Gears of War 3 is getting a multiplayer beta for the first time in series history. To mark the occasion, Epic Games released two trailers to show off new weapons, new moves and new execution abilities.
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Sometimes the accomplishments of game mods can be just as impressive as the regular game. Witness Project Vector, which takes Starcraft II (an RTS) and turns it into an over-the-shoulder third-person horror game!
To adults who spent any time watching television in the ’80s, certain commercials have been ingrained into their brains. These two bits for Steve Young Football tap into that nostalgia, with take-offs on My Buddy and Crossfire.
Will Wright’s first television show will be called Bar Karma for Current TV, and it will be reliant upon the audience to dictate the story of the show and the plot twists. Albie Hecht will work as co-creator and executive producer, while David Cohn will be executive in charge for Current TV; both are MTV veterans.
Those interested can join Current TV’s Creation Studios, where they can submit ideas and talk with users and even the producers. The producers will steer the conversation in a useful direction and will promote the best ideas, which will then be voted on and then made into a half hour of television.
While there’s a risk of the show getting too much input, Wright’s experience in communal gaming and the experienced executives should give this ambitious idea a chance to flourish.
Source: Paid Content {link no longer active}
While 3D Blu-ray support was a large part of a recent major PS3 update, Facebook integration might end up being even more significant. It essentially gives PS3 game developers access to gamers Facebook profiles, their list of friends, photos and whatever else might be in their profile.
“We’ve pretty much opened up the entire Facebook API to our game developers,” says Eric Lempel, Sony Computer Entertainment s vice president of network operations. “They’re able to pull any piece of information from Facebook, as well as push information out to Facebook.”
“This might give a game the ability to better customize the experience using your profile, probably the greatest level of console integration with Facebook to-date. Our focus with the integration is to promote the next-generation of social,” says Gareth Davis, game platform manager.
Source: Forbes
hi5 has announced that it is launching SocioPath, which it describes as a social gaming platform. Partners like BigPoint, Digital Chocolate, Portalarium, Playdom and Casual Collective will work on the platform, designed to be less constraining than games on social networks like MySpace and especially Facebook.
“Social media game developers and publishers are facing significant barriers to drive audience and revenue on social networks, and are struggling under the restrictions imposed on them by these portals,” said Alex St. John, hi5 President. “We’re providing a platform that enables social game developers and publishers to be liberated from the walled garden social network, build their own communities around their games, and monetize them efficiently.”
“By working with hi5 and leveraging the new platform for our game Millionaire City, we’ll have access to all of the powerful messaging, notifications, invites and gifting mechanisms associated with social gaming. This will enable us to build more direct relationships with our user base and empower users to connect with friends from across the web,” said Digital Chocolate CEO Trip Hawkins.
“We’ve already been experiencing early success with our title, PortCasino Poker, which has received five times more traffic on hi5 versus other social networks,” said Richard Garriott, “Ultima creator and creative director at Portalarium. We’re looking forward to growing our relationship with hi5, bringing more of our games to the site, and leveraging their new platform to increase our audience.”
“We’ve been very fortunate to work with hi5 on the integration of Backyard Monsters with their platform. They understand the value of partnerships and are always working to better their platform to meet the needs of both the user and the developer,” said Will Harbin, CEO of Casual Collective. “Furthermore, their new product enhancements will allow us to virally reach more users through new channels. We’re looking forward to more games and more success on hi5.”
Bon Jovi has agreed to promote Rock Band 3 after the game’s release. Synergistically, the band’s Greatest Hits collection will be available as DLC in Rock Band 3 when it releases for consumption on November 9.
“Bon Jovi is undergoing all manner of promotional activities, including a tour. And we are partnering with them to help bring that to the masses,” said MTV’s SVP of electronic games and music, Paul DeGooyer. “Bon Jovi for us is one of our most requested artists. We’ve had a couple of songs on disc, but we ve never done a vertical campaign like this with them. We are working with Bon Jovi on activity for the compilation and other elements that they haven t announced yet.”
“The great thing about Rock Band is it gets music to a whole new generation of people, which is totally amazing to me,” added Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora.
Source: MCV
Blizzard Entertainment has announced that World of Warcraft now has over 12 million players worldwide. This mark, reached in little under six years since the game’s original launch, was helped by the launch of the expansion Wrath of the Lich King in China and the impending release of the third expansion, Cataclysm, worldwide on December 7.
“The support and enthusiasm that gamers across the world continue to show for World of Warcraft reaffirms our belief that it offers one of the best entertainment values available today,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “We are as committed as ever to taking the game to new heights, and we look forward to demonstrating that with Cataclysm in December.”
According to Nielsen, Anrdoid phones had a 32 percent share of the U.S. smartphone sales in August. Blackberry and iPhone were very close to each other, representing 26 percent and 25 percent of sales, respectively.
“Android is now the most popular operating system among people who bought a smartphone in the past six months, while Blackberry RIM and Apple iOS are in a statistical dead heat for second place among recent acquirers,” notes Nielsen. “Among all smartphone owners, Blackberry still holds the dominant share with 31 percent of the market, though its lead over Apple is declining. Twenty-eight percent of smartphone owners have Apple iPhones, compared to 19 percent who have Android devices.”
Source: Blog.Nielsen.com
Logitech has unveiled its first Google TV boxes, called the Revue, which will release for $300 in October. A palm-sized Mini Controller will retail for $130 and a TV camera accessory for video conferencing will cost $150; a keyboard (that will be bundled with the Revue) will be sold separately for $100.
“With our line of products for Google TV, Logitech will help redefine the user experience in the digital living room,” said Logitech chief executive Gerald Quindlen.
“Google TV combines the power of search, a full Web browser, and Android apps with the TV experience you know and love,” said Mario Queiroz, vice president of product management for Google. “We’re proud to be working with Logitech to launch the very first set of Google TV devices, helping you and me easily access great Web and TV content, all on the same HD screen.”
Source: AFP
