Video game sales ban advances to La. Senate

May 30, 2006
By Mike Hasten
mhasten@gannett.com

BATON ROUGE – Some people use violent video games as a “training ground” for real-life violence, says state Rep. Roy Burrell, so Louisiana should prohibit the sale of such games to minors.

The Senate Judiciary A Committee unanimously agreed with Burrell over the objections of video game representatives today and sent House Bill 1381 to the Senate for final debate. The House of Representatives already approved the bill with a 102-0 vote.

Samples from the video game “Grand Theft Auto” showed characters beating, stomping and shooting police officers, attacking one with a chainsaw and then using it on a woman who tried to aid the officer. Another had sounds of sexual activity coming from a rocking vehicle and after a cursing man threw a scantily dressed woman out of the vehicle; he pursued her across a parking lot and beat and stomped her.

“There are a lot of other scenes in the video we chose not to show in public,” Burrell told the committee. One scene awarded the player points for raping a woman.Opponents of the measure, representatives of the Entertainment Software Association, said video games are like books, movies and television shows and are protected by First Amendment rights of expression.

New Orleans attorney William Rittenburg predicted that Burrell’s bill, if it becomes law, would be ruled unconstitutional like similar laws in Michigan, Illinois, Washington and Colorado. He said he would make “hundreds of thousands of dollars” in a legal challenge of a Louisiana law, as he has in the challenge of 30 other state laws, so the Legislature should “wait for another state to be successful” in passing a constitutional law.

Burrell countered “It is about time for the state of Louisiana to be first in something good, in this case the protection of our children.”

Rittenburg complained “the statute is vague because it doesn’t define what is violence.”

Miami attorney Jack Thompson, who aided Burrell in drafting his bill, said he avoided the pitfalls in other states’ laws and sculpted one to abide by the constitution. It avoids trying to define violence, which was a flaw in the other laws.

Instead, he said, the bill employs the same three standards as the obscenity law, whether:

*an average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find that the video or computer game, taken as a whole, appeals to the minor’s morbid interest in violence;
*a game depicts violence in a manner patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community with respect to what is suitable for minors; or
*a game, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors.

Opponents also complained that clerks would have no definite guidelines on what could be sold and that the bill would make it a felony – with a fine of between $100 and $2,000 and imprisonment for up to one year – for a clerk to sell such a game to someone under age 18.

Jessica Elliot of the Louisiana Retailers Association said retailers should be able to know “up front” which games couldn’t be sold to minors. “If some clerk falls asleep at the switch, are we going to send her to prison?”

The opponents also downplayed Thompson’s submission of studies showing that violent video games increase violence by submitting their own studies showing that it doesn’t.

Thompson said the difference is that his studies were publicly funded by universities and the American Medical Association whereas the opponents’ studies were funded by the video game industry.

The military uses violent video games to desensitize soldiers to killing, Thompson said, which provides evidence that they can affect attitude.

Burrell’s bill goes to the full Senate for consideration. If it is not amended, it will go to the governor’s office for signing into law.

SOURCE: www.shreveporttimes.com

Report: Xbox Handheld within Two Years

By Kris Graft

A research group has issued a new report stating that Microsoft will likely enter the portable gaming market within the next two years.

A new report from The Diffusion Group suggests that Microsoft will use the recognition of the Xbox brand to enter the portable gaming market by either licensing portable gaming software or creating Xbox brand portable gaming hardware in late 2007/early 2008.

"While licensing the software is consistent with Microsoft's larger strategy, and no doubt Microsoft has endured many failures in regard to hardware plays, the success of the Xbox presents Microsoft with a unique opportunity," said Diffusion Group CEO and report co-author Michael Greeson. "Microsoft owns an established and highly-regarded hardware brand, meaning that they can enter the PGC [portable game console] market from a position of strength, a privilege not enjoyed by any other player except those already active in the PGC space.

