Daily Wrap-Up 4.24.08
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Thursday, April 24, 2008 6:00 PM
Here's what happened today in the world of videogames, popular culture and technology.
- Echochrome, the PlayStation 3 puzzle game, is available, in demo form, at the PlayStation Store or through PCs to your PSP.
- Nintendo of America will launch a channel that allows downloadable DS games and Nintendo news when WiiWare debuts next month.
- Tree-climbing accidents among children are way down in the United Kingdom. And you can thank videogames.
- Devil May Cry 4 is coming to PCs this summer.
- Retro Studios, creators of three Metroid Prime games, has had a personelle shakeup.
- How will people be calling out of work for GTA IV.
- Grand Theft Auto IV players are earning achievements. Pirate achievements!
- The U.S. government is looking into whether an advertising test between Google and Yahoo amounts to collusion.
- Today’s technological marvel is the Panasonic Lumix LZ10 Camera.
- Reggie trying to get us more Wiis.
- Nintendo made a lot of money last year. Surprise!
Permalink
|
TAGS: Daily Wrap-Up, Videos
The MMO Report: Thursday, April 24th
Posted by Patrick Roche-Sowa - Thursday, April 24, 2008 4:31 PM
This week you may notice something a little different. No, I'm not talking about the hair you're noticing in places where there was no hair before. I'm talking about the fact that The MMO Report has let the balloon go up one day early. That means more raiding time, extra grinding, and an additional full day's worth of lulz.
In this episode you all get a special treat; some sneaky bastard was able to leak stills of Wrath of the Lich King onto the internet for your viewing pleasure. Yes, that Wrath of the Lich King. It's in the Alpha stage of development right now, which means you don't get to play it yet. Also, we'll give you a fair warning about Square-Enix's new user agreement for Playonline. Check your attic for chocobos watching you masturbate. This is...
The MMO Report
Subscribe to G4's The MMO Report Podcast by clicking your preferred service:
    
Permalink
|
TAGS: PC Gaming, The MMO Report
Xbox: Saving Microsoft?
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Thursday, April 24, 2008 4:13 PM
The Xbox division was one of the only bright spots in Micrsoft's earnings report this quarter.
While profits overall declines 11% for the year, Xbox video-game unit was rockin'. Sales growth was almost double some forecasts. The business posted its third straight quarterly profit and revenue rose 68 percent to $1.58 billion. Microsoft predicted growth of 25 percent to 35 percent.
Exclusive titles like "Halo 3'' and ``Mass Effect'' were the key, analysts think.
It was "an outstanding Xbox quarter,'' said Canaccord Adams Inc. analyst Peter Misek in Toronto. "It's just amazing that a company this size is being driven by video games.''
Will it continue?
Bloomberg: Microsoft Earnings Decline 11%; Forecast Is
Permalink
|
TAGS: Videogames, Xbox 360
Spielberg's 'Blox' On Multi-Platforms?
Posted by Mike D'Alonzo - Thursday, April 24, 2008 3:59 PM
 Steven Spielberg's first foray into gaming, Boom Blox, might be coming to other platforms after its initial launch on the Wii May 9th. In addition, the physics are being trumpeted, albeit by the people who made the game, as the best of any game ever made. We don't know about that, but they seem to be pretty proud of themselves, which is nice.
As we mentioned, the game comes out in Europe on May 9th, and features over 300 levels and a ton of characters, in what appears to be a beefed-up puzzle game. Still, they're awfully proud, so there's a chance that this might be pretty decent. Worth a look, at least.
Videogamer.com: Boom Blox on Wii has the best physics on any platform
Permalink
|
TAGS: Movies, Videogames, Wii
G4 Haunts The Set of 'Twilight'
Posted by Mike D'Alonzo - Thursday, April 24, 2008 3:13 PM
If you have been in a bookstore for the past three years, or are somewhere between the ages of, say, 13-18, then odds are really good you know the Twilight book series, from Stephanie Meyer. If not, you should, because the story of a young girl who falls in love with a vampire and becomes part of his family is excellent, spanning three books with a fourth on the way.
