The Select and Start News Report: 10.20.08
Posted by Vincent Chiucchi on 10.20.2008
The Spore DRM saga continues, movie critic thinks games can't be emotional, Midway cancels two of it's games, and more.
Welcome to the Select and Start News Report. Today's news report is going to be shorter then usual.
Big News
THE SPORE DRM SAGA CONTINUES [credit: Gamasutra, GameDaily, The Escapist]
Many gamers were pissed at EA over Spore's DRM protection. Recently EA CEO John Riccitiello say that he hates DRM himself, but the game needs DRM because of piracy or else they can't make any money. He claims more then 99% of users would not have noticed the DRM, and the rest made a big deal out of it by overblowing the situation. Will Wright says the decision for Spore's DRM was a corporate one, and he didn't pay much attention about it. Wright thinks DRM isn't going to be a problem in the future as the industry shifts to an online business model.
It's not having DRM that's the problem EA. It's that you used SecuROM, which because it installs itself and you can't uninstall it yourself makes it look like a malware program. I hope Will is right about the industry changing to an online model, because if it doesn't, the only kind of PC gaming that'll live is MMORPGs.
COMPUTERS CAN'T MAKE ROGER MOORE CRY [credit: Destructoid]
In his review of the Max Payne movie, Roger Moore of the Orlando Sentinel said "Max still suffers from the heartlessness that makes games emotionally inferior to movies. Nobody ever shed a tear over a video-game character's death".
Dear Roger Moore,
Do some research about the Final Fantasy and Metal Gear Solid series before you make yourself look like an idiot.
Sincerely, Vincent.
MIDWAY CANCELS TWO GAMES; DOESN'T SAY WHAT THEY ARE [credit: GameSpot]
Due to Midway once again losing money ($70 million in the first half), they have announced that they will be terminating one internal and one external video game property, but they did not say what two games they were talking about.
GameSpot mentioned plenty of titles that it could be. Here's my take on each one:
-NBA Ballers: Considering the last game sold was reviewed and sold poorly, this could be going out the door.
-Games based on Cartoon Network shows: Probably not going to be cancelled.
-Lord of the Rings Online: WoW kills MMOs dead. Wouldn't be surprised.
-Unreal Tournament: I really hope not.
[credit: GamePolitics]
A former executive of Take-Two Interactive filed a $50 million lawsuit against the Grand Theft Auto publisher in a federal court in Nevada last week. Robert Alexander alleges that Take-Two breached an oral employment contract when, in 2004, former Take-Two CEO Paul Eibeler terminated a distribution deal with Alexander and his company, Game Ballers. Eibeler had taken over the reigns of T2 when CEO and company founder Ryan Brant ran afoul of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Prior to being forced out, Brant and Alexander apparently enjoyed a cooperative working arrangement.