"Portable media analyst and co-author of the report Thomas Wolf said that the software giant is just waiting for the right time to release a portable gaming device. "Microsoft has been waiting on the sidelines until its gaming console and software business reached sustainability, all the while watching closely how Nintendo and consumers in general would respond to Sony's PSP."

He continued, "With global PGC revenues expected to reach $3 billion annually by 2008, and with only Sony and Nintendo active in the PGC space, Microsoft has before it an incredible opportunity. It has a critical brand presence in the console space, the breadth and depth of gaming titles, and the marketing clout necessary to enter this space and win decent market share."

Dean Takahashi, San Jose Mercury News reporter and author of the recently released book, "The Xbox 360 Uncloaked", reported in March that Xbox vet J Allard had taken the helm of the Xbox handheld project. Prior to that revelation, BusinessWeek featured an article that cited unnamed Microsoft sources, stating that the company had assembled a team to measure the feasibility of a handheld device.

The Diffusion Group expects a Microsoft portable to feature music playback, although Xbox chief Peter Moore told BusinessWeek in January, "It can't just be our version" of the Apple iPod.

SOURCE: www.next-gen.biz

Half-Life 2 set for 2007 Xbox 360 release

By James Orry - 30/05/2006 - 11:41am GMT

The Buzz: A listing of Half-Life 2 for the Xbox 360 on EBGames and Gamestop has fuelled speculation that the FPS is heading to the Xbox 360.

Half-Life 2 for the PC may have arrived towards the back end of 2004, with the game also appearing on Xbox in 2005, but that hasn't stopped talk of Valve's genre defining shooter making its way to the Xbox 360.

Well now it appears that there may be some more truth in the rumour, with the US retailers EBGames and Gamestop listing the game for release on Xbox 360 in February, 2007. Valve has responded to the listing, neither confirming of denying the game's existence.

"We've only announced development for 360," said a Valve rep. "No specific titles to reveal just yet, but folks can expect to hear more before the end of this year."

We'll keep you posted of any more information regarding the release of Half-Life 2 for the Xbox 360.

SOURCE: www.pro-g.co.uk

Nintendo Looks to Bring in New Gamers

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews
May 30, 2006, 11:54 AM

Continuing a strategy by the game maker to expand the video gaming market, Nintendo said Tuesday that it was introducing a new brand to highlight games that are easy to play. Called Touch Generations, the label would be placed on any game that customers can play with little experience.

Nintendo made its first indications that it was not satisfied with marketing to the everyday gamer with its next generation console, the Wii. Both its price, under $250, and its features, such as the innovative controller, are aimed at attracting a broader demographic.

Supporting these initiatives will be a multimillion-dollar ad campaign that would market the company's games and consoles to the public at large, Nintendo said.

Four previously released titles plus three new games to be released in June would initially receive the branding. "Brain Age," "Tetris DS," "Swing Golf" and "Nintendogs" will be rebranded under the Touch Generations brand.

On June 5, "Brain Academy," a brain-training game, and a puzzle game called "Magnetica" will be released. On June 26, "Sudoku Gridmaster," based on the wildly popular grid game will launch. Nintendo says it expects both hardcore gamers as well as beginners to enjoy the titles.

"We remain committed to turning video games into an inclusive mass medium that everyone can enjoy," Nintendo of America's senior marketing vice president George Harrison said. "Touch Generations will help novices and newcomers identify the fun and uniquely engaging experiences that are available only on Nintendo DS."

SOURCE: www.betanews.com

My Relationship With Nintendo

This comic comes from my favorite web comic artist over at VGCats.com

Please visit his page every monday for a new video game web comic.

www.vgcats.com

Click on the image to read it.

Strap Up and Jump Like Mario

By David Cohn/Also by this reporter 02:00 AM May, 30, 2006

NEW YORK -- Mario can jump four times his height, and soon so could you.

The Nintendo Amusement Park is a project by three New York University students who want to create a life-size obstacle course based on Super Mario Bros. that lets players strap into a bungee system to jump 12 feet in the air, smash Goombas, collect coins and snag magic mushrooms, just like in the classic video game.

