News from Bitopia 08.17.06
Posted by Caleb Newby on 08.17.2006
Console news galore including a rumored price on the Wii in Japan! Also inside I try to stay positive (and fail) much like Tommy towards Sony. Cross your fingers that Steven will be optimistic come Friday.
Guitar Hero update, I am able to get through half the songs on Hard. Not well mind you, but survive to the end.
The News
The PSP goes down Credit: CNN
Word is that the PSP will be lowering its price from $200 to $150, give or take a penny. These changes are expected to come in time for Christmas shopping and the like. The PSP has been losing the battle against the DS, much to my surprise. When the PSP came out, I was positive it would be the new king, but Nintendo surprised me and many others with the compelling DS which is way more fun than it would seem it should be. As anyone could tell you, a lower price leads to an increase in sales, so that is obviously Sony's strategy here. Now let's hope they employ the same one on the PS3.
In other news, I am starting to notice a pattern of bitterness against the PS3, look for this to continue despite my best efforts to be positive.
Now you can create 411mania: The Game for the Xbox 360 and PC Credit: Microsoft themselves
I am just going to quote this article in its entirety.
Microsoft has announced the new XNA Game Studio development platform that will allow games to develop their own games.
XNA Game Studio is an extension of Microsoft's cross-platform XNA technology, which offers game-makers a standardized set of tools for both PC and Xbox 360 development.
The beta version of the tool set will be free to download beginning August 30th.
The toolset comes in two flavors: the entry-level XNA Game Studio Express and the advanced XNA Game Studio Professional. Developing games using Express and releasing them on the PC will be free, but those who want their games available for download on the Xbox 360 must pay $99 a year as part of Microsoft's Creators Club.
The full version of the tools are due out in spring of 2007. The full version will allow you to eventually sell your games.
Launching alongside the August 30 beta toolset is a starter-kit, containing tutorials and basic but "fully realized games" that beginning developers can tinker with to learn the ins and outs of programming.
Schools like USC have already agreed to work the XNA Game Studio Express in their curricula.
Microsoft says that games like Pac-Man are on the low-end of what is possible.
This should lead to some awesome independent developer support and games. I am a huge fan of hidden gem games by small time developers. I am sure some talented individuals will use this to its potential by creating a masterpiece. Imagine if the 411 forum members got together to make a game, it would be like an acid trip full of inside jokes and tomfoolery. That being said, I'd play it.
Play Texas Hold'em for FREE… just don't count on making money Credit: Gamespy
Play Texas Hold'em for free on Xbox Live for the 360 for two days… then you have to pay points. I don't have much to say on this, if I am going to pay for playing poker, it is going to involve real cash and the ability to make some. So I'll get my fix on Full Tilt, Full Contact Poker, or Party Poker instead of the Xbox 360.
Two wrestlers and diva announced for Smackdown vs. RAW 2007 Credit: IGN
Ok, I am not this negative of a person, I am actually pretty optimistic. But I can't help myself yet again, I hate it when we get new announced wrestlers for a WWE game. For example this week we have Randy Orton, Batista, and Torrie Wilson. Wow, you don't say! Batista is going to be in the next game?! The only roster announcements I care about are the legends. Give me Ravishing Rick Rude and Honky Tonk Man with their original entrance music and I'll be happy. Where as telling me Undertaker will be included will just get a "No kidding Sherlock!" type of response.
RUMOR ALERT! Nintendo Wii to cost roughly $171 USD in Japan? Credit: Gamespot
Here is the summery of the article. Japanese tech blog Engadget reported that it discovered an article from the Nikkei news service. The article supposedly said that manufacturing costs of producing the Wii are down and will lower the price of the console in Japan to 19,800 yen, or $171. Here is the problem. The Nikkei article is now nowhere to be found, but Engadget has been a trustworthy source. It is possible Nikkei pulled the article at Nintendo's request, as has been speculated by hopeful gamers.
If this turns out to be true, it would be amazingly good news for gamers and Nintendo. I don't see how the Wii won't sell like hotcakes (hotcakes?) if it keeps a low price point close to this. Oh, how I dream of this to be true. I love the Wii.
What looks good this week?
Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. We should have a review up here on 411 sometime soon, and I don't care if it sucks, it has Vincent in it as a total (from what I have heard) Devil May Cry rip off game. But it takes place one year after Advent Children and I want to know what happens with the story.
Random Rant
I promise I am not always this negative.
That being said again, I am upset with Blizzard. I think I have known this for awhile, but it was a recent 411Games article that actually made me realize it.
I used to be a huge Blizzard fan. I loved Diablo 1 and played the shareware version online for months until I got the full game. I had Diablo 2 and the expansion pack and loved it as well.
I bought Warcraft 2, 3, and Starcraft. All these games were different levels of amazing and fun. I was continually impressed by Blizzard and thought they were at the top of video game developers.
But now we have this World of Warcraft stuff. I don't care for MMORPGs. To make matters worse, I have seen what this game has done to some of my friends, it consumes all of their free to an unhealthy level. I know not all people are this way, but from what it sounds like, it is a disturbing percentage. Add to the fact the amount of money Blizzard is raking in because of this game they probably have little priority to work on anything else, robbing us of Diablo 3, Starcraft 2, or a new creation. Bah, I hate WOW and am disliking Blizzard more and more.
Also, a non-linked shout-out to the other News Report writers, Joshua Richey, Tommy Coloma, Vincent Chiucchi, and Steven Masters. We now have a fearsome fivesome covering all of the weekdays. Bad news is now with Steven on board; I can't get my report in as late as Sunday due to the lack of other articles between me and Joshua. I'd also be remiss to not mention the Yoshi to my Mario, Vincent. Who cares if the wrestling zone fellas use similar nick names for each other, who are we to be above stealing ideas?
Question of the Week!
What are your experiences with World of Warcraft, negative or positive?
Now what?
Thursday evening on SpikeTV is a UFC event, Ultimate Fight Night 6. The main event is pay-per-view quality. Check out the show if you have some time, it should be exciting.
I didn't know if I was going to get this done in time, just getting back from a mini vacation and having a lot to get caught up with. But thanks to Steven I had to, so thanks a lot bud.
I kid, I kid.
