Costco US selling Nintendo Wii bundles

If you weren't able to get your hands on a Wii this holiday season and you just can't bear to buy into the whole "rain check" thing, then may I suggest you beat feet down to your local Costco. Kotakuite Thomas K. sends in this pic from his local Costco taken just this very morning.

The bundle goes for 344.99 and include the Wii, an extra nunchuck and remote and a copy of Brain Age for the Wii.

So, fly my faithful readers and grab that Wii that you were so viciously denied.

Source: Kotaku

Nintendo Wii Hacked to run Homebrew Software

Watch the video here ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5YB1Mmx7E4

At this last weekend's Chaos Communication Congress, a group of hackers demonstrated a hack for the Wii which allowed them to run software of their own design natively on the system.

This is the first official demonstration of this kind of hack on Nintendo's Wii.

The hack itself - as explained in the above video - is quite complicated and probably far above the average Wii gamer, but it demonstrates the future potential for the system to run code that Nintendo never intended it to. While the technique is basically just a proof-of-concept at this point, expect to see Linux ports and rudimentary homebrew software for the Wii popping up throughout 2008.

The importance of this event is difficult to overstate.

The Wii is a wildly popular system manufactured by a company who is notoriously protective of their secretive hardware. The fact that a group of amateur hackers were able to crack the system's encryption proves, yet again, that despite any attempts to dictate how your hardware should be used, once you've sold it to consumers, it's completely up to them what they want to do with it.

With the hack still in its infancy it presents no danger to Nintendo of draining the company's profits through the unauthorized duplication of software, but you can be sure Nintendo is eyeing this hack with great scrutiny.

Source: Wii Nintendo http://wiinintendo.net/2007/12/28/the-wii-officially-hacked/

Text: Wired http://blog.wired.com/games/2007/12/wii-hacked.html

$1 million goal passed by Child's Play

The videogame chairty Child's Play had a really good year. It seemed like gamers and game makers did their best to get behind the cause, and that has paid off. The Child's Play Web page reports that they were able to beat their goal of $1 million in donations.

Not only did we break the million dollar mark, but we decimated it with our new total of $1,135,000! This significant achievement made this holiday season a happier, brighter one in our fifty partner hospitals. To everyone who has contributed to this amazing milestone, thank you!

The hospital wish lists are still online, and some have seen new items added. While we try to get lots of new games and more to the children in time for the holidays, the hospitals have a need for equipment year-round. Likewise, we will continue to accept donations through Amazon, PayPal and the mail until next year’s fundraiser kicks off.

They say that a final update will be released in January.

Source: Destructoid

EA video games release dates for 2008

25 January
Burnout Paradise
on PS3 XBox 360

22 February
FIFA Street 3
on NDS PS3 XBox 360
Need for Speed ProStreet
on PSP

February
The Sims 2 FreeTime
on PC
The Sims Castaway Stories
on PC

March
Ninja Reflex
on NDS Wii

Quarter One
Army of Two
on PS3 XBox 360

Spring
Command and Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath
on PC XBox 360

Autumn
Tiberium
on PC PS3 XBox 360

Alchemic Dream to assist Xivio.com's online world

Xivio.com, a 3D virtual world and social community, has partnered with online game specialists Alchemic Dream, Inc., to give the site’s members a richer online experience through in-game monitoring, assistance and support.

Xivio is a 3D Flash-driven application that allows users to access all of the site's features without need of software downloads or additional computer configuration. Members can log into Xivio.com at any computer and have complete access to content and online protection tools.



Alchemic Dream will provide email support, chat moderation, in-game events, community management, localization and marketing of the site.

In September 2007, Xivio.com introduced two revolutionary online safety features through a patent-pending Open Ratings System and Parents' Zone.

With simple-to-understand grading tools, TV-style ratings are assigned to any piece of content (photos, music, videos and journal entries) throughout the site. In the Parents' Zone, a child's security settings are managed from an easy-to-use control panel which can be applied to multiple site accounts.