(Check out our photo gallery for pictures)

The game is a product of NYU's Big Games class, which was responsible for PacManhattan, a re-creation of Pac-Man on the streets of New York. The Nintendo Amusement Park is an obstacle course navigated with a "power-assist harness" that gives players the superhuman abilities of video-game characters.

"We started off with the idea of making a real-life duplicate of the game," said Noah Shibley, one of the amusement park's creators.

In this first, homemade step, the project consists of a 40-foot-high motorized truss, bungee cords and a military harness to enhance players' jumping power. Once outfitted with a Mario or Luigi costume, players can pop yellow balloon "coins," punch a power-up box 15 feet above their head or avoid a Bob-omb that is chasing them. Meanwhile, sound effects sync up with their movements to add to the Super Mario Bros. feel.

The game is a lot of fun and a serious workout. While I wasn't in physical pain, it felt like I'd run a couple of miles. Once you get the hang of the bouncing motion, it's a blast. At the height of a jump you get a weightless feeling, like a roller coaster about to descend. It's challenging and a bit frustrating -- in the same way video games can be. Some obvious problems arose when testing of the makeshift project began last week at the Streb Labratory for Action Mechanics in Brooklyn. The uncomfortable military harness is attached to a spot on the ceiling, eliminating forward mobility. And jumping 12 feet in the air presents an element of danger.

"I think it's really cool if they could build it to scale so you can run through an entire course," said Robin Kawakami while catching her breath after trying the apparatus.

While the students who built the contraption admit it's a crude first step, all are inspired by their ultimate vision of a 100-meter-long obstacle course where a "haptic winch" utilizing predetermined algorithms will instantly react to a player's movements and boost their physical abilities accordingly.

"We could actually load video-game physics models into this winch and put them in the real world," said Dan Albritton, one of the NYU students. "Once you have (the haptic winch) built, you can repurpose it for anything you want. You can have Excite Bike, a crazy Tony Hawk game, anything you want."

Right now, the Nintendo Amusement Park is an obvious copyright infringement. The students say they are paying homage to the game company that inspired them, and hope Nintendo will eventually team with them to develop an advanced version of their "augmented-reality" game.

"We don't want to make money off their name, but we want to get Nintendo's attention," said Albritton. "Nintendo with their game design and Disney with their ride engineering, those are the types of groups we can smash together to make this haptic winch real."

Kevin Slavin, managing director of area code, a company that tried out the students' prototype, said the students' ideas were bold and adventurous.

"There is no longer any moon to put people on," he said. "The spaces that we have left to explore are fantasy spaces and the question is, 'How do we explore them physically?'"

SOURCE: http://www.wired.com/

New Title of the Week: Half Life 2: Episode 1

Half-Life 2: Episode One is the first in a series of new adventures created by Valve that extend the Half-Life 2 single player experience. It details the aftermath of Half Life 2 and launches a journey beyond City 17.

Stepping into the hazard suit of Dr. Gordon Freeman, you face the immediate repercussions of your actions in City 17 and the Citadel. Rejoin Alyx Vance and her robot, Dog, to once again aid the human resistance in their desperate battle against the totalitarian alien menace of the Combine.

Episode One exposes Alyx's combat skills and knowledge of City 17. Battle side-by-side with her through Valve's first episodic game, a four-to-six hour adventure of greater density and detail than non-episodic releases.

In addition to the new single player campaign, Half-Life 2: Episode One also includes two multiplayer games. And everything you need to play is included in the box – Half-Life 2 is not required to play.

Features

*An all-new episode for one of the best-selling action games of all time.

*Discover what’s become of City 17, Dr. Breen, and the G-Man.

*Incredibly advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI).

*Highly detailed environments, featuring High Dynamic Range lighting, provide amazing gameplay settings.

*Digital Actors: The most sophisticated in-game characters ever witnessed.

*Physical Gameplay: Objects obey the laws of gravity, friction, and buoyancy.

*Design Team Commentary Mode.

