G4 TV - X-Play

Rumor: 360 Motion-Controller Next Week?

Fri, 09 May 2008 10:12:00 GMT

Here's a huge rumor: Microsoft is releasing their rumored-but-not-confirmed motion controller next week. Here's how kotaku.com is posting it:

"According to sources that will go unnamed, Microsoft may be showing its Xbox 360 motion controller as early as next week to press, a controller geared specifically for Banjo Kazooie 3 gameplay. In fact, we've heard that select members of the press have already seen the controller—in use on the next Banjo Kazooie title—in action."

Furthermore:

Microsoft's event next Tuesday, at which the new Banjo Kazooie is confirmed to be shown to North American press, comes with an embargo that lifts before the event kicks off proper. That means that whatever is on display for press will be revealed next Tuesday morning to everyone.

There you have it. Stay tuned!

kotaku: Rumor: Microsoft May Debut New Xbox Controller Next Week

Tying Fitness To In-Game Performance

Fri, 09 May 2008 09:30:00 GMT

In this age of derivation and endless sequels, it's not often that a clean, clear new idea is presented in videogaming, but I think kotaku's Brian Crescente has one:

Tie real-life fitness to in-game performance.

Not one of those "You have to pedal a bike to move your guy" things, but imagine an MMO or a FPS where your character could only run as fast and as long as you can run in real life. At the start of the game, a monitor checks your heart rate, and bases your characters "stats" on that. The technology is there already--USB heart rate monitors, the Wii Fit "Balance Board," etc.--all the world needs is the killer app that would make it work together.

Having watched people grind MMOs for hours and weeks to find a sword that boosts damage .03%, we think an hour in the gym a day wouldn't be too much to expect to keep an avatar in peak physical condition.

What do you think? Good idea, or just too much effort to be worthwhile?

Kotaku: What if you character was only as fit as you were?

'X-Play' Looks At Top Adult Games

Fri, 09 May 2008 08:47:00 GMT

In case you missed it on teevee last night, here's X-Play's look at the top ten games for adult eye's only. (Cue Sexy Music!)

Watch the large version of this video

Universal, Take Two Making 'Bioshock'

Fri, 09 May 2008 08:03:00 GMT

Long rumored to be in the works, today it's official: Universal and Take Two are combining forces to bring us a Bioshock movie.

Director Gore Verbinski, (Pirates of the Caribbean, The Ring) is slated to direct and produce the film. John Logan, writer of Gladiator, The Aviator and Sweeney Todd, is in talks to write BioShock’s screenplay.

"We are excited that 2K Games' vision for BioShock will be carried forward in a new medium," said Strauss Zelnick, Chairman of Take-Two. "BioShock has been hailed as one of the most highly cinematic and richly plotted titles in interactive entertainment, making it extremely well-suited to film. In partnering with Universal and Gore Verbinski, we have assembled a team that respects the uniqueness of BioShock and will translate it into a powerful movie experience."

Hmm... two talented, creative people and one incredibly awesome videogame story: Could this be the movie that breaks Hollywood's curse on videogame flicks?

Next Call of Duty Details Revealed

Fri, 09 May 2008 07:43:00 GMT

Speaking during a conference call yesterday, Activision Publishing CEO and president Mike Griffith dropped a few tantalizing details about the next Call of Duty game.

The unnamed sequel will arrive on PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, and Nintendo DS later this year, and it looks like it won't be set in World War II, the series' go-to setting.

ShackNews: Next Call of Duty Due This Year on PC, Consoles; Takes Place in 'New Military Theater'

'GRID' Demo Gameplay

Thu, 08 May 2008 17:06:00 GMT

The makers of DIRT are back with a new game, GRID. This game is all about drifting and arcade style racing. I took the demo for a spin and put my drifting skills to the test (I failed).

Just to prove there are no hard feelings, I chose the PS3 demo over the Xbox 360 demo.

The full game will release on June 3, 2008 for PS3, Xbox 360, and PC.

Watch the large version of this video

'GTA' Multiplayer De-mystified

Thu, 08 May 2008 15:21:00 GMT

Some of us have started to venture into multiplayer modes in GTA, while others of us here on TheFeed are still working the missions before going postal on noobs and the like. But for those who have gotten to the multi-action, there's been some confusion and the instruction manual, which typically for GTA games is just loaded with jokes and song credits, is equally devoid of info on the multiplayer modes.

So, Rockstar has released a document explaining it in great detail. You can find it at our compadres' ole Kotaku site. It's extensive.

kotaku.com: Rockstar explains GTA 4 multiplayer

'Everyday Shooter' Now Available for the PC

Thu, 08 May 2008 15:06:00 GMT

You can download the highly decorated award-winning Everyday Shooter via Steam at this very moment, but only if you're interested in being addicted to a game so simple, you can't believe how much mileage you're getting out of it.

It's $9.99 and worth every coin. That almost rhymes.

gaygamer.net: Enjoy Everyday Shooter on your PC via Steam

'Wii Fit' Demand Higher than 'GTA IV' on eBay?

