Metal Slug 3 on Microsoft Xbox Live Arcade NOT actually in HD?

The Xbox Live Arcade version of SNK's Metal Slug 3. It's a pretty good version of one of my favorite Metal Slug games and a great price at $10 but I have an issue with how it's marketed on Xbox Live.

It's a port of a "24-bit " SNK Neo Geo game from 2000 with a resolution of 320x224 pixels. The Xbox version has an upscaling filter with edge smoothing to display it at whatever resolution your TV is running. Up-sampling lower resolution graphics and putting a filter on them is not really "High definition". Taking an 320x224 and scaling it to 1080p is not HD in any explanation of the term.

However there are several Xbox Live Arcade games that feature redone and redrawn versions of classic game graphics such as Rush'N Attack, Time Pilot, Double Dragon, Root Beer Tapper, Gauntlet and Puzzle Fighter HD. There are also several 3d remakes of classic arcade games in HD on Xbox Live Arcade.

I love the Metal Slug games and think that they are an excellent addition to XBLA with online co-op gameplay and I think that Metal Slug 3 features some of the best 2d hand drawn artwork and animation. Unless they are actually going to redraw the existing graphics to modern HD resolutions than they should not call it HD. Microsoft should knock it off because it is can be a bit deceiving to gamers expecting new HD artwork. I love co-op classic games on XBLA and I hope they brink a big heaping mound of Classic NeoGeo games to XBLA but just by scaling the old graphic and adding an edge blur filter does in no way give them HD graphics.

Source: 8bitjoystick

PocketGuitar play now on your Apple iPhone or iPod touch

You were born to rock, and to help you live dream, Shinya Kasatani has released PocketGuitar for the iPhone and iPod touch.

The application looks insanely great, and we cannot believe it has taken humanity this long to realize the true destiny of the iPhone. It makes so much sense now; it is the guitar of the future, sent back to destroy enemies of rock music.

If your not feeling up to an acoustic solo session, fret not, well actually, you will need to fret, but you can do all your fretting alongside music that is already stored on your iPhone. That's right, you can be Hendrix. Man, you are so in to the music, you are Hendrix. That some heavy, insane music philosophy right there.

To get your fingers strumming, launch Installer and follow these instructions: Installer > Sources > Add http://podmap.net/apps to your repositories. PockeGuitar is filed under the Toys category.

If this takes off in a big way, expect iPhone finger board extension peripherals to drop soon. We can't wait.

From MobileWhack

BioShock and Assassin's Creed Video Games for $40 at Best Buy

This week's Amazon Ad lists two of the biggest titles of last year BioShock and Assassin's Creed each for $39.99.

Also avialable is Enemy Territory: Quake Wars for $19.99 and an online only deal that will net you two games priced $19.99 each for $30.

Some of the titles offered in that deal include COD 2, Viva Pinata, LEGO: Star Wars II, Red Steel and a ton of PS2 titles. The weekly ad deals last until next Saturday but the online offer has no stated ending date.

If you want cash in on the hidden gems though, I would jump on it ASAP.

Source: BestBuy

Linux player Play PC games FREE on your Sony Playstation 3 - PS3

StreamMyGame.com announced today the release of its free Linux Player, an application that enables you to play any PC game via a PlayStation 3 running Linux.

The free StreamMyGame Server enables PC games to be played remotely by converting the game's video and audio into a Game Stream and sending it over a home network to a second computer where you can view and play the game with the free StreamMyGame Player. The second computer can be a PC, laptop, PS3 or Linux device. The game can be played on the second computer without any lag and the second computer does not need to have the game installed.

The StreamMyGame Server is compatible with Windows XP, Vista and all computer games based on Microsoft's DirectX8, DirectX9, DirectX10 including the latest games such as PES 2008 and Crysis and OpenGL standards.

The StreamMyGame Player is compatible with Windows XP, Vista and Linux with resolutions up to Super HDTV 3200 x 2400. Compatible Linux installations include Ubuntu and Yellow Dog Linux, recommended by Sony for the PS3.

"Playing the latest PC game on the PS3 is now a reality at HD resolution and fast frame-rates," said Richard Faria CEO. "I have a PS3 in my living room and PC in my office and my two kids both have old PCs in their bedrooms," he said. "Now we can play games anywhere around the home. StreamMyGame's technology networks the power of a main PC so it can be used to play high end games on other PCs, PS3s and Linux devices".

StreamMyGame will extend its services in March 2008 to enable games to be played remotely over broadband networks that have sufficient capacity such as Verizon's FiOS, Comcast's Wideband and British Telecom's FTTP. Publishers will be able to use StreamMyGame to establish Pay-for-Play services to existing PCs, PS3s and STBs.

"We believe our new Linux player will enable many new devices to connect to the StreamMyGame service. We would like to see STBs and DMAs using our technology and we have already begun development for mobile OS such as Windows Mobile and Android," said Richard.

StreamMyGame ia available free by simply registering at http://www.StreamMyGame.com/

Sony PSP and Nintendo DS sales neck-and-neck in Japan

Handhelds in Japan have a knack for pulling off resurrections better than any religious figure ever could. It wasn't long ago that the Nintendo DS was slacking in both hardware and software sales. But, after the introduction of the revised DS Lite and a new price point, it hasn't been the same ever since. The Nintendo DS outsold every other unit by extremely distant margins.

Now, it looks like it's the PSP's turn to change things around. Much like the DS Lite, with the introduction of the slimmer, lighter PSP, new colors, and a new price-point, it simply hasn't been the same for the once struggling handheld. Where as the Sony PSP use to average anywhere between 35-50k sales on a weekly basis, it has averaged just over 142k units for the past seven weeks. Still, during that same seven week time frame, the Nintendo DS averaged 197k units sold. But despite that, it really looks like the PSP is slowly moving in on the DS.