*Also includes two multiplayer games: Half-Life 2 Deathmatch and Half-Life Deathmatch: SourceTM.

*Half-Life 2 not required to play.

About Half-Life 2

Half-Life 2 has been named Game of the Year by over 35 organizations and sold over four million copies worldwide. The intense, real-time gameplay delivered in Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2: Episode One is made possible only by Source, Valve's proprietary engine technology.

Available June 1st 2006 on PC

A Look at How the PS3 Got to Be $600 US

Posted May 27th 2006 4:00PM by Christopher Grant

While the entire internet (at least the gaming part) continues to reel from Sony's $600 price announcement, we have to consider just how it came to be that the video game console leader decided to create such an expensive piece of machinery. There's no confusing this: Sony has known for some time that the PlayStation 3 would cost more than any game system before it (two jobs, remember?). But what corporate machinations influenced that decision?

Last week, Next Generation ran a fascinating article written by David Cole, of strategic market research firm DFC Intelligence, following the circumstance that resulted in the unpopular price tag. With the growing homogenization of consumer technology, and increased competition, Sony -- under the direction of Ken Kutaragi as head of Sony's semiconductor operations -- looked to custom-built technology like the Cell processor and Blu-ray to distinguish their product from the others (compare this to Microsoft's more nimble strategy of outsourcing the 360's chip-design to IBM).

Kutaragi was demoted after being passed over for the role of CEO and, when former Sony Pictures head Howard Stringer assumed the position, the relationship between the content and technology divisions of Sony became even more intimate. Stringer "quickly dubbed the PlayStation 3 as one of the company's 'champion' products." Kutaragi's desire to stratify the console market with Cell technology in effect wed Sony to the unpalatable prospect of charging an unprecedented price. Coupled with Sony's desire to not only push their own content on HD discs, but to control that medium with their proprietary Blu-ray format, the final price was escalated by two very advanced (and very expensive) pieces of Sony technology.

Continue reading for some thoughts on why the price may not matter ...

During the hectic Xbox 360 holiday shopping craze, Slate's "Everyday Economist" Tim Harford wondered, considering the prices they were fetching on eBay, "Why doesn't Microsoft price them at $700 instead?" Microsoft was already losing money on every console sold and, as a public company, that's got to be a hard thing to shrug off. If 360s were netting in excess of $700 on eBay, shouldn't Microsoft have taken advantage of that demand to help offset the initial investment?

Like consumer electronics (DVD or, perhaps, Blu-ray players), prices start off high -- appealing to the early-adopter audience who absorb the brunt of the cost -- only to lower to more palatable mass-market prices once efficiencies of scale are reached and manufacturing processes are streamlined. Sony could be modeling their admittedly very high-tech PS3 after this model (which has earned them some small amount of success in the similarly competitive world of consumer electronics), opting for more gradual price adjustments instead of the long term static prices we're used to today.

The problem is, if Sony chooses to follow this model (that is, if the price will drop after initial peak demand is fulfilled and then continue to drop) will consumers know enough to base their purchasing decisions on that future possibility when an Xbox 360 will cost them significantly less now? In a follow up to his Xbox 360 piece, Slate's Harford returned to the question with some more input on the high demand on eBay being related to the paucity of gamers willing to resell their newly earned 360s: "only a few consoles are up for sale and only the most desperate buyers compete for them. If more people put their consoles up for auction, the price would drop."

If consumer perception reflects a belief that Sony's price will remain static, a larger worry for Sony may be waning publisher support. With next-gen development costs increasing, it will be proportionally difficult to persuade publishers to isolate their titles to one platform, especially when that platform is being sold as a (relatively cheap) next-gen movie player and not a gaming console. As Cole concludes in Next Generation, "The PlayStation 3 needs to justify its price difference as a game machine." They haven't done that yet ... but there's still time.

SOURCE: http://www.joystiq.com/

Gaming Chicks

They aren’t exactly on a crusade; but all-female gaming clans are fast taking on what’s easily a male- dominated bastion, and landing corporate deals in the bargain too...

