters, and features 2-player co-op play via wireless (ad-hoc).

Warriors Orochi for Windows-based PC features enhanced graphics (for PCs meeting the recommended system requirements) and will be available exclusively through digital download.

About Warriors Orochi
Without warning, the venomous Serpent King Orochi descended from the heavens. Using his unworldly powers to shatter time and space, Orochi kidnapped the strongest, wisest and most courageous warriors from Ancient China and Feudal Japan in a scheme to test his might against the heroes of these ages.

In Warriors Orochi the characters from both franchises must team-up to wage war against this new, yet powerful force. The game boasts an amazing roster of 79 playable characters, while four action-packed “crossover” storylines feature amazing team-ups and some long-awaited confrontations between characters from both series.

The game’s new “Team Battle System” and “Weapon Fusion” push Tactical Action to a whole new level. For the first time in KOEI’s Tactical Action games, players can create their own three-person tag team. At any given time, one warrior will be engaged in battle, while the other two are recuperating; restoring their Life Meters and Musou Gauges. Every character is categorized according to offensive ability, and with new fighting techniques, it’s up to the player to find the most lethal combination of warriors. “Weapon Fusion” lets players combine the attributes from different weapons for more devastating results.

SEGA Reveals Details Of Upcoming Aliens: Colonial Marines Video Game

SEGA Europe Ltd. and SEGA of America, Inc. today revealed details of the highly anticipated squad-based first-person shooter video game, Aliens: Colonial Marines. Licensed through an exclusive agreement with Twentieth Century Fox Licensing and Merchandising and developed by Gearbox Software, the game will be available on the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and Windows-based PC in late 2008.

In Aliens: Colonial Marines, players are part of a United States Colonial Marine squad and must prepare to face an alien assault more intense and horrific than ever before. Driven by a compelling and original story penned by renowned writers Bradley Thompson and David Weddle Aliens: Colonial Marines will retain the atmospheric look and feel of the original films while leveraging next-generation technology to create an entirely new interactive Aliens experience.

Packing classic Aliens weaponry ranging from pulse rifles to flamethrowers as well as brand-new equipment and skills all within a squad-based combat system, players will become an elite United States Colonial Marine. Featuring claustrophobic environments, a brooding soundtrack, and a multitude of surprises and shocks, players will battle against menacing alien hordes in strikingly detailed levels that include the stark interiors of the abandoned Sulaco and unique environments created specifically for the game.

Aliens: Colonial Marines will feature a story driven single-player mode and an all-new four player co-op mode allowing players to share the chilling experience with three friends. In co-op mode, each player will assume the persona of a Colonial Marine and have a distinct role to play in the completion of every mission. Additionally, more multiplayer modes will be revealed later in the year that will complete the Aliens video game experience.

Since its 1979 debut, Alien and its three sequels have grossed more than $557 million worldwide, garnering numerous awards, including two Academy Awards.

For more information, please visit www.sega.com/aliens, for assets please visit http://www.sega-press.com/.

SEGA Reveals Details Of Upcoming Aliens: Colonial Marines Video Game

SEGA Europe Ltd. and SEGA of America, Inc. today revealed details of the highly anticipated squad-based first-person shooter video game, Aliens: Colonial Marines. Licensed through an exclusive agreement with Twentieth Century Fox Licensing and Merchandising and developed by Gearbox Software, the game will be available on the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and Windows-based PC in late 2008.

In Aliens: Colonial Marines, players are part of a United States Colonial Marine squad and must prepare to face an alien assault more intense and horrific than ever before. Driven by a compelling and original story penned by renowned writers Bradley Thompson and David Weddle Aliens: Colonial Marines will retain the atmospheric look and feel of the original films while leveraging next-generation technology to create an entirely new interactive Aliens experience.

Packing classic Aliens weaponry ranging from pulse rifles to flamethrowers as well as brand-new equipment and skills all within a squad-based combat system, players will become an elite United States Colonial Marine. Featuring claustrophobic environments, a brooding soundtrack, and a multitude of surprises and shocks, players will battle against menacing alien hordes in strikingly detailed levels that include the stark interiors of the abandoned Sulaco and unique environments created specifically for the game.

Aliens: Colonial Marines will feature a story driven single-player mode and an all-new four player co-op mode allowing players to share the chilling experience with three friends. In co-op mode, each player will assume the persona of a Colonial Marine and have a distinct role to play in the completion of every mission. Additionally, more multiplayer modes will be revealed later in the year that will complete the Aliens video game experience.

Since its 1979 debut, Alien and its three sequels have grossed more than $557 million worldwide, garnering numerous awards, including two Academy Awards.

For more information, please visit www.sega.com/aliens, for assets please visit http://www.sega-press.com/.