Next-gen Blu-ray "mindblowing" say Sun's James Gosling

Forthcoming third-generation improvements to the Blu-ray specification are "going to be just mindblowing," according to James Gosling, vice president and fellow at Sun.

Demonstrations planned for the company's JavaOne conference in May to show off the new features "will blow [delegates'] socks off" providing the code is ready in time, he said.

"People are going nuts trying to exploit everything that's in Blu-ray," Gosling added.

While Gosling was unable to reveal details of what's ahead, he was keen to talk about what we'll see when Blu-ray Profile 2 (agreed about a year ago) finds its way into players in the coming months.

Blu-ray Profile 2 increases the amount of local storage that must be provided by a player (flash memory is now so cheap that this is unlikely to make much difference to the price of Blu-ray hardware) and also mandates the provision of Internet connectivity.

This will result in "all kinds of really interesting Blu-ray applications that use the network," Gosling told iTWire, such as first-person shooter games, shopping, and community subtitling.

The idea of allowing outsiders to provide subtitles is getting a mixed reception from the movie industry, he said. On one hand, it means they can release movies before subtitling is complete and it provides a way of reaching many more markets with a single product, but the studios are also concerned about the loss of control. There are quality control issues when subtitles aren't subject to review by the movie's creators, and there is also the possibility that spoof or otherwise humorous subtitles could be unofficially released.

"There's still a lot of dissension in the industry," Gosling observed.

Most manufacturers of upgradable Blu-ray players have almost finished work on Profile 2 upgrades, he said.

Furthermore, people have realised that "Blu-ray players are pretty interesting things even when they don't have a disc in them" as with appropriate programming they could deliver other functions such as acting as an IPTV set-top box.

Sun's Java language - originally designed by Gosling - is part of the Blu-ray standard.

Source: IT Wire

Hideo Kojima -Metal Gear Solid 4 too big for Blu-Ray discs

Several big names may be going the Blu-ray way, but perhaps not all are satisfied with the decision. Konami’s video game designer Hideo Kojima is one such example. Apparently the 50GB Blu-ray is not enough for Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, reported renowned gaming blog Kotaku.

Speaking to Famitsu, Hideo Kojima stated, “For us, we are still not satisfied with the quality we can do. You know, there’s not capacity space.” The interviewer then asked Kojima if he was referring to the Blu-ray, to which the father of Metal Gear replied, “That is correct. There is not enough space at all. There is not enough space. We always talked about where to cut and what to compress.”

It seems, the team had to compress certain parts of the game to fit it on the Sony format, and the foreign voice tracks were entirely cut.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriot will be released in June 2008 across the globe.
Well coming back to, Kojima’s stance, what do you think? Would you yet prefer “Quality over Quantity”? Do drop in your views below and let us know about the same.

Source: Tech Shout

MGS4 Squeezes Onto PS3 Blu-ray, Could It Fit On Xbox 360? - db Techno

Conspiracy Entertainment's Nintendo Wii Cocoto Magic Circus video game released

Conspiracy Entertainment, a developer, publisher and marketer of interactive entertainment software in North America and Western Europe, announced today that the Company's highly anticipated gaming title for the Nintendo Wii "Cocoto Magic Circus" was shipped to U.S. retail stores.

"Cocoto Magic Circus," a mini game compilation developed by Neko Entertainment, was first marketed under the name "Cocoto Fun Fair" to Europe in 2006. Conspiracy gained the U.S. rights to develop the game for the Wii console under the name "Cocoto Magic Circus," which is currently being distributed through Conspiracy's agreement with SVG Distribution, Inc.

Featuring 40 mini-games "one more original than the next," "Cocoto Magic Circus" is an arcade-style shooter game focused on freeing a magical fairy. The game's four progressive modes -- Arcade, Training, Duel and Tournament -- can accommodate up to four players. "Families and their children nationwide are catching on to the recurring and loveable character Cocoto. The simple, cartoonish and fast-paced style of our latest release is ideal for children six years and up, and at its affordable price points, it is poised to add to sales in the first quarter of 2008," said Sirus Ahmadi, president of Conspiracy Entertainment.