Sandy Cohen / AP

Traditionally, the only women in video games were digital. There’s busty, pistol-packing Lara Croft of Tomb Raider, or the scantily clad walking pin-ups in Grand Theft Auto.

But things are changing, thanks to a core female gamers who are increasing women’s visibility and influence. These women are programmers, designers, tech students and members of all-female gaming groups that compete against guys for cash and corporate sponsorships. And experts say the industry stands to benefit.

“For this industry to mature and move on, it has to grow beyond that 13-to35-year-old male demographic,” said Anthony Borquez, a professor who teaches video game production at the University of Southern California. “From a business perspective, it makes a lot of sense to engage women more.”

Besides, sisters are doing it for themselves!

Amber Dalton and twin sister Amy Brady created the PMS Clan in 2002. Boasting international membership of nearly 500 women and girls, PMS – which stands for Pandora’s Mighty Soldiers – is a competitive group that plays Xbox, PlayStation2 and PC games. Its members range in age from 9 to 58, Dalton said, but most are adults. Learning about the Clan was “an epiphany” for game designer and devotee Felicia Williams. “Finding a community where you can say that you play games was kind of like a confessional,” said the 24-year-old New Yorker, who owns “...every system ever released.”

Clan members compete with each other and band together in professional tournaments. They also challenge the online harassment doled out by male gamers. PMS Clan rules prohibit “...belittling or attacking others in any way, even in retaliation,” according to its 30-page member manual. Guys can be “vicious,” said Dalton, 30.

“They say, ‘You must be 300 pounds with a mustache,’” she said. “They hide behind the anonymity (of the game). We have a strict code of conduct. Someone has to set an example.” The Clan’s classy manners and tournament-worthy skills caught the attention of Microsoft. The company hired the PMS Clan in April to represent Xbox Live – rather than relying on professionals or “booth babes” –at May’s E3 electronics expo. Borquez, the USC professor, agreed. “They’re creating unique ways of being able to communicate in games,” he said. “Before it was all trash-talking.”

Even Ubisoft, which produces games, assembled its own seven-member women-only gaming group, the Frag Dolls, nearly two years ago. This team touts new titles and competes in tournaments for the company.

Most members play about three hours a day. Halo 2 and Ghost Recon, both war games with male soldiers as main characters, are the top choices. Role-playing games are also popular, said game designer Williams, adding some may have been turned away by games that have women “...portrayed as whores.” She expects to see more positive female characters.

Borquez has already seen creative contributions from the handful of female students in his video game classes. Their designs include sophisticated story lines, female characters and “...shopping games, of course!”

• Most members play about three hours a day. Halo 2 and Ghost Recon, both war games with male soldiers as main characters, are the top choices

• “Finding a community where you can say that you play games was kind of like a confessional,” – Game designer and PMS devotee Felicia Williams

SOURCE: http://www.mumbaimirror.com/

Age of Empires III Demo

Being a fan of the first two Age of Empires Games, I look forward to playing the third installment of the game, Age of Empires III. This real time strategy game has improved 3D graphics and now takes place in the New World environments. If you like games like Warcraft or Civilization, you love the Age of Empires series.

Check out the Demo for Age of Empires III and see for yourself.

Download it here

Or

Go to the webpage:
www.ageofempires3.com

Three ways to pass time while waiting for the PlayStation 3

By Kenneth Terrell
Posted 5/25/06

So what if six months and $500 separate you from a PlayStation 3 (scheduled to arrive in stores on November 17)? There's plenty of exciting and affordable video game action to keep you busy until then.

Improve your brain age. More popular overseas than it is in the States, the hand-held Nintendo DS ($130) is quite possibly the most innovative video game console ever. Two bright displays, touch-screen capability, and a built-in microphone combine to deliver compelling game-play unlike anything else. You can train a Nintendog to obey your spoken commands or sharpen up your mental skills with the company's excellent Brain Age puzzle game. And forthcoming games demoed at the Electronic Entertainment Expo convention this month—including a new game in the Mario Brothers franchise—show that the DS is just hitting its sweet spot. Another bonus: Nintendo is releasing the DS Lite (also $130), a version of the device slimmed down by about a third, on June 11.