We had the opportunity to go to Oregon to visit the set of the Twilight movie, and got exclusive interviews with cast and crew, including Catherine Hardwicke, the director of the movie, and Robert Pattinson, who plays Edward Cullen, the aforementioned vampire.
The things we saw, and the things we found out will make fans of the series jump for joy, and early rushes from the film should make people who haven't heard of it perk up with interest. In short, this film looks pretty badass. But don't take our word for it. Watch the exclusive video, shown below.
Permalink
|
TAGS: G4 Web Exclusive, Movies
Ubisoft: 'Mo Money, No Problem
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Thursday, April 24, 2008 2:54 PM
Ubisoft's sales were up 36% last year, due mainly to the strength of Assassin's Creed, which sold over 6 million copies and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2, recording nearly two million units sold since it hit shelves in March.
Ubi's sales for the 2007-2008 fiscal year totaled around $1.45B, a 36.4% increase over last year's amounts.
You could buy like 14 hamburgers with that kind of money!
Permalink
|
TAGS: Videogames
'Little League 08' Coming
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Thursday, April 24, 2008 2:51 PM
The above screenshot is from Little League World Series '08, a tike baseball simulator coming to the Wii and DS. It comes out this summer.
We haven't played it, but the screenshots are delightfully horrifying.
Permalink
|
TAGS: Nintendo DS, Videogames, Wii
Calif. Senator Condemns 'GTA 4'
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Thursday, April 24, 2008 2:29 PM
 We have a feeling we'll be writing hundreds of stories that are variations of the following, so we'll present today's in the form of a MadLib:
___________, has issued a stern warning to _________ about the dangers of Grand Theft Auto IV.
According to _______,The M-rated game ____________. Rockstar games, the company behind GTA 4 ____________. Parents were advised to ____________________.
In this case:
1) California Sen. Leland Yee
2) Parents
3) Yee,
4) glorifies violence.
4) Deceives the public about the content in their games.
5) Avoid buying this for their children.
Permalink
|
TAGS: Grand Theft Auto IV, Other People's Misfortune, Videogames
Madden Coverboy: Favre?
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Thursday, April 24, 2008 2:21 PM
 According to Game Daily, the coverboy for the next Madden game will be Green Bay Packer MVP and superstar Brett Farve.
Farve, who turns 185 this year, has retired from pro football, meaning a end to the Madden-curse may be onhand. Here's Game Daily's evidence:
the [Madden 09] cover athlete is expected to be announced on April 25. Moreover, a quick check of the CBS schedule for Late Show with David Letterman shows that Favre is going to appear as one of Dave's guests tonight (April 24). For the past few years, EA has used late-night shows to announce the Madden cover. Last year Jimmy Kimmel's show was used to announce Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young for Madden 08.
It's walking and quacking like a duck, but it's not quite a duck. We'll see how this pans out tomorrow.
GameDaily: Scoop: Brett Favre to Cover Madden NFL 09
Permalink
|
TAGS: Sports, Videogames
X-Play's Xbox Orientation Video
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Thursday, April 24, 2008 2:11 PM
Don't you ever accuse X-Play of not bringing the lulz.
Permalink
|
TAGS: Videogames, Xbox 360
There's Always Room for Jell-O
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Thursday, April 24, 2008 1:56 PM
When a bunch of Jell-o spills on a Florida highway, TheFeed is there!
A semi-truck full of Jell-O snack packs overturned on the I-95 today, causing a delicious, jiggly traffic jam that stretched for mile after tasty mile.
The driver of the truck was suffered non-life-threatening injuries. He was the only one hurt.
"You put the Jell-o in your mouth, not all over the street," Jell-o spokes-funnyman Bill Cosby did not comment. "Crazy people with trucks and jello and the dropping and things, you see," He did not add.
First Coast News: Truck Spills Jell-O on I-95 in St. Johns County
Permalink
|
TAGS: Other People's Misfortune
The Webmaster Hates You: Everything is Wrong
Posted by Robt. Juster - Thursday, April 24, 2008 1:54 PM
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes... the Webmaster Hates You is back. w00t.
