Gamertell

Virtual worlds are luring a myriad of people hungry for living virtual lives that run parallel to their real lives. Virtual worlds are an industry by themselves with spectacular growth prospects, and many investors have already taken note. A prominent media firm, Virtual Worlds Management, which keeps track of the virtual worlds industry, has revealed that investors poured in $425 million into virtual worlds in the fourth quarter of 2007.

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It seems like just about every media outlet is doing their requisite year-end “best of” list this week, and Eurogamer is no exception. However, this particular list has a few surprises, like #10 S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl, a game that had more than a few flaws, but gets high marks for it’s unique and well implemented features, as Eurogamer writer Jim Rossignol wrote: “mixing scripted action with ecosystem AI to create genuinely interesting world”.

Other titles that made the top ten include #9 Team Fortress 2; followed by unsurprising choices Mass Effect, Halo 3, and Call of Duty 4. Zelda: Phantom Hourglass had a very nice showing at #5, semi-shocking Crackdown took the #4 spot, Bioshock (many an outlet’s #1 title of the year) took 3rd place, Super Mario Galaxy was the runner-up, and Game of the year went to Portal.

As lists go (and you’ll be forgiven for being sick of them by now) this one is top-notch. Free-form discussion among several writers follows each title, lending to the sense that this was actually crafted with a great deal of thought and an eye for quality. Kudos to you, Eurogamer.

Read [Eurogamer] Via [Kotaku]

Happy Holiday, Merry Christmas and salutations for every seasonal celebration.

We’re planning to spend some extra time today (December 25, 2007) with our family and friends celebrating Christmas 2007 by playing extra videogames, drinking a moderate amount of egg nog and perhaps (accidentally) consuming fruitcake.

Well will return tomorrow (December 26, 2007) with plenty of groovy news, updates and other videogame goodness.

Thanks again for reading the site each day!

Are you sick of all the end of year lists yet? No? Well, GameLife has just posted a compilation of the ten biggest disappointments of 2007, complete with the requisite “2007 was a great year, but...” precursor statement. Nothing too surprising shows up (save for one editor’s disillusionment with Super Mario Galaxy – ouch!), and the games/trends/phenomena that took their beatings included: Xbox Live Arcade (for failing to provide quality new content), Two Worlds (for broken, glitchy gameplay) Halo 3’s Scratchy packaging, the internet’s treatment of Assassin’s Creed’s Jade Raymond, the Halo 3 sales (while lesser-known, more creative gems got shafted), LittleBigPlanet’s absence, Assassin’s Creed itself, the Wii’s tiny storage space, and finally, the Wii’s mostly abysmal third party software.

I’d say the post just about nails it, but I’ve got to add a couple of my own: more tired old videogame violence rhetoric in the media (is it just me, or did “game-related” acts of violence get about six times the media attention this year?), the “Gerstmanngate” incident (PR issues are really getting out of control in our industry, whether the rumors are true or not), and finally, the dissolution of Clover studios (developers behind the excellent Okami and the Viewtiful Joe franchise). Add it all up, and you’ve got one serious Debbie-downer of a story – in a good way.

Read [GameLife]

After its merger with Vivendi, effectively becoming the largest gaming company in the world (EA, eat your heart out), Activision Blizzard is starting with the right foot this holidays by offering a range of titles appealing to gamers of all ages.

The holiday season will present a good opportunity to get some extra gaming time out of the consoles and, even though some of these games have been out for a while, it’s a good opportunity to take them out for a spin if you missed them before.

From shooters to movie based titles, here are the highlights of Activision Blizzard’s best games being released this holiday season:

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock - The latest entry in the music franchise offers a whole new list of songs with master recordings from popular bands including Metallica, ZZ Top and Slayer. Players will face guitar battles against legends such as Slash and Tom Morello on the new campaign mode. Also there’s a new online multiplayer battle mode where players from around the world can go head to head and prove who the true guitar hero is.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is available for the Xbox 360, the Wii and the PS3. It is rated T for Teen.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - With this incarnation of COD, players will get to experience warfare in a present day scenario instead of the traditional WWII era. This game lets player experience intense and cinematic battles throughout the world using state of the art weapons with realistic behaviors and looks. Players will conduct assaults in locales throughout the Middle East and Russia depicted with breathtaking graphics and excellent sound.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is available for the Xbox 360 and the PS3 and is rated M for Mature.

Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground - Set in the US cities of Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington, this title allows players to skate their way through the city and use its architecture and features to pull off all kinds of tricks and jumps. Players can create their own character and define their style and the choices they make as well as their style of skating will lead them through different paths shaping the story.

Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground is available for the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2 and DS. It is rated T for Teen

Bee Movie Game - Based on the blockbuster movie by DreamWorks Animation, this game puts players in the shoes of Barry B. Benson as he sets in his quest for every bee’s right to produce honey. Players will fly and race their way through the world as seen in the movie and experience the hardships bees have to face.

Bee Movie Game is available for the Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, Wii and the DS. This game is rated E for Everyone.

Read [GamingExcellence] Site [Activision]

“Today is all about video games. It used to be that teens were the focus of video games, but now they’re targeted at the whole family,” said reporter Rick Montañez of KIDK a northwest news station. “Tonight we show you interactive video games, plus a different way to shop on the budget.”

During the broadcast, Montañez interviewed several game store employees about the latest trends in shopping and explains why now is a good time to purchase these items versus waiting till the last minute to fill that wish list.

“Nintendo Wii, Rock Band and Guitar Hero 3, those are definitely the three big, in demand items as far as the gaming world goes,” said Jason Strawn of Best Buy in Idaho Falls. ”Rock Band is very interactive, Rock Band has a set of drums and guitar that it comes with so you actually play the drums. The Wii has really had a lot of popularity gained with older people, families, I think that’s why they’ve sold so many of them, is they’ve had some unexpected success with some of the people that they weren’t necessarily marketing the product to.”

Montañez explained why interactive games have become so popular. He said in the past video games required the use of a controller and now gamers can really get into their games using a hand held pointer, guitar or drums to play the game.

One of the topics brought up during the interviewed, Montañez asked CD World’s Matt Larsen for tips on shopping within a budget.

“If somebody was on a budget, they could bring the games in and trade ‘em and get different products, be it CD’s or DVD’s on videogames,” said Larsen. “If you’re tired of the games you own or your CDs or DVDs, you can trade that in and even put it toward a gift certificate if you wanted to.”

Montañez also asked about alternatives to violent video games and which would be better for the whole family to enjoy.

“Most of the time Nintendo puts out games that are gonna be for a little younger generation,” Strawn said and added that traveling games seem to be growing popularity had sales have spiked as the demand for hand held systems goes up. “The popularity of some of the travel games is increasing because the screens are getting larger, resolution is getting better.” According to Montañez, most games will cost anywhere from $100 to $300 and the closer to the holidays you get, the harder it will be able to find the items from your wish list. “A good way to find out when stores are getting items back in stock is by checking the Sunday sales papers,” Montañez said.

Read [KIDK Channel 3 News]

According to the 1UP.com Network, Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) will be delivering an 11-page spread dedicated to Street Fighter IV (SFIV) in its January 2008 issue (available December 18, 2007).

The feature represents a world-exclusive first look at Capcom’s latest installment in its popular fighting franchise, complete with hands-on impressions of gameplay. The 1UP Network also notes that information regarding characters, graphics and gameplay mechanics will be provided. In addition, 1UP.com and GameVideos will feature exclusive Street Fighter-related content throughout the month of January 2008 to fan the flames of curious gamers’ interests.

There has been a great deal of speculation since the SFIV teaser was released by Capcom several weeks ago. Many gamers even considered it to be a hoax until production was confirmed by developers and the main question on everyone’s mind since then is, “2D or 3D gameplay?”

Street Fighter has always been a fighting game franchise rooted in 2D mechanics and is widely considered to be the series that pioneered concepts and mechanics important to casual and tournament players alike. A 2D SFIV is certainly what most fans that have followed the franchise from its inception have been demanding and expecting, so it comes as a relief to many that the first in-game screenshot of the game seems to indicate that the SFIV will utilize 3D graphics with 2D gameplay. In any case, perhaps the revival of the classic series will be accompanied by the revival of the classic arcade scene—but I’m not holding my breath.

Read [1UP] Also Read [IGN]

In the Xbox 360’s most recent update (December 4, 2007), Microsoft included the Family Timer. As its name implies, it is a virtual timer you can set to limit the amount of time the console is used.

Certainly meant to make the system even more family friendly, Microsoft conducted its own survey. According to the completely biased, corporate sponsored surveys, 62 percent of the 800 US parents surveyed said they would use a timer and 75 percent “welcome built-in technology or software to monitor the time their children spend playing video games.” Of course, The Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii all have some parental controls in place.

The Family Timer is all on screen through the Xbox 360’s Xbox Live menu. After the timer has been set, on-screen warnings pop up (yay, more popups) to warn gamers that the system will soon shut down. It is supposed to give them enough time to save the game but, as all gamers know, that is not always immediately available. ("Just a few more minutes, I need to get to a save spot, mom/dad/automated babysitter.") Once the timer runs out, the system shuts down.