Now the question is if/when will the PSP begin outselling the DS on a weekly basis. Only time will tell for now. In any case, below are the Japanese sales numbers for January 7th-13th. As you can see, the PSP and DS sold nearly identical numbers - especially when you consider there is a margin of error of +/- 1000 with these stats. The PS3 is holding in there, and fast approaching 2 million units sold in Japan. And the Wii continues to sell briskly, thanks to a desirable lineup of software.

Nintendo DS - 97,369

Sony PSP - 96,159

Nintendo Wii - 84,530

Sony PS3 - 38,907

Sony PS2 - 14,499

Xbox 360 - 4,690

Nintendo DS Advance Wars: Days of Ruin launch 21st January in US

Advance Wars: Days of Ruin for Nintendo DS makes its official debut on January 21st, updating the acclaimed combat series with a host of new characters, enhanced graphics and exciting wireless features.

Players must lead their troops through a mind-bending battle to save the planet in this hotly anticipated sequel, using keen strategy and the award-winning wireless function of the top-selling Nintendo DS.

Wii Zapper Reviews Link's Crossbow training, Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles and Medal of Honor: Heroes 2 on Nintendo Wii

Overshadowed by the chronic shortage of Wiis during the past Christmas season was the release of Wii Zapper — the $20 (£20 in UK) molded-plastic accessory that turns your Wii Remote and Nunchuk into a rudimentary light gun. A number of new Wii games have been optimized for use with the Zapper, including Link's Crossbow Training, which comes bundled with each Zapper sold.

Link's Crossbow Trainin — Like Wii Sports the game included with every Wii console — this Zelda-inspired collection of mini-games is the best of the bunch, not only because it's free, but also because of its simple, enjoyable, and easy-to-control gameplay. The premise is simple: you (playing as Link) must take out a variety of moving targets, including sword-wielding skeletons and fireball-throwing goblins.

Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles, on the other hand, misses its mark. It is what gamers call a ''rail shooter,'' meaning you have no control of the game's direction — your character is like a car in a amusement-park funhouse ride, with zombies and creepy crawlies popping up every now and then. Umbrella Chronicles takes a stab at a plot, but it's nothing you haven't seen before in any of the few thousand Resident Evil games you've played in the past.

Medal of Honor: Heroes 2 is the most complete of the Zapper offerings (although it can be played without the accessory). The latest installment in EA's long-running WWII combat franchise, Heroes 2 is a full-fledged game, featuring both story and arcade modes, as well as online multiplayer action with up to 32 players — a first for a Wii game. You also have full freedom of movement — a big plus when you're trying to blow away all of the goose-stepping bad guys Heroes 2 throws at you.

Source: EW.com

Making music on your Nintendo Wii with Wii Music video game

Tune up your Wii-mote for conducting fun, strum yourself a tune, and blow your own trumpet into the bargain.

New information on Nintendo's upcoming Wii Music title has surfaced today, including details on what instruments to expect, and how to control them.

The game play style is reportedly based on a title called Play Sessions, and the music players will be waving their Wii-motes to will be harvested from Nintendo's vast repertoire of game themes, as well as featuring some original tunes to work through.

The current information has said that there'll be more than 40 instruments to perform your symphonies on, such as marimbas, trumpets, guitars, and drums. Each instrument will have its own control style as well - for instance, the angle and position of the Wii-mote will affect the pitch and strength of a trumpet, guitars use the C button on the Nunchuk as a plectrum, and drums are played by two controllers, with possibly two Wii-motes being used.

The Wii-mote can also be used to conduct a band of up to six musicians, of which up to four can be player-controlled. Performances can also be recorded and replayed should players feel the need to show off, or just listen back to their musical masterpieces.

No release date has been set for any region at this point, however, but it is expected to orchestrate its way onto shelves sometime this year.

From: Aussie Nintendo

Only Nintendo making money from Wii? Third parties struggle?

According to reports, third party games are not selling well on the Nintendo Wii platform, as it appears that the only company really making profit off of the incredibly hot console and games are first party Nintendo.

Goichi Suda, known as Suda 51, has come out and stated that third-party games are not selling well on the Wii in Japan. He stated that Nintendo is the only company really making a huge profit off of the success of the Wii.

He spoke specifically about the sales of his Japanese game, No More Heroes. He stated that the sales were not as high as he had hoped. He stated “other titles for Wii aren’t selling so well either. Only Nintendo titles are doing well.”

He stated that this is not just because of the situation in Japan, but also outside of Japan in Europe and North America.

He stated that he expected the Wii to be more for hardcore gamers and is surprised that it has turned into a console which casual non-gamers love.

This agrees with past comments made by executives at Microsoft, where they have stated that Xbox 360 third party titles are blowing away third party game sales on other consoles such as the Wii and PS3.

Source: dbTechno

NASA to make MMORPG computer video games

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is exploring the possibility of developing a massively multiplayer online learning game.

The U.S. space agency NASA Learning Technologies (LT) project is currently investigating the development of a massively multiplayer online educational game (MMO) with a view to advancing education in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Persistent immersive synthetic environments in the form of massive multiplayer online gaming and social virtual world, initially popularized as gaming and social settings, are now finding growing interest as education and training venues.

Teaching complex subjects in these 'synthetic environments' is gaining recognition especially with grasping complicated concepts and understanding practical problems.

It has been recognised that MMOs help players develop 'strategic thinking, interpretative analysis, problem solving, plan formulation and execution, team-building and cooperation, and adaptation to rapid change'.

Immersion into the virtual environment will be designed to simulate scientific experiments and engineering tasks as well as experience microgravity.

From: ClanBase