From: Robert H. [mailto:robert.XXXX@XXX.net]
Sent: Saturday, April 19, 2008 2:43 PM
To: Webmaster G4
Subject:
wtf is wrong
Dear Robert,
It's hard to say, as there are *so* many things wrong with the world. Off the top of my head:
- The economy
- The inevitability of death
- Dependence on foreign oil
- The fact that the Boston Celtics are really that good
- The death of quality rock and roll music
- The fact that people keep letting M Night Shyamalan make movie
- The war
Permalink
|
TAGS: Other People's Misfortune, Prostate Health, Webmaster Hates You
Underoath Team With Xbox
Posted by Frank Meyer - Thursday, April 24, 2008 12:20 PM
Hard rockers Underoath have partnered with Xbox to offer their fans live gaming with multi-player competitions through the online gaming and entertainment network Xbox Live.
During short breaks from recording the as-yet-untitled album through mid-May, the band will be going online to play Halo 3 or Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare with fans. The band is online Thursdays from 6:00 to 8:00pm ET for their “Game with Fame” session and sporadically each day throughout the rest of the week.
Check out Underoath’s “Game With Fame” page here.
Permalink
|
TAGS: Internets Culture, Music, Videogames
Epic Fail: Grand Theft Auto
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Thursday, April 24, 2008 12:17 PM
You can’t swing a dead hooker around the gaming world this week without hitting Grand Theft Auto IV. While the Grand Theft Auto series is among the most important (and most awesomest) series in gaming history, it’s not perfect—nothing is. Little annoyances within GTA’s games' nearly flawless worlds--errors that would be unnoticeable in lesser titles--are epically fail because even a little bit of stink sticks out in a rose garden.
Hence today’s topic: Epic Fail: Grand Theft Auto.
Car Surfing: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – This is one of those things that’s passed off as “cool,” when it really should have been passed off as a “glitch.” You know how you can jump onto the roof of a car while it’s still moving, and then the car will continue, as if the driver has no idea that there’s a living person on his/her roof, for as long as the drivers are endlessly, casually driving around the city? You know how, in real life, if there was someone on your car who had tried to pull you and/or hundreds of other people out of their cars on city streets that you’d do anything possible to get him off your car, or at least drive to where cops hang out? Doesn’t that seem lame to you? Yeah, me too.
Probability it's corrected in GTA IV: 90%
--Michael D'Alonzo
Permalink
|
TAGS: Epic Fail, Grand Theft Auto IV, Videogames
Battlestar Prequel Info Leaked!
Posted by Frank Meyer - Thursday, April 24, 2008 12:07 PM
 New information of Caprica, Ron Moore and David Eick's much-anticipated prequel series to Battlestar Galactica, is hitting the web, and TheFeed is ready to pass along the info!
Here's what TV Addict is reporting:
(SPOILERS!)
Caprica is set 51 years before the planet goes nuclear.
The show will portray the inhabitants of Caprica as a seedy bunch, "reading like an episode of HBO’s The Wire."
The pilot is filled with political intrigue, racial prejudice, religious zealots, "and a seriously cool take on Second Life courtesy of (the fictional company) Graystone Industries million dollar idea, the HoloBand."
Permalink
|
TAGS: TV
T-Mobile Goes Google
Posted by Frank Meyer - Thursday, April 24, 2008 12:02 PM
 Wireless carriers are expecting an “avalanche of innovation” from users as a result of Deutsche Telekom AG's T-Mobile USA Inc. soon shipping out its first cellphones built on Google Inc.'s open Android platform.
"I'm impressed," Joe Sims, vice president and general manager of T-Mobile's broadband and new business division, recently said of the new robo-phones. "We will have more than one product. [The move to an open platform] will be innovation across the board, not just one device."
Insiders expect major changes to happen fast once the Android phones get into the hands of the general public, with some calling it a "wake-up call for innovation" due to its advancements in web-browsing, taking and uploading of pictures, video distribution, social networking, and security.
John Smelzer, a senior vice president and manager of News Corp.'s (NWS) Fox Entertainment Group Inc.'s interactive media division, said photo and video distribution would be the "next killer app."