To get to the timer you go to the Xbox Dashboard, to System, select Family Settings and then select Console Controls. It’s the sixth item down (labelled “Famiyl Timer,” of course). You can set the limits to Daily, Weekly or Off. You then select an amount of time in 15 minute increments from 15 minutes to 24 hours (for the Daily option) and hour increments from 1 to 168 hours (Weekly option).

The Xbox 360’s other settings include limits for Game Ratings, Video Ratings, Access to Xbox Live, Xbox Live Membership Creation and Marketplace and Inside Xbox. These are all part of Microsoft’s “Safety is no game. Is your family set?” campaign which also includes involvement from Best Buy and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

No matter how many of these nice features companies include, please remember that the best parenting is educated and involved parenting. Try all (and I mean all) the games your kids are playing and see how well they play with others. Though the timer will help limit excessive gaming, simply setting a hardcore time limit might not be the best solution for every family.

UPDATE: The timer gives a popup warning at 5 minutes prior to shutdown. Also, the time left is displayed in the Xbox Dashboard, so you can press the Xbox logo button on the controller to see it. When set, it appears at the top of the dashboard in the upper right corner next to a mini family logo. When your time expires, the Dashboard pops up and three options are available: Add More Time, Suspend Time or Shut Down Console. The first two require the parental pass code (a four-button sequence). If you shut down and simply restart the system, you get 2 minutes on the clock.

Read [Loot Ninja] Site [Is Your family Set?] Site [Microsoft]

Spike TV’s fifth annual Video Game Awards this Sunday (December 9, 2007) promises to be an all-star event from 9 to 11 p.m. (eastern and pacific time). It has been prerecorded from Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

Jackson, who is well known for his role as Mace Windu in the Star Wars series, the voice of Afro Samurai and Jules Winnfield in Pulp Fiction, has been tapped by Spike TV to host the event. Other stars to make an appearance include Criss Angel, Kurt Angle, Tia Carrere, Tony Hawk, Heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson, Matt Leinart, Zachery Levi, Dave Navarro, Steve-O from “Jackass” and many others who will be named this week.

This event marks Jackson’s third year hosting the awards and will be taping the awards Friday (December 7, 2007) at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

The Video Games Live concert tour will also be making its national television debut during this event as part of their concert series. This year will also treat viewers to never-before-seen world premieres of the most anticipated games to be released - Borderlands by 2K, Gran Turismo 5: Prologue by SCEA, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2 by Ubisoft and TNA iMPACT! by Midway as well as a first look at the new DLC Halo 3 Maps from Microsoft Game Studios.

Spike TV launches a VGA mobile channel cross carrier beginning Monday (December 3, 2007) and will announce the mobile VGA winners during the awards ceremony. The show will air on Spike Mobile December 10, 2007 and run the entire week. The official sponsors announced for the event include Burger King, GameStop, Mountain Dew, Stride Gum, TAG, the U.S. Air Force and Verizon Wireless.

All nominees for the event were selected by the VGA Advisory Council, which is made up of well-respected experts in the industry and all nominations are games released between November 16, 2006 to December 1, 2007. The only category selected by fans fell under the Most Addictive Game category. There’s still time to vote by visiting Spike TV’s voting site by December 8, 2007.

The biggest event in video games.

Site [SpikeTV] Site [2007 VGA awards] Read [Wink News] Also Read [Gay Gamer]

November 22, 2007, marked the second anniversary of Microsoft’s Xbox 360, and what a year it has been. Not only has Xbox for the first time in its history turned a profit thanks to the success of Halo 3, but Microsoft has also done the unthinkable, surpassing Sony’s PS3 sales in Japan.

With another year under the 360’s belt, we thought it best to look back at some of the biggest news that helped shaped 2007 to be the most successful year in not only the Xbox’s life but also one of the best years in recent gaming history. With plenty of ups and downs this year, one can imagine what wonders there are to come in the months ahead.

Grabbing exclusive rights to Grand Theft Auto IV downloadable content

It is no secret that part of PS2’s original success was in part because of the Grand Theft Auto series. The GTA franchise would go on to become on of the biggest selling titles in recent history propelling Sony into the lead in the last console wars. Following the shocking news from E3 2006 that GTA would no longer be an exclusive title for Sony, Microsoft announced this year that they had locked exclusive rights to the first two pieces of original material developed by Rockstar Games as downloadable content through Xbox Live. 

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