08/01/06 | | Monica Hafer
This year\'s Comic-Con in San Diego was hotter than ever. High points included panels by Tarantino and Rodriguez, clips of the 300 with a panel including Frank Miller, a guest appearance by Stan Lee, and many other dignitaries too numerous to name. Here is Monica\'s photo journey to give you a piece of the action.
07/30/06 | | Aaron Stanton
In a turn of events that is so unexpected it reminds us of an April Fools joke out of season, Next-gen.biz is reporting insider information that E3 2007 is canceled. The magazine reports that a number of large companies (we can only assume companies like Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, EA, or Ubisoft) have decided to withdraw from the exposition. Without the support of the yet unnamed companies, the ESA is considering closing E3 in its present form. Next-gen reports that an official announcement is expected in the next few days, as in 48 hours. Next-Gen.biz has proven to be reliable in the past. When its editor was asked about the story, he repeated his confidence in the story\'s sources and replied, \"I\'m sure the story is right. E3 is done.\"
Last week saw the 2006 San Diego Comic Con, the biggest event for comic book fans in the USA, and an annual mecca for comic freaks and comic geeks from all over the world. In other words, it\'s our kind of place, and don\'t think for a minute that there\'s a big distance between comics and videogames. We sent our representative comics and games geek, Monica, to cover the show floor, and the first thing she brought back was first-hand coverage of the Bungie and Marvel meeting to discuss the forthcoming Halo comic series, illustrated by different artists, including more Halo from legendy illustrator, Moebius. Get the full story here.
THe Darkness, adapted from the cult comic book from TopCow, was all but nonexistent from E3 2006 excepting, maybe, a trailer we\'d seen before. But never fear Darkness fans, because progress is being made and we\'ve got the screens to prove it. Inside are three high-rez pics straight from 2K Games.
07/19/06 |
PS3 | Aaron Stanton
Sony\'s Cell Processor could be one of the key technologies that gives the PS3 the edge in the next console war, with the power and flexibility needed to give it a lead over time. Yet any radical departure from traditional processor design is certain to lead to new complications, including difficulties in manufacturing. A recent article on TGDaily suggests that the Cell Processor only has a 40% usable yield, meaning that Sony will be throwing away over half of all the PS3 processors they make. This not only means that Sony is paying money for materials they\'re not using, it also means they might have a hard time producing enough to meet demand. We take a look at the details here.
True to their word, Bethesda isn\'t done with updating their magnum opus The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. The latest update is a \"vile lair\" for all you thieves, assassins, and rogues, and even if you\'re just plain evil. It\'s got all you could ever want to feed your bloodlust: evil shrines, evil minions, and even a pen of cattle to feed on. Bloodlust be damned. It might not have a coded fix for some of the bugs in the game, but you\'ll be surprised if it doesn\'t have one of the most coveted cures in all of Tamriel. If you thought the Wizard\'s Tower was cool, you\'re going to love this.
06/26/06 | | Aaron Stanton
1Up.com editor Luke Smith recently called Square Enix to task on a press embargo they attempted to impose for the Japanese release of Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria. The embargo laid out guidelines about what the press could and couldn\'t say regarding the storyline of the already released Valkyrie Profile 2, including which characters and locations were safe to talk about. Of course, you can\'t embargo publicly available information, and Smith called them on it, opening Enix to a public lashing in the forums. Here\'s to 1Up\'s editors for having the guts to talk about it, and here\'s a sympathetic shake of the head to Square Enix PR. They\'ve got to be slapping themselves on the head right now.
06/19/06 |
PC | Aaron Stanton
Following the release of King\'s Quest I and II from AGD Interactive, Infamous Adventures has released a VGA re-make of King\'s Quest III: To Heir is Human. AGD Interactive and Infamous Adventures are both enthusiast developers that have taken it on themselves to reintroduce gamers to the wonders of some of Sierra Online\'s most significant franchises. Made on the versatile Adventure Game Studio, this VGA remake of King\'s Quest III: To Heir is Human let\'s gamers experience one of the best games of all time as if it were new. Plus, it\'s free.
06/14/06 |
NDS | George Holomshek
Polish developer Nibris spilled the beans on their upcoming Raid Over the River, an exclusive Nintendo DS and Wii two-part series. When archaeologists in Peru discover an ancient artifact, top-down aerial time-travelling combat ensues (as you probably expected). The game looks and sounds like a spiffed up River Raid, but this revamp includes the addition of touch-screen control elements (most of the game is played traditionally) and voice-activated special moves. The overblown storyline and funky control schemes could make this series one to watch. Get the full story from George, right here.
06/12/06 | | Aaron Stanton
Systems like the original Xbox and Sony\'s PSP are praiseworthy on their own, but they can be made even better through the creative application of homebrew software. Enthusiast developed software has helped shape the console industry since the days of the Sega Saturn and the original PlayStation.
This posting on the DCEmu forums takes a brief, but informed look at the state of homebrew development on today\'s and yesterday\'s systems. Included in the list are common consoles, like the Xbox, as well as older systems, like the DreamCast. It\'s an interesting read if you\'ve dabbled on the fringe of the community and are curious to hear an overview of how things stand.
Your Nintendog is hungry.