Thu, 08 May 2008 14:50:00 GMT

An "expert," and we use the quotes with great purpose, has predicted that demand for the Wii Fit will be greater than GTA IV on eBay. It's not beyond us or anyone with half a brain, which is also us, that this is due to factors beyond base demand.

Could it be because anyone who wants a copy of GTA is of the age savvy enough to just go buy a copy, or maybe because old people who are going to buy the Wii Fit are ironically too lazy to get fit by exercising and diet, and therefore are too lazy to go to the f***ing Best Buy 2 miles from their house?

Also, people are going to be reselling their Wii Fit once they realize how bored they are so of course there will be more copies up on eBay. Do you know anyone who is seling their copy of GTA? NO! THEY'RE PLAYING IT!

Where are my blood pressure pills?

wiifitchat.blogspot.com: Demand for Wii Fit on eBay to be higher than GTA IV?

Activision Has Best Year Ever

Thu, 08 May 2008 14:48:00 GMT

Activision has been around for a long time, but this year was the best year ever in the history of the company. Activision reported record revenues for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended March 31, and they've made 2.90 billion in net revenue, mostly on the back of the Guitar Hero and Call of Duty franchises. 2007 marks 16 years of consecutive growth for the company.

"Fiscal 2008 was the best year in our history and Q4 was the largest and most profitable non-holiday quarter, even though we did not release any new titles," said Robert Kotick, Chairman and CEO of Activision. "During the fiscal year, we were the #1 U.S. console and handheld publisher in dollars for the first time ever, according to The NPD Group, and we grew our worldwide share of the console, handheld and PC markets year over year. We achieved record financial performance significantly growing both net revenues and earnings per share. And, we delivered a record operating margin of 16.5% on a GAAP basis, and 18.4% on a non-GAAP basis, excluding the impact of equity-based compensation, and we increased stockholders' equity by 38%."

Game Daily: Best Year Ever: Activision Rocks with Nearly $3 Billion in Sales in Fiscal '08

Chun-Li Won't Be Too Sexy

Thu, 08 May 2008 14:07:00 GMT

The upcoming Streetfighter movie focuses on Chun Li (played by Kristin Kreuk), but don't think this is just a ruse to make a super-sexy flick. According to Justin Marks, the film's writer, Li's moves are about fighting, not bedding down.

"First, I've never seen a successful action movie (in my mind) that blatantly sexualised its female lead and succeeded for its audience; Catwoman, Elektra, the list goes on and on," Marks told JoBlo.

"Then I think back to The Terminator, or possibly my all-time favourite movie, Aliens, and I think of how Ripley is depicted in that film. She's a tough woman, but not because she came from a place of wearing tight pants and beating up men. She's tough because she had this core emotional story about a life that could have been and never was. To me, that's the way you write a woman in these kinds of movies."

JoBlo.com: EXCL: Justin Marks on SF

Gov't Considering Game ID Bill

Thu, 08 May 2008 13:49:00 GMT

In spite of the below story in which game retailers seems to be doing really well with the current industry-supported, voluntary rating system for videogames, Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE) and Jim Matheson (D-UT) introduced the Video Games Ratings Enforcement Act into the House of Representatives. If passed, the law would force retailers to check ID for those purchasing M-rated games.

Retailers caught selling M-rated titles to minors will be subjected to a $5,000 fine from the Federal Trade Commission.

Here's some of what they said:

"The images and themes in some video games are shocking and troublesome. In some games high scores are often earned by players who commit 'virtual' murder, assault and rape. Many young children are walking into stores and are able to buy or rent these games without their parents even knowing about it," said Rep. Terry. "This bill requires an ID check before certain games are sold to an individual. This ensures that children can only access age appropriate content without parental permission. Families and children everywhere deserve the protection this legislation will provide."

ArsTechnica: ID, please: Bill would mandate carding for M-rated game buys

FTC: Retailers Doing Okay With Games

Thu, 08 May 2008 13:38:00 GMT

The Federal Trade Commission today released the results of its latest nationwide undercover shop of movie theaters and movie, music, and video game retailers, and game retailers are doing okay!

"With regard to M-rated video games, Game Stop rejected an impressive 94% of underage shoppers, while Wal-Mart and Best Buy spurned 80% of them. Some stores had very different results for different media. For example, while Best Buy rejected 80% of underage buyers of video games, it turned away underage shoppers for PAL music only 47% of the time, R-rated movie DVDs only 38% of the time, and Unrated movie DVDs only 17% of the time. Similarly, Target refused to sell M-rated games to underage buyers 71% of the time, but refused sales of PAL music only 40% of the time, R-rated movie DVDs only 35% of the time, and Unrated movie DVDs in only 23% of the cases."

This "secret shopper" program is great use of tax money, I think you will agree.