“As we look to expand Xivio.com’s offerings, we needed to find a partner who could assist us with the most important part of our site – the members who use it regularly,” said David Wisotzky, Xivio LLC.
President/CEO. “Alchemic Dream is a leader in MMOG management and their extensive expertise in this area makes them a natural fit for our future goals.”

BOMBERMAN LIVE NEW YEAR'S BASH TOURNAMENT & SWEEPSTAKES - US ONLY

U.S.-Only Leaderboard Tournament Has Top Prize of 100,000 Microsoft Points

udson Entertainment, the North American publishing arm for Hudson Soft, today announced the “Bomberman LIVE New Year’s Bash Tournament & Sweepstakes,” in which U.S. players will compete both for bragging rights and for prizes, including a 1st-place prize of 100,000 Microsoft Points. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. PST on December 31, 2007 and ends at 8:59 a.m. PST on January 13, 2008.

In the “Bomberman LIVE New Year’s Bash Tournament,” players will drop bombs with reckless abandon. They will attempt to get the most frags on the “Weekly Ranked Friendly Fire Leaderboard” which records performance in the new “Friendly Fire” game mode on any map. This new mode is available only by downloading the “Bomb-Up Pack 3” add-on pack for Bomberman LIVE from Xbox LIVE Marketplace. The tournament begins at 5:00 a.m. PST on January 6, 2008 and ends at 8:59 a.m. PST on January 13, 2008. Concurrently, people will be able to enter the “Bomberman LIVE New Year’s Bash Sweepstakes” by simply registering at the official registration page. (http://www.hudsonentertainment.com/tournament_register.php?tournament_id=1)

“Our goal with Bomberman is to bring the fantastic gameplay to a wider fanbase.” said John Greiner, President and CEO of Hudson Entertainment. “We start off the new year with a big tournament in Bomberman LIVE on XBLA, then move into new Bomberman Land releases on the Wii, DS, PSP, and mobile. We have lots more planned to bring even more fans into the community in 2008.”

For Registration, Official Rules, and more information, visit Hudson’s website.

North Koreans Undercutting MMO WOW Farmers?

The North Koreans may be undercutting the MMO farming market according to GameSetWatch:

Chinese-based game service companies offering WoW power-leveling numbered less then 30 in 2004, but service companies will surpass 2000 soon, and this number is growing continuously.

Looking over the entire Southeast Asian market, many of these companies are concentrated in the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and other areas in India.

North Korea is worth mentioning because the labor cost is currently the most inexpensive.

Source: VE3D

2007 = Best year in video games history

The BBC reports

The last 12 months have been one of the best years in video game history, both critically and commercially.
Gamers have been able to revel in some of the most exhilarating interactive experiences ever designed.

Sales in the UK are at an all-time high, with more than £1.52bn taken in the last 12 months.

Some video games crossed over into blockbuster entertainment territory. Halo 3, for example, earned £84m in its first 24 hours on sale.

Top three games for 2007 from ...

DAVID AMOR, RELENTLESS GAMES

1. Ratchet and Clank - PlayStation 3
2. Super Mario Galaxy - Nintendo Wii
3. Command and Conquer - PC

DAVID BRABEN, FRONTIER GAMES

1. The Darkness - Xbox 360
2. Bioshock - PC and Xbox 360
3. Halo 3 - Xbox 360

MARGARET ROBERTSON, GAMES CONSULTANT

1. Super Mario Galaxy
2. Final Fantasy XII - PlayStation 2
3. Planet Puzzle League - Nintendo DS

More from the BBC website ... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7156701.stm

IGNs top 100 video games of all time - see if you agree

The Top 100 Games of All Time! - Over the next ten days...

Yes, friends, more than 30 editors located all over the world set aside their ages, allegiances and personal favorites to pick the hundred best videogames that the planet has ever seen! There was fighting, there was mayhem, and there was pizza -- lots and lots of pizza.

Now, some of you may proclaim, "but your list is different from the rankings you guys did in 2005!" Well, of course it is people. Plenty of fantastic games have been released since then, and we have plenty of new folks in our ranks to throw in their couple of cents. We're also not afraid to admit that our tastes change over time too.

