MGS & MW2 in one funny short film

This is a fan made comedy short film featuring Metal Gear Solid and Modern Warfare. It's funny and I think you should watch it and enjoy!!


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Casual gamers, digital distribution and the rise of indie developers

I have to admit that my 10 year old nephew play facebook games more than his PS3, Xbox 360 combined. Why? It's not that facebook game is better than PS3 or Xbox 360, heck I play my PS3 all the time. It's because that facebook games are easier to understand, less learning curve, and quite enjoyable. My 10 year old nephew isn't exactly a casual gamer at all, in fact he was playing games since age six with DS, PSP and so forth. PS3 and Xbox 360 games sometimes felt a bit too intimidating for him. It's hard to jump into the game and enjoy it. You'll need some skill learning in order to perform better, until then it easily become frustrating than fun.

My generation, which I consider golden generation of gaming, we starts from simple game like dig dug, pac man. We then learn to tackle more complicated game like Mario Bros, Contra, Mega Man. Until today, we play Modern Warfare 2, Resident Evil 5, etc which we can jump into without any problem. But for the rest, especially people who just start gaming, they rather find another alternative.

Facebook games provides exactly the kind of alternative they need. Free, easy access game from internet browser. They don't need to buy a gaming device and most of the household nowadays already has a PC and internet connection. They don't even have to go to the shop and get the hard copy.  With digital distribution everything is easier.

Taking from above point of view, that is why digital distribution plays a big part in changing the face of gaming industry. It didn't really boom until Apple introduced its Apple App store and Valve also introduced Steam where casual gamers and small developers can go to without significant cost of entry barrier. After that, it seems that digital distribution is the new era. Music, movie, games began rolling through internet. Microsoft and Sony didn't want to miss the boat and start doing digital distribution via their Xbox marketplace and Playstation Store.

With the rise of digital distribution, it doesn't just helping casual gamers, but small/ indie developers that have almost no chance against big ones have alternatives to promote their game. They couldn't do retail copy because their team and budget is so small that almost make no sense to distribute it via disc. When people buy 40 - 60 bucks of games, they expect more content and experience. Small games like Joe Danger and Flower are not so feasible to do it via retail.

The best thing being indie developers is that they can use any kind of creativity and imagination without the need to be controlled by other people. They can start slow and small, and take a risk with new things which triple A title could not afford. There will be more and more indie developer in the future no doubt, and it definitely helps the growth of our game industry.
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Call of Duty 7 details slammed by Military fans

I can't help but to share some fun article from PSM August. Those guys from Treyach seems to get it wrong. A website called Off Duty Gamers slammed recent release picture of operative that show his tattoo on his left arm, and said:

"Would you really want a tattoo that shows your unit patch or country affiliation if you're behind enemy lines taking part in a so called 'black' operation? It's pure hollywood."

 A member of the U.S. 82nd Airborne also told ODG:

"Tattoos identifying you as American disqualified you for operations in denied areas where you and your kit were to be 'sterile'. This meant you wouldn't be identifiable as a U.S. soldier; exactly the kind of operations SOG took part in."

It seems that a lot people care about consistency. especially fans who have military information or background. Now remove that tattoo please!!
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Sony patents for screen sharing using 3D glasses

A patents from Sony suggested that Sony has plan to use 3D glasses to allow "screen sharing". 3D graphics works with double rendering by allowing an eye to see half frame and the other eye seeing other half. Instead, you can also shut off the entire half frame so that the other frame is missing and you completely see a different image while the other glasses is set to see the missing frame.

This design will enable people to do a screen sharing gaming without the need to split the screen, although it will be only in 2D.
There is another patent that called 3D Shutter Glasses with Mode Switching Based on Orientation to Display Device. It means that you getting a different image based on where you stand. 


I think these patents will allow more creativity to the developers and it does make 3D technology a little more appealing.
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Official: Kinect set to launch at $150

Microsoft. Xbox Live director of programming Larry Hryb, posted the pricing details Kinect on his Major Nelson blog. The retail price of Kinect will be $150. Including this will be Kinect Adventures which carries retail price at $49. 


In addition to that, there will be a new bundle of Arcade model of new Xbox 360 slim at $199. It will feature 4GB of built-in flash memory and wireless N. Should you want all three of them, you can get the arcade model, Kinect, and Kinect Adventures at $299. 