Keith Tanaka, CFO of Conspiracy Entertainment, said, "The fourth quarter of 2007 was a very strong quarter in terms of the number of released titles and revenues, and we are continuing this aggressive growth trend in the first quarter of 2008. 'Cocoto Magic Circus' is the third title to be released in March. Combined with strong Wii: 'Winter Sports' sales, our new releases provide for significant sales growth in the first quarter of 2008, a significant turnaround from no revenues in the first quarter of 2007."

LostWinds: 3-D on Wii as WiiWare download game

Nintendo will launch this cool little three-dimensional adventure from Frontier as one of the first WiiWare downloadable games

Nintendo's WiiWare lets independent developers create a plethora of cheap, downloadable games for the masses, and the company chose to make Frontier's LostWinds one of its launch games. Simple to play and attractive, this intriguing adventure should appeal to all ages, especially those looking for a meatier Wii experience.

LostWinds is a fully 3-D adventure in which you play as two characters at the same time, the boy Toku (the apparent savior of his world, Mistralis) and his sidekick, a wind spirit named Enril. You do this by maneuvering Toku with the nunchuk's analog stick while guiding Enril using the Wii remote. It shares similarities with Nintendo's DS game, Kirby Canvas Curse in the sense that you draw on the screen to help Toku reach new areas and destroy enemies. For example, if you approach a cliff, you press and hold A on the remote, then draw a line underneath Toku angled towards the edge, causing Toku to catch a gust of wind and land safely.

This also works with defeating enemies. If you come across one of the game's creatures, you press and hold A, then draw a quick circle around it, thus trapping it in a vortex. And if encircling your foes doesn't suit you, drawing a line on top of them enables Toku to fly above their heads without taking damage.

According to Frontier, enjoyment comes from experimenting with the game world, searching for ways to interact with the environment in order to push things along. It may be something as simple as planting and watering a seed to make it grow, thereby completing a puzzle.

As for LostWinds' story, don't expect anything epic. Although the game has a simple narrative where both Toku and Enril must work together to defeat the evil Balasar, the game doesn't feature any cut scenes and has limited dialogue. That's not a bad thing per se, but rather Frontier's commitment to focusing more on the gameplay.

It's too early to pass judgment, but we see lots of potential. LostWinds is a cool little game with a lot to offer, and we look forward to downloading it as soon as it goes live.

Source: GameDAILY

Microsoft plans to drop the price of the Xbox 360 Arcade to match Nintendo Wii?

When it's priced the same, for all intents and purposes, which it's looking like it just might be by late next week. Referencing "trade sources," MCV claims that Microsoft plans to drop the price of its entry-level Xbox 360 Arcade by as much as €50 ($76 USD). TechRadar.com adds spice to the rumor by avowing the drop and claiming it'll occur across Europe on March 14, sourcing "numerous UK retailers...who agree that the 360 price is set to be slashed on this date."

Altogether, the Xbox 360 Elite is poised to take a dive from €300 to €240, while the basic Arcade system, which lacks a hard drive, should drop from €200 to €150. That would technically make the Arcade cheaper than the Wii, which lists for €180.

Is it time to drop the price of the Xbox already? Let's see:

- Microsoft dumps HD DVD drive for Xbox 360 -- more of a psychological oops, but it leaves a ton of existing 360 owners in a lurch, and feeds a right or wrong public perception that something major associated with the Xbox 360 failed.

- Sony muscled past the 360 for the first time in January. I know, it shocked me too, and since Microsoft beat the pants off Nintendo and Sony each in software sales that month, I guessed it was Blu-ray sales driven. Which means Sony could be on the verge of a hardware sales turnaround that's not even games driven.

- The Xbox 360 has (or had) an absurdly high unit failure rate, i.e. the doleful "red ring of death," and enthusiast confidence on message boards and blogs is low, trending toward sardonic. Microsoft has performed minor miracles to rectify the situation and deserves full honors for being stand up about the problem, but first impressions (like possession) are nine-tenths law. Unreliable and expensive is of course a universe away from "bargain-priced" and "sufficiently revised."