Pick up that second system. Just before the gaming expo this month, Sony announced it was cutting the price of the PS2 to $130. With used PS2s and Xboxes readily available and affordably priced at secondhand games stores, this summer is great opportunity to catch up on those games you had to pass up before because they weren't available for your system. Test-drive the Gran Turismo, or battle it out in God of War for the PS2. Or blast your way through the Halo titles for Xbox.

Take a vacation to Persia. By all accounts, the one standout title for the PlayStation 3 shown at the E3 gathering earlier this month was Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed. Set during the Crusades circa A.D. 1191, the game mixes stealthy maneuvering with quick attacks in a richly detailed setting. That same mix can be found in the company's Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones game released earlier this year. Sharpen up your skills on that title, and you'll be ready to dip into Assassin's Creed in November.

Source: USNews.com

Sony Playstation 3 (PS3) Roundup and Rumors

Written by Rivithed
Thursday, 25 May 2006

PS 3 Online service will have downloadable games:IGN has discovered, through an online job posting, that Sony PS3 will have downloadable games, similar to the Xbox Live Arcade and Wii's Virtual Console. Read more here.

"Low-end" PS3 may still allow 1080p output:The 20 gig PS3 model has received much criticism for lacking a feature many next-gen gamers want: HDMI (1080p) output. According to this article at GameDaily, HDMI output can happen via component cables: "With the $499 version of the PlayStation 3 lacking HDMI output the Internet has been ablaze with the notion that it wouldn't be able to output in 1080p, thereby rendering its hi-def Blu-ray movie playing capabilities almost useless. And as such, Sony's advertising both models of the PS3 as Blu-ray players could be considered false advertising. However, if the $499 version will be able to output a 1080p signal through traditional component cables, the low-end PS3 suddenly becomes a much more appealing option."

Rumors of PS3 locking used games is false:Sony has officially denied the rumor that the PS3 will lockout used games. This article at GamesIndustry.biz confirms from a Sony spokesperson that "there has been no official comment on this since the story that came up a few months ago - it hasn't changed since then, and we're quite surprised by why this has popped up again, to be honest."

First production run of PS3s will be PAL units:SCEE president and CEO David Reeves told MCV that Sony's initial production of Playstation 3 consoles will be in PAL format.

Source: Gaming Bits.com

New Title of the Week: The Da Vinci Code

The Da Vinci Code™ video game is based on the highly anticipated film from Oscar-winning director Ron Howard, which is based on Dan Brown’s best-selling novel.
Dan Brown’s critically acclaimed book The Da Vinci Code is the best-selling novel of all time and has spent more than two years on the New York Times best-seller list. It has also been translated into 42 languages.

Unique adventure: The game expands upon The Da Vinci Code universe by giving you new experiences and locations not visited in the book or the film.

Mysterious puzzles: Solve mysteries and puzzles that go beyond anything you have seen or read. Elude danger and stay one step ahead of an enemy that will stop at nothing to protect their secret.

Varied gameplay: The game combines a unique blend of adrenaline-pumping stealth, frantic chases and combat, diversely cryptic puzzles, and exciting exploration.

Famous locations: Explore detailed environments and discover hidden clues in world famous locations such as The Louvre, Westminster Abbey, St. Sulpice, and more.

Difficult challenges: Solve a wide variety of challenging physical and intellectual puzzles that will ultimately lead you to the resting ground of the Holy Grail.

Faithful adaptation: The game will appeal to the hardcore fans of the book and movie by offering an experience faithful to the movie. In addition, it will also appeal to gamers who have enjoyed the movie but want new challenges.

Available in May 2006 on Xbox, PS2 and PC.

Look for a review of this game in the future.

Tomb Raider: Legends Demo

Wanna try a demo verison of the new Tomb Raider: Legend before you buy it?