Tidbit News
-Rumor has it that the Ghostbusters game, which was thought to have ceased development due to Sierra being taken over by Activision, has now been picked up by Atari. [credit: GameSpot]
-Cryptic Studios announced it was now taking beta-tester applications for the PC edition of its newest superhero-themed massively multiplayer online game, Champions Online. With the game slated for a spring 2009 launch, the best test is expected to begin in mid-November. [credit: GameSpot]
-A new mini-game was revealed in Chrono Trigger DS where you can train and battle your monsters in online competitions. Winning the monster battles gets you rare items. No word yet if you got to catch them all. [credit: GoNintendo]
-Warner Bros. Entertainment president Kevin Tsujihara has resigned as non-executive director of Eidos Interactive owners SCi. No explanation for Tsujihara's exit was given, but it follows the departure of fellow non-executive director Aaron Brown earlier in the month. [credit: Gamasutra]
-GarageGames, which runs the InstantAction.com site, announced that the company is looking to fund new startup studios that will work on original IP for InstantAction and other platforms. Those interested can reach out to GarageGames by emailing jobs@garagegames.com. The company has asked that inquirers put their city in the subject line. [credit: GameDaily]
-Empire Interactive announced that they have signed a new partnership with PlayFirst. This agreement will give Empire long-term, global rights as developer and publisher for console installments of several of PlayFirst's titles, including Diner Dash: Flo on the Go, Wedding Dash, Dream Chronicles and Chocolatier for the DS. [credit: GameDaily]
-When asked if Metal Gear Solid 4 will actually appear on Xbox 360, Konami PR rep Yoshitaka Arai said that the company was looking into it, even though Hideo Kojmia said it was probably not possible. [credit: GameDaily, Gamasutra]
-First it was Starcraft, and now Mirror's Edge has been announced as a trilogy. It as if their asking for this game to be a complete failure. [credit: GameDaily]
-Microsoft will offer refurbished Xbox 360 hard drives at a reduced price and free memory cards to users worldwide, in order to ensure that as many system owners as possible will be able to use the New Xbox Experience dashboard update. Users can enter the serial number of their console at www.xboxstorageupgrade.com, where they will be told if they are eligible for either a free 512MB memory card or a refurbished 20GB hard drive for $19.99 (or $29.99 for the hard drive and three months of Xbox Live Gold membership). [credit: Gamasutra]
-Microsoft announced that GTA: San Andreas is coming to the Xbox Originals program on Xbox Live. Starting on October 21, the game can be downloaded for 1200 Microsoft Points ($15). Hot coffee not included. [credit: GameDaily]
-Hated how you had to choose which version of Soul Calibur IV you wanted to buy based on the exclusive Star Wars characters? Well guess what: Now you can download the other system's character (Yoda for PS3, Vader for Xbox 360) for the price of $5. [credit: Joystiq]
-This year's Tokyo Game Show broke attendance records with 194,288 visitors at the four-day conference, according to final tallies released by organizer CESA. Yet another expo that did better then E for All. [credit: Gamasutra]
-LittleBigPlanet has been delayed worldwide after it was found out that the game's soundtrack featured some Arabic-language lines from the Qur'an backed with music. North Americans will have to wait another week, and it's unknown how long others will have to wait.
Gaming Calendar
October 20th - Wii Music
October 21st:
-Fable II (X360)
-BioShock (PS3)
October 26th - Guitar Hero: World Tour (X360, PS3)
Midway was apparently already at work on a new TNA Impact game - maybe that got the axe.
Posted By: Rod Oracheski (Registered) on October 20, 2008 at 12:43 AM
Just wanted to comment that Turbine is Lord of the Rings Online's developer and that Midway was just the publisher (though I think that may have switched over to Warner Bros.), so Midway's money troubles would have no effect on LOTRO.
Posted By: AlaskanHero (Guest) on October 20, 2008 at 01:44 AM
Midqay said TNA wasn't in danger as it's one of the top titles. It did quite well for a first time title and they've invested a lot of time in it and feel it'll be a franchise.
Who cries at video games though? Seriously.
Posted By: Poppycock (Guest) on October 20, 2008 at 04:42 AM
"Midway was apparently at work on a new TNA Impact game - maybe that got the axe"
What kind of people work at Midway? People that can create garbage, get punished for it...and then just get back up again?! Throw in the towel, I don't know how many more TNA games I can take...
Posted By: Drew Robbins (Registered) on October 20, 2008 at 07:59 AM
''Who cries at video games though? Seriously. ''
I would have agreed with you before I played MGS3 a few years ago.Big Boss standing at the Boss'grave in the games ending had just the same level of emotional impact then any film I've ever seen has had.
I wish people would stop knocking TNA Impact so much. It was a decent game that has a good (potentionally great) game engine and with more bells and whistles will become a great wrestling game series.
Posted By: aussiegamer (Guest) on October 20, 2008 at 10:08 AM
"Do some research about the Final Fantasy and Metal Gear Solid series before you make yourself look like an idiot."
Yeah, film critics just love exposition and sentimentality.
Posted By: Simpleton (Guest) on October 20, 2008 at 10:49 AM
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