FTC.gov: Undercover Shoppers Find It Increasingly Difficult for Children to Buy M-Rated Games

Freestyle 101 Nabs Webby

Thu, 08 May 2008 11:03:00 GMT

G4's own web-series, Freestyle 101, has won the 2008 Webby Award for music! That's right, of the tens of thousands of pieces submitted to the Oscars of the Internets, Freestyle 101 is the greatest. There can be only one...and it's us, baby. Check it out!

“It’s truly an honor to win this award,” Frank told TheFeed. “This proves that videogames, nerds and hip hop have much more in common than people think. There are so many people at G4tv that helped make Freestyle 101 what it is, so congratulations, all y’all!"

"But it’s the artists who make the show so special with their incredible freestyles, insightful interviews, and passion for hip hop," Meyer said. "Freestyle 101 would be nothing without the rappers and their talents, so thank you to everyone that has contributed to or supported Freestyle 101. This is an amazing moment for hip hop on the web!”

To see what all the Freestyle buzz is about, click-on every Tuesday at 9 AM, when the hottest and hardest of hip-hop rhyme off-the-top about videogaming, tech and all the things you care about, or check the Freestyle 101 archives and the video below:

Watch the large version of this video

Moore On Home: 'Hurry It Up!'

Thu, 08 May 2008 10:33:00 GMT

Peter Moore is impatient for PlayStation Home to come out. He's the head of EA Sports now, but he just can't seem to help himself from bustin' on his old Nemesis Sony.

Moore on Home: "It's very cool, but let's go already. And so I'm disappointed that it's been pushed back a little bit again," said Moore. "But I really hope it gets going and becomes that portal to the PlayStation Network and we can utilize it. But boy, I just wish we'd get going."

You and me both, buddy.

ArsTechnica: Moore on PlayStation Home: "I just wish it would ship"

THQ Grabs 'Marvel Super Hero Squad'

Thu, 08 May 2008 10:27:00 GMT

THQ, in addition to losing $35 million, has gained exclusive videogame rights to Marvel Super Hero Squad. The property is based on a line of 2-inch tall, stylized Marvel figures.

There is a cartoon and comic planned around the Super Hero Squad for 2009.

We can't stop thinking of Spider-Man on the Muppet Babies now.

Gamasutra: THQ Licenses “Marvel Super Hero Squad” Franchise

THQ to Fire 200 People

Thu, 08 May 2008 10:02:00 GMT

THQ posted a pretty big loss of $35.3 million for their 2007 fiscal year and they are going to have to lose 200 employees.

They note that most of the layoffs will be to last-gen studios and teams and that by the end of the year they hope to gain 300 employees overall.

The new hires will be funneled into THQ's next-gen development efforts.

THQ publishes WWE games, Company of Heroes, and more.

Shacknews: THQ to Cut 200 Employees

'Kid Icarus' For Wii Almost Revealed

Thu, 08 May 2008 09:13:00 GMT

It's not confirmed, but it looks increasingly like a Wii version of Kid Icarus is in the cards. The source:

Matt Casamassina, on episode 7 of the IGN Nintendo Voice Chat podcast Casamassina said, "Of course [Nintendo is] going to have some E3 surprises. You know, Kid Icarus, for crying out loud, how many times do we have to say Kid Icarus? Kid Icarus is coming for crying out loud." When a co-host asks if he wants to reveal the developer he responds "I think we've confirmed it a billion times but no, I'm not going to say it officially."

There you go: Not official, but we'll bet you a Wii version of Kid Ic is revealed at E3 this year.

IGN
(via Joystiq)

'Assault Heroes 2' Demo On X-Play!

Thu, 08 May 2008 09:10:00 GMT

Tonight's X-Play continues the excitement we brought you last week. First, we'll have an World Premiere Hands On with Assault Heroes 2. Then, X-Play will be bringing you the list of Top 10 Games for Adult Eyes Only. Tonight's X-Play is not to miss. Be sure to check it out Tonight at 8PM ET, only on G4!

Stride Gum Takes On Uwe Boll

Thu, 08 May 2008 08:05:00 GMT

Stride Gum is jumping on the "I hate Uwe Boll" bandwagon. The company is promising to give away a free pack of gum to everyone who signs an anti-Boll internet petition, if the number of signatures tops a million

"Since gamers are one of our most supportive groups, we've been looking for ways to return the favor," said Stride marketing director Gary Osifchin. "And what better way is there to get gamer's backs than by helping them rescue their cherished videogames from the clutches of Uwe Boll?"

"We're a multi-national corporation, and we heard that 'viral' marketing was the key to Web 2.0 success," Osifchin did not add, "So we thought we'd jokingly try to ruin the career of a total stranger in a different field then ours. LOL!"

I don't know about you, but Uwe Boll has never taken a videogame of mine--they're right on my bookshelf--and I don't need some chewing gum company to rescue anything. You might not like Boll's movies, but he legitimately buys the rights to make them from game companies, so he "owns" more of gamers "cherished videogames" than the Internet does.

Please sign this Keep Rockin' Boll poll instead. It's much more contrary! Besides, Boll may not be very good at what he does, but you're probably not that good at what you do either.