So if you do the math, the nett Kinect price will be $100, which is an improvement in terms of pricing point. But for casual gamers, it might still become a hurdle for them to pick one.  
The bundle price of Kinect "might" work, only it won't sell like Wii during its first launch when motion control console is still fresh. And the success of Kinect will all depends to the software. I don't think releasing Kinect games that have more or less the same concept of Nintendo's games will cut it. Microsoft will have to be more creative than that. 
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Japanese publishers reduce cost by cutting number of release games

Expect fewer titles by Japanese publishers the next fiscal year. With Japan games industry declining, company such as Sega, Konami, and Tecmo Koei will cut down their cost especially R&D department.

Sega will release 56 new titles this year, 10 titles fewer than previous year.While Tecmo Koei will cut down 11 titles and Konami also reduce 10% titles by 2010 fiscal year.

But it's not all that gloomy and grim outlook. The decision of releasing fewer title may result in better quality overall. By reducing the cost of games that didn't work, publishers can focus more resources in making fewer but better games that did work. And in the long run, may boost its operating profits.

However, the bad news is, publishers may be more cautious in trying to innovate and develop something new. They will take a safe approach and focus more into sequels after sequels.
When thinking of it, it is really sad because I really like what Quantic Dreams did with Heavy Rain. They got the balls to take the risk, innovate and create something different, which I'm hoping the others will follow. 
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Ubisoft: No New Assassin's Creed in 2011

Recent rumor suggest that Ubisoft is following Activision's path to make its highly successful Assassin Creed an annual franchise and they did it with the announcement of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood that will release on November 16 a year after Assassin's Creed 2.

However, Ubisoft Montreal's Jean-Francois Boivin might have a different perspective. He said that Assassin's Creed might skip year 2011 as he thinks the franchise need a breather.

"Honestly, I think for the benefit of everybody -- and business can come back and override everything I say because at the end of the day it's about selling games -- I believe that this license needs a breather," Boivin explained. "You can't plough a field every year. Once every three years -- or once every something -- you have to let it breathe. You have to let the minerals back in. I think it's the same thing with any license, really."

"We can see a lot of the music games that are releasing year after year -- the interest is a lot less than it used to be," Boivin said. "The excitement is a lot less than it used to be. You want to keep people excited. You gotta make people miss it a bit."

I think this is the right way a franchise should be. Just as the economics law of diminishing return, you'll feel less and less satisfaction the more you experienced it. Sure, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood might be a very good game after just a year of development, but it will be even better game if it gets more time.
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Onlive's lag tested by Digital Foundry

Onlive, the streaming service which lets gamers play games without the need of console claim that the lag will be at 30- 50 ms. So, guys at Digital Foundry tested it using a PC.

Using Unreal Tournament III, the time needed between button pressed and on screen action is about 150 ms. Other games such as Dirt, and Assassin Creed 2 register lag between 150 ms - 216 ms which is a bit high.

It is unclear how network lag account on this test. If network lag say about another 50 ms, then the game will be too sluggish and unresponsive.

Lag is the biggest problem that can make Onlive fail (other than cost of subscription, of course) because Onlive targeted Hardcore gamers, and hardcore gamers have certain standard acceptable lag range. With those kind of lag, it will definitely scare most gamers. But I do fond of the technology though, I think it's remarkable and groundbreaking. Too bad it's too ahead of its time and boy.. I do wish to have 5 Mbps internet connection here. 
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Sony will replace current 120GB PS3 with new models

Sony will introduce a new PS3 Slim model in Japan. This new white 160 GB PS3 slim is set to replace the current 120 GB black (according to 1up.com). In addition to this, there is also a 320 GB model. The price? It will retail for 29,980 yen (around $342), white the 320GB model will run 34,980 yen (around $400). 

Sony hasn't confirmed whether these new models will be available in Europe and North America, but I got the feeling it will. The question is, why Sony decided to ditch the 120 GB model? Its nice to have some alternative, but 120 GB model still offer a cheaper alternatives to customers. By ditching it, means that they have to shell out more money even though they get bigger hard drive. 
 
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News & Update, 2 July

- Official Xbox 360 magazine says that Kinect can track 6 people but only 2 active players at the same time. 

- Xbox 360 sales see a huge jump in Japan thanks to Monster Hunter: Frontier. Japan and Monster hunter equals perfect combination!!

- SCE Worldwide Studios CEO Shuhei Yoshida mentioned that the company finally make profit with every PlayStation 3 console sold. There won't be another price cut anytime soon because a lot of great software are coming out and the innovations with Move and 3DTVs. After 4 years of losing money, they finally can make a profit, wow..

- June Takeuchi, producer of Resident Evil 5 said that he has no role in the development of Resident Evil 6. Takeuchi announced that he is working on an unnamed title with Keiji Inafune since last year.
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