Cryengine 3 will destroy you, new video is proof [Comments Off]
Anyone else getting really bored by palm trees and the beach? No one? Neither is Crytek, as they just unleashed the new trailer for CryEngine 3 into the world, which specializes in palm tress and beaches — and destruction thereof. I think the 1st youtube comment puts it in perspective:
OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I came
And engine so good, it makes people come. That should go on the box art. Do engines come in a box? I guess not.
Crytek also touts that the engine is Next-Gen Ready. Basically, they stole the HD Ready logo and slapped ‘next-gen’ on it. Never forget, Next-Gen Ready does not mean it’s Full Next-Gen.
We have the video for you after the break. It’s got procedural destruction, man.
continue reading →
Apple is now big on games [Comments Off]
There is no doubt about it: The Cocoa Touch platforms (iPhone and iPod Touch) are arguably the single best portable media devices you can buy for money. Part of that is due to the wealth of offerings of Apple’s AppStore, now celebrating its first anniversary.
This tuesday, Apple held its annual iPod refresh event in which every major iPod saw updates or price drops. The top tier iPod Touch (32GB & 64GB) now match the iPhone 3GS’ clock speed and RAM, which will come as good news to those looking to pick up each of the two devices to do some gaming on the go. Apple knows this, and is not afraid to advertise the abundance of games that are available in the AppStore.
30 bullshots per minute [Comments Off]
DigitalFoundry has posted an extremely worthwhile article about the age-old Bullshot debate.
The bottom line is that some crazy fools out there might argue that the purpose of a screenshot or a movie is to actually show you how the game actually looks, as opposed to how it might look if you were running it on a PC, with ultra-level settings and an unplayable frame-rate. There’s also the fact that going to the trouble of creating all of these enhancements takes time and presumably money: surely both would be better spent on developing the game?
Does anyone still remember the uproar when Tiberian Sun came out, looking nothing like the screenshots? Well, I do. Because I am old. Old’ish. But so is your mom and that doesn’t stop you from loving her, now does it?
Activision CEO would raise prices further [Comments Off]
Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision, can not be serious. As the transcript of this earning call shows, the man has a clear vision:
You know if it was left to me, I would raise the prices even further.
I am sure you would, Mr. Kotick. While on one hand, I, as a gamer, might not agree with his statement, at the end of the day, they’re the ones making money… Everybody’s darling EA? Not so much.
Quite frankly, if paying 10 dollars more per release will ensure that companies will be able to afford making AAA HD titles and take some risks, it’s a small price to pay, really.
Crytek to leave Germany if government bans “killer-games” [Comments Off]
Let’s pretend for a second that the guys behind the “Crysis” series of computer games make actual games and not engines, and listen to what Cevat Yerli has to say about the whole ordeal:
“A ban on action games in Germany is concerning us because it is essentially like banning the German artists that create them. If the German creative community can’t effectively participate in one of the most important cultural mediums of our future, we will be forced to relocate to other countries.”
“The current political discussion will deprive German talent of its place on the global game development stage, and deprive German consumers of entertainment that is considered safe and fun around the world.”
You tell ‘em, Cevat.
2010 is the new 2009 – Ubi titles delayed [Comments Off]
“Splinter Cell Conviction” and “Red Steel 2″ will have been moved to 2010, as in the 4th fiscal quarter..
Today, Ubisoft announced that Splinter Cell: Conviction and Red Steel 2, two games that were expected to be released this holiday, have been pushed back to Ubisoft’s fiscal fourth quarter — which starts January 1st, 2010.
“Splinter Cell Conviction and Red Steel 2, whose releases were previously planned for the third fiscal quarter, will now be released in the fourth fiscal quarter,” a press release, detailing Ubisoft’s fiscal first quarter results reads.
I know it seems like pulling a Capcom and releasing top IPs in the first half of the year is a good idea, but if everyone starts doing so, it becomes futile. In Ubisoft’s case, it does make some sense, as “Spliter Cell Conviction” would be competing for the same market as “Assassins Creed 2″.
EA is bleeding money [Comments Off]
In today’s earning call, Electronic Arts‘ John Riccitiello presented the numbers for the 4th quarter 2008. The company posted a loss of $641 million.
Due to the financial situation the company is in, it has been decided that 12 instead of 9 studios will be consolidated and an additional 100 employees will be laid off.
Also, the publisher will re-focus it’s effort to the Wii, which will receive as much titles as Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 together, including a port of blog-favorite Dead Space.
Other noteworthy announcmenets today:
Dragon Age will now be released in the later part of 2009.
The Godfather II was delayed to the fiscal year 2010 (which starts this April).
Sequels to Mass Effect — that will be going multiplatform — and Battlefield: Bad Company confirmed.
The economy is fucking awesome [Comments Off]
As january is coming to an end, the first month of 2009 marked the end of renowned game studios such as EA Black Box (Skate, Need for Speed) and Free Radical (TimeSplitters, Haze). Additionally, both Sony and Microsoft had massive layoffs in their respective gaming divisions — I would even argue that the closing of Ensemble Studios (Halo Wars, Age of Empires) is partly due to the current state of the economy.
Unfortunately, tough times call for tough measures. Today, I would like to take the issue head-on and see what can be done to maybe avoid or lessen the impact of the crisis.
continue reading →
-
Recent Comments
league of legends download, 1 year ago
League of Legends' beta is now openshoes, 1 year ago
Little Big Planet 2 featured in next GameInformer
Lori, 2 years ago
Call of Duty: Black Ops dropping November 9th + Now with trailer
lucas, 2 years ago
Call of Duty: Black Ops dropping November 9th + Now with trailerSeth, 2 years ago
Blur goes Open Beta on April 6thAndy, 2 years ago
Blur goes Open Beta on April 6th