"For the long tail, we think it will be mobile Web," he added.
CNN.com: T-Mobile Android Phone Release Seen Bringing ‘Avalanche’
Permalink
|
TAGS: Internets Culture, Tech
News Corp Hiring Hackers...To Hack?
Posted by Frank Meyer - Thursday, April 24, 2008 11:49 AM
 In a corporate-spying lawsuit brought against News Corp's NDS Group by rival satellite television service DISH Network Corp., mild-mannered hacker Christopher Tarnovsky testified in court this week that a News Corp unit hired him to develop pirating software for them.
Though he denied using it to penetrate DISH’s security system, it is being implied that that is exactly why he was hired to develop the software.
After an introduction as one of the "two best hackers in the world," Tarnovsky told the court that he was paid on a regular basis by Harper Collins, a publishing arm of News Corp, for 10 years, and that his first payment was $20,000 in cash hidden in electronic devices mailed from Canada.
How stealthy!
Permalink
|
TAGS: Movies, Tech, TV
Funny Or…Game?
Posted by Frank Meyer - Thursday, April 24, 2008 11:36 AM
As part of its one-year anniversary effort to expand its “____ or Die” franchise, Funny or Die will add a videogame site to its roster over the next six weeks.
Glover kept mum on most details of the new video game site, but did spill a few tidbits. “The videogame site will not be a game-playing site,” said CEO Dick Glover. “If we became a game-playing site, that actually limits who we could partner with, who we could align with, and advertisers we could get. We want to do a very broad-based site. Whether you’re my age and playing Pac-Man is your idea of a video game, or you’re younger and at the highest levels of Halo 3, or you’re in a retirement home, we’re going to have something for you on this site.”
Permalink
|
TAGS: Indie Games
'Splatterhouse' Details Ooze Out
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Thursday, April 24, 2008 11:07 AM
Yesterday, we revealed the existence of a new Splatterhouse game. Today, we have a bit more info on the title.
First, the picture:
(go here)
Then, the details:
- The developer behind the game is BottleRocket,
- The game will be played on the PS3 and Xbox 360
- The release date: sometime around mid-2009
- The more details: Check out the June issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly for the full reveal.
1up.com: Previews: Splatterhouse
Permalink
|
TAGS: Videogames
Nintendo Trumpets Profits
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Thursday, April 24, 2008 10:35 AM
Are you tired of hearing about how well Nintendo is doing? Well too bad. They're doing very, very well, and they want you to know all about it:
Nintendo posted sales of more than 1.67 trillion yen for fiscal year ending March 31, 2008.an increase of 73 percent over the prior year.
Nintendo also reported FY08 operating profits of more than 487 billion yen, a year-over-year increase of 115.6 percent.
During the 12 months ending March 31, 2008, Nintendo shipped 18.61 million Wii consoles to its distributors and retail customers globally, bringing the worldwide total to 24.45 million since its debut in November 2006.
What did you do this year??
Permalink
|
TAGS: Nintendo DS, Videogames, Wii
Nintendo Wants More Wii for the U.S.
Posted by Ty Colfax - Thursday, April 24, 2008 10:26 AM
 Reggie Fils-Aime, the Nintendo of America President, had a chat with Wired Magazine recently, no doubt for a feature article that will appear in the newsstand version of the venerable tech magazine soon.
They didn't give away too much on the article, but they did let us know about how Reggie is trying his darn-hardest to get more Wiis available for the U.S. market which is constantly in a state of high demand. He says a Wii will spend an average of 1 hour on the shelf before being sold and that he has passionately pleaded with Japanese leadership in the Nintendo home offices for more than the usual North American allotment of 1.8 million consoles per month, to no avail.
It doesn't add up. Here we are doing this story about how you can't get one, yet it's the fastest and highest selling console right now. Something tells us this demand situation is false just so they can stay in the positive news column. It's despicable really. But it's working.
wired.com: Nintendo: Average Wii Sits on Shelf for Just an Hour
Permalink
|
TAGS: Products, Videogames, Wii
|