- A considerable part of the Xbox 360's revenue model is Xbox Live and aftermarket online and/or casual game sales. Drop the 360 price into Wii territory and get your marketing team going toe-to-toe with Nintendo on the casual-online front and you just might redraw the battle lines. Nintendo may have found a new niche, but it remains a pretty monolithic one. The Xbox 360 (uniquely) has the economic and creative potential to mix and match hardcore and casual demographics. Figuring out how to market that message is Microsoft's game to lose.

So yeah, I think it's time to drop the price, unleash the new marketing campaigns, spin the monthly statistics to emphasize the company's forte (software revenue and critically acclaimed games), release a standalone Blu-ray player, etc. to get the system back on its feet, lest Nintendo continue to pull ahead based on sheer momentum, and Sony eradicate Microsoft's lead by virtue of movie player sales alone.

Will U.S. Xbox 360 prices follow suit? Grab hold of your wallet, then bet your bottom dollar.

Source: PC World

Xbox 360 to be cheaper than Wii on March 14 - TECH.BLORGE.com

Xbox 360 Getting Price To Compete With Wii - db Techno.com

Xbox 360 to get Wii-Like Pricing? - Spong

Video game box art - telling the truth?

Check out this site where existing video game box art has been given a twist...

More from: Call of the day

Red Bull BC One Nintendo DS game playable demo available

Playlogic announces playable prototype of Red Bull BC One

Playlogic, an independent worldwide publisher of entertainment software, announced the launch of a web based prototype to the Red Bull BC One DS game.
The game takes the player to the international Red Bull BC One breakdance tournament that challenges B-boys and B-girls alike. Players control their break dancer by solving puzzles under strict time limits. Puzzles consist of drawing geometrical shapes, which will get more complex as the game progresses. A steady hand and speed are required to set a high score that is worth bragging about. The game features fresh and stylish graphics with urban music as well as tense puzzle rounds alternating with a variety of minigames. Red Bull BC One is currently being
developed for Nintendo DS by Smackdown.

The game prototype allows players to look at the concept of the game and help the developing team by providing the ever important feedback. The player’s comments and suggestions will be used to improve the final version of the game. Furthermore, the players that forward the best ideas or comments will even be credited in the final game.


Red Bull BC One for Nintendo DS will be published worldwide in early Summer 2008.

For more information about Red Bull BC One and for playing the prototype game please visit: http://www.redbullbcone.com/game

Dynamite Fishing video game - fun fishing simulator PC game

HandyGames blasts you away!

Have a big blast with what could easily be the world’s craziest fishing simulation! Arm yourself for an explosive raid on the wet and weird underwater world!

As a Texas redneck with acute money problems, you join the profitable fish business. Get your unsinkable tub and buy sticks of dynamite at the local weapon vendor to blow up some big fish! Learn about new technologies, e.g. stimulating pheromone bait or evil super weapons like the squirrel bomb! Find hidden underwater treasures and beat rare boss fish by using the unfair methods of dynamite fishing! If you do well, you might even catch the girl of your dreams and not just smelly fish! After all, you hope for a son to whom you can teach your dirty tricks in the future!

The most explosive Casual Game of all times is available now!

Features:

- Crazy fishing action with dynamite sticks

- Weird story with explosive gags

- 30 wet levels full of satirical themes

- 20 dangerous weapons for gill destruction

- 6 unsinkable boats with individual upgrades

- 2 extremely funny game modes: Story mode, Freestyle

- Relaxing aquarium mode for Peeping Toms

- Coloured gallery with much more coloured story pictures

- Authentic Hillbilly soundtrack

- Highscore for all fish fetishists

- Tutorial for chief blaster training

Available here...