You better just in case, because we all know the last Lara Croft game sucked and we don't want to accidentally buy another Angel of Darkness repeat. Do we?






Download it here

OR

Go to the main site and download it there.
http://www.eidosinteractive.com/downloads/search.html

Happy Button Mashing!

20 More Years of Final Fantasy VII

And Square Enix's plans for FFXIII could stretch a decade.
by Patrick Klepek, 05/24/2006

After making an impressive splash at this year's E3 debuting the next-generation Final Fantasy, Square Enix held a business meeting in Japan outlining their financial results and offering a small glimpse into what the company's planning for the future. Unsurprisingly, there's no lack of Final Fantasy.
Japanese gaming website Game Watch was on-hand for the event, and Square Enix president Yoichi Wada made some interesting comments about the plan for their ever-expanding Final Fantasy VII projects and what's coming for Final Fantasy XIII.
The company actually views FFVII as a 20-year project. That probably doesn't mean Square Enix is cooking up two decades worth of Cloud and Sephiroth-themed videogames, but it's been ten years since the original, and we still haven't received our next-generation remake, so maybe that will float FFVII through the next ten.
Similarly, Fabula Nova Crystallis -- the name dubbed for their vision of FFXIII -- is also being developed with a ten-year outlook in mind. Of course, that could change depending on how the three already-in-development games fair, but FFXIII is a nucleus through which the company hopes to expand from. While only three games in Fabula Nova Crystallis have been announced, they haven't ruled out additional releases.
And while Final Fantasy XI has made a successful transition onto Xbox 360 this year, MMO gamers should probably look elsewhere for their online fix if they're expecting a follow-up anytime soon; the company doesn't expect to launch a sequel or replacement in the coming fiscal year ending March 31, 2007.
You kids better love your Final Fantasy; you're going to be getting plenty of it.

Published at 1UP.com

Nintendo's Philosophy on the New Wii

Break Down the Walls

With each passing year, video gaming has become an exclusive experience. The complexities of some of the newest games have alienated those who used to play games with their entire families. Wii changes all that. Nintendo has created the most inviting, inclusive video game system to date. Thanks to our unique controller, anyone of any age or skill level can pick up and play games on Wii.

And they will have an incredibly fun time doing so. That's not to say we've forgotten about the core gamer. Not by a long shot. In fact, Wii gives them the best gaming experience yet. Take a look at some of the games Nintendo and our partners have to offer, and once you try them out, you will be convinced that a revolution in gaming has begun. Soon, the future will be in your hands. When you get a chance to play, you will believe Wii is the next leap in gaming to a new generation.

Expanding the Audience

Over time, gaming has become overwhelming to people. Wii returns gaming to simpler times while innovating game development at the same time. The unique Wii Remote gives parents and grandparents a chance to play games with their children. It gives gamers and traditional non-gamers a chance to share the same experiences in this new generation of gaming. For those who grew up on video games, Wii shows that games have not outgrown them.

Unique Experiences

Wii makes you feel less like a player and more like you're in the game. Frenzied sword battles are no longer confined to pushing a button. With Wii's unique freehand controller, Nintendo puts you in the middle of the action. Forget about pushing a button to start a golf backswing. Wii lets you swing the club! Don't push a button to swing a sword, actually swing the sword. Video games have always been a part of you, now you get to be a part of them. Step up to the next level of gaming.

Welcome to the World of the Girl Gamer

Yes, we tend to only exist in legend, but the girl gamer really does exist and not just in a casual sort of way; no, we exist in the "I'm so obsessed that the controller has finger groove marks in it from my hours of game play" type of way. Find out the true nature of the girl gamer as I post game reviews, gamer news and anything else I can find that involves gaming.

I know you're reading this and saying, "But she's just a girl, how obsessed could she be?" Oh, I'm an addict and we'll see just how far my gaming obsession can go in my pursuit to become a gaming journalist. Who knows I may even start playing an Online game like World of Warcraft, just to better my knowledge?

Scary, isn't it?