Our criteria for creating this list of our picks for the Top 100 Games of All Time are as follows:

• Eligible games had to have been released no later than December 31, 2006 (perspective is a good thing)


• A number of factors were taken into consideration when selecting a winner: How good the game was compared to others of its time, its overall game design, how well it stands up over the years, how influential it has been in the realm of gaming and just plain how much fun we had playing it are all points for contention.


• The list is comprised of single, stand-alone titles and doesn't include compilations, expansion packs or add-ons.


• Titles with multiple editions such as collector's boxes, gold editions or direct re-releases have been consolidated into one single entry, with the edition deemed most deserving taking precedence.


• Updated versions of original titles were only included on the list if they were significantly different from their predecessors.

So what made it and what didn't? To find out, keep checking back with us over the next 10 days as we start with games No: 100-91 and work our way down to the golden ten. After you've had a chance to check out the list, tell us what you think about it on the IGN Boards, and share your own favorite games with everyone. Enjoy!

See the list on the IGN website here... http://uk.top100.ign.com/2007/

Stand-alone Rock Band guitars available in January 2009

Game maker Harmonix Music Systems of Cambridge and distributor Electronic Arts Inc. are scrambling to satisfy customers angry about defects in many of the guitar-shaped game controllers that come with Rock Band. There's also a shortage of these controllers, making it difficult for players to create the four-piece band promised by the gaming software.

Many gamers were hoping they could use controllers created for the game Guitar Hero III - a rival program from Activision Inc. that's based on technology invented by Harmonix. They can, if they're using Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360 game machine, but not if they've got Sony Corp.'s PlayStation 3 videogame console.

Harmonix wants to fix this with a software patch to make the PS 3 version of Rock Band work with the Guitar Hero III controller. About 68,000 copies of Rock Band have been sold for the PS 3, while the PS 3 version of Guitar Hero III has sold over 247,000 copies. Many PS 3 owners have purchased both games, and want to use the same controllers with either one. But Activision has refused to allow the necessary modifications, unless Harmonix and its owner MTV Networks pay for the privilege.

But because McBain bought Sony's PS 3, his Guitar Hero controllers refuse to cooperate. Harmonix published a software patch on the Internet to fix the incompatibility problem. But Activision successfully demanded withdrawal of the patch, and is insisting on financial compensation before such a patch can be issued. Other PS 3 games use standard PS 3 controllers, which are made by Sony and a variety of other companies. Players don't usually need different controllers to play different games on the same console.

Activision spokeswoman Maryanne Lataif said her company was willing to work with Harmonix to make the various game controllers fully compatible with one another. "Unfortunately for Rock Band users, Harmonix has been unwilling to discuss an agreement that will allow us to provide that option in a manner that maintains the high standards people have come to expect from Activision," Lataif said.

Harmonix spokeswoman Spencer Saltonstall said her company is also committed to doing what's best for gamers. "We are really and truly not looking at this from the financial standpoint," Saltonstall said. "We are looking at this from the consumer standpoint."

Saltonstall also said that Harmonix, MTV, and EA are working hard to put stand-alone Rock Band controllers onto store shelves. "We have 7,000 people in China manufacturing guitars for us," she said. "They're on their way." The controllers are expected to go on sale next month. Saltonstall said that Harmonix launched Rock Band before it had enough guitar controllers to go around, to get the game into stores in time for Christmas.

There's no question which game is winning the battle of the bands. Guitar Hero III, priced at $100, sold 1.9 million units in November alone, and 3.3 million since its debut in October, according to game industry trackers at the NPD Group. By contrast, the $170 Rock Band sold just 382,000 units in November, its first month on the market.

One reason for Guitar Hero's huge lead is that it works with Sony's PlayStation 2, still the world's most popular home videogame console. About 45 percent of the Guitar Hero III games sold so far have been for the PS 2. This week, Harmonix launched a PS 2 version of Rock Band, and the company said that the game is playable with the PS 2 controller for Guitar Hero III.

Source: Boston Globe