Nintendo Wii and DS game - Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games sells 5 Million

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Hits 5 Million in Global Sales

TOKYO-SEGA Corporation today announced that its history-making video game title, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, has sold five million copies worldwide in just over three months. Developed by SEGA for the Wii video game system and the Nintendo DS™ system, with creative input and executive milestone approvals by Nintendo’s developers, the title brought together for the first time the two most beloved icons in the entertainment industry. In the spirit of the Olympic Games, the legendary mascots also brought friends from their storied franchises along, including Luigi, Knuckles, Yoshi and Tails, to compete in a variety of Olympic events.

“With adored icons and fun game play, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games has shot to the top of the sales charts and is clearly resonating with the growing audience of casual gamers that want an engaging and accessible gaming experience,” said Simon Jeffery, President and COO, SEGA of America.

Published by SEGA across Europe and North America, and by Nintendo in Japan, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games made its worldwide debut on November 6, 2007, when the Wii version hit store shelves in the United States. According to the NPD Group, which tracks sales data in the United States, the game was one of the top-ten best-sellers in the United States – across all platforms – in the critical holiday sales month of December.

When Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games launched in Europe just days later, it was an immediate hit, rising rapidly to the top of sales charts. Mario & Sonic became the best-ever performing Wii game over the seven-day period that ended on December 11, 2007. In January, Mario & Sonic was the best-selling video game in England across all formats.

“The market for entertaining games that everyone can enjoy is growing faster than any other segment in the industry, thanks in part to the explosive popularity of Wii and Nintendo DS,” continued Jeffery. “A key element of our growth strategy at SEGA is to develop and publish games that appeal to this expanding market.”

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games is licensed through a worldwide partnership with International Sports Multimedia (ISM), the exclusive Interactive Entertainment Software licensee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

CAL RIPKEN'S REAL BASEBALL LAUNCHES LIVE FROM DISNEY'S ESPN THE WEEKEND

CAL RIPKEN'S REAL BASEBALL LAUNCHES LIVE FROM DISNEY'S ESPN THE WEEKEND

New Website Offers a Free One-of-a-Kind Video Game and Online Community for Baseball Enthusiasts Around the World

Key Facts:
Baseball’s all-time “Iron Man” and member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Cal Ripken, Jr. was today announced as the official spokesperson for Real Baseball, a free online video game and community for baseball enthusiasts around the world. Cal Ripken’s Real Baseball is the new name of the community/video game which was previously known as Ultimate Baseball Online or UBO.

The new website is at: www.PlayRealBaseball.com.

Cal Ripken’s Real Baseball enables gamers to compete in a Massively Multiplayer Online Sport Game (MMOSG), meaning each position on the field is manned by a human player in a 3-D virtual stadium. Players can create their own characters and build their skill level (player stats) through successful play on the field against other real human players. Unlike current video games that aim to simulate professional sports, Real Baseball (RB) delivers a first-person perspective of a character, created and developed by the player, interacting online in real-time with teammates and opponents playing from numerous locations.

Real Baseball was created by Andy Wang, founder and CEO of Netamin Communication Corporation, the first company in the world to develop the technology to build a Massively Multiplayer Online Sports Game (MMSOG). Netamin is headquartered in Diamond Bar, California with additional operations in Korea.

Real Baseball has been in existence for three years in a beta mode under the name Ultimate Baseball Online, and currently boasts approximately 7,000 players worldwide. Over the past three years Ultimate Baseball Online have seen strong participation in the United States, Canada, Taiwan, Korea, England, Italy, South Africa, Brazil and Australia.

Quotes:

Cal Ripken Jr., Member of National Baseball Hall of Fame:

“Real Baseball is a fun game that provides the players with a unique perspective and delivers a one of a kind lifelike baseball experience. The online baseball community reinforces baseball fundamentals and provides baseball fans and gamers with a challenging experience. It is a great destination for baseball fans of all ages.”

Andy Wang, Founder & CEO of Netamin:

“We are very excited to partner with Cal in an effort to make our website and video game even better for baseball lovers across the globe. We strive to make Real Baseball the most authentic baseball video game it can be, and adding Cal to our team not only strengthens our brand, but connects us with a baseball legend that will take our video game and community to the next level.”