I look forward to reading all your comments, and getting to know my readers.

Happy Button Mashing!

E3 2006 Coverage - Let the Real Console Wars Begin!

It’s that time of year again! The time of year that I get attached to G4 Tech TV for 4 days straight as I watch all the E3 coverage I can handle before my brain turns to mush. Today was Day One of the coverage and I spend all day hyper as ever in anticipation of 6pm when the video game goodness would be begin. Each night brings 3 hours of yummy E3 news from the hosts of G4’s Attack of the Show, Kevin Pereira and Olivia Munn, and the hosts of G4’s X-Play, Adam Sessler, and Morgan Webb. The highlights of tonight’s coverage included a look at the new Sony PS3 and Nintendo’s Wii (Stop snickering already!).
Sony’s newest addition to the PS console family is the sleek designed PS3. The new system will include free online with optional pay-per-download game content, different media ports, a removable hard drive that will come in two different sizes, 20GB and 60 GB, and the new system will provide features like instant messaging, video chat and such. The PS3 controller will be wireless thanks to Blue Tooth and will feature the same design as the old PS2 controller, but with a build in gyroscope and a new center button. Available in November, the system will come in two different price packages: $499US ($549CAN) for the 20 GB HDD and $599US ($649CAN) for the 60GB HHD. Look forward to seeing Sony give the Xbox 360 a run for its money, though I’ll probably buy both. Finally to avoid any credit card requirements, Sony will also create a pre-paid card for use to buy all downloadable items from its system. Cool!

Nintendo also unveiled its newest system, the Nintendo Wii and its funky new motion sensor controller. Though not a lot of specs were given for the new Nintendo system, I can tell you that the system will allow you to download old Nintendo games for less than $10 a game, the controller will allow for a whole new game play with the ability to control things like swords or tennis rackets in game by swinging the remote style controller and the controller will have an attachable analog stick. The controller will also have a build in speaker, so when you press a button to shoot, the controller will make a gun sound and its will also include a whisper sensitive microphone. Nintendo promises to include more 3rd party titles this time around and that the Wii controller will bring out even the casual gamers to play its system. Though not confirmed, the Nintendo will probably cost around $249US which may give it a chance against the more expensive Sony and Xbox consoles. Who knows? I guess only time will tell.
That’s all I have time to cover today. I’ll give the rundown of some of the new titles revealed this year at E3 tomorrow.

A Dying Nation of Nintendo Gamers

Yesterday I caved and sold all of my old Nintendo systems and games. I had been hording my Super NES, Nintendo 64 and colour Gameboy for a while and it was time to give them up. I still love the games, but I hadn’t touch them in months and with the Nintendo Revolution coming out soon, I can always buy that and download the old games, if I really want them back.

As a huge Nintendo supporter, I hate seeing them struggling to maintain any hold on the gaming market. Nintendo brought the dying video game market back when Atari and other system killed it. How could they be so blind to fall behind in the game market? I will always be a Mario/Link fan, but with so many game series abandoning Nintendo, how will they hold on? Unless the Revolution proves to be an amazing system, I think that Nintendo will have to fold on the Console market and move to just making games for other consoles. I think they can hold their own in the handheld market, but the Nintendo consoles may go the way of the Sega consoles, if they don’t get their act together.

I've tried to hang on to my hopes of Nintendo being a worth while system. With game series like, Resident Evil, Final Fantasy, Pokemon, Super Mario and Legend of Zelda, I couldn't give up my gamecube console, but most of the titles are running to other systems now. Final fantasy moved to Sony PS1, PS2, PC and now even the Xbox 360 has the online FFXI series. The only Final Fantasy game to appear on Gamecube, barely resemble it counterparts. Resident Evil though, still appearing on the Gamecube, has also made it way to the PS3, and now the newest Resident Evil will appear on Xbox 360. Nintendo holds only the childish titles and with unimpressive graphics, all the cross console games are better played on the other systems. I love my Nintendo, but they have to pull it together or be crushed in the long run.