Home : News : Resistance: Fall of Man : News Story
Ever curious as to why Resistance: Fall Of Man doesn't look as good as Gears Of War? Well, read on to find out!
Insomniac Games have recently addressed complaints that their PS3 launch title, Resistance: Fall Of Man is graphically inferior to that of Xbox 360 blaster Gears Of War.
In a report posted on the company’s official website, Brain Hastings, chief creative officer at Insomniac Games, stated “Sometimes people ask us, 'If Resistance takes 14 gigabytes, why doesn't it look better than Gears?'"
"Well, for one, Resistance didn't support texture streaming, so we had to make choices about where we spent our high-res textures."
"Resistance also had 30 single-player chapters, six multiplayer maps, uncompressed audio streaming, and high-definition mpegs. That all added up to a lot of space on disk”, Hastings added.
"Starting with Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction we are supporting texture streaming, which will make the worlds look even better, and will also consume even more space on disc."
Ironically, Hastings actually made these observations in a report titled “10 Reasons Why PS3 Will Win This Console Generation", arguing that the consoles support of Blu-ray functionality would lend it the advantage over consoles still utilizing DVD9.
Speaking on Gears itself, Hasting noted, "Gears of War is a beautiful game and shows off the highest resolution textures of anything yet released, partly because of the Unreal Engine's ability to stream textures.”
“This means that you can have much higher resolution textures than you could normally fit in your 512 MB of RAM. It also means that you’re going to chew up more disc space for each level."
"With streamed textures, streamed geometry and streamed audio, even with compression, you can quickly approach 1GB of data per level. That inherently limits you to a maximum of about 7 levels, and that’s without multiplayer levels or mpeg cut-scenes."
Despite his praise of the PS3, Hastings also labelled the Wii as a "fad" that would evidently die out in little more than a year.
News by Michael Harradence.
Mario & Sonic Olympics Details
Home : News : Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games : News Story
To be developed by Sega with input from Shigeru Miyamoto, not just another Wii Sports title and more!
N’Gai Croal of Level Up recently got the chance to speak with Sega of America President Simon Jeffery and Nintendo of America Vice President Perrin Kaplan to discuss the upcoming collaborative title that will put Sonic and Mario together for the first time in history!
When asked when the first talks began regarding a Mario/Sonic collaboration, Jeffery revealed that the very first steps “actually happened while Sega was still in the hardware business.” But as a result of the rivalry between Sega and Nintendo at the time “that was rather fanciful” and has taken this long to come to fruition.
Of course a question on every fanboy’s lips is “why does Mario’s name come first?” Well:
Jeffery: "Sega's being respectful. Mario is older than Sonic, and we'd like to give the old man some respect by letting him go first."
Kaplan: "Here's the bottom line: He's Italian, he's really sexy, and he can get more women than Sonic."
Perhaps more important is the revelation of exactly who will be developing the title. Some fans were worried that given Sonic Team’s recent track record with Sonic's 3D outings that they would not be up to the task, well those people can east easy in the knowledge that Sonic Team are not involved.
"The game itself is being built as a collaboration between Sega and Nintendo. It's being built predominantly by Sega's sports team, rather than Sonic Team.
We wanted to bring some fresh air in. But there's very heavy involvement from Nintendo, and we're honored that Miyamoto-san himself is actually very closely involved, is looking at every milestone, is involved in the strategic direction for the game. So this isn't another game that's being built by the Sonic Team.
It's something that's a collaboration between Nintendo and Sega.”
Finally Jeffery also revealed some interesting tidbits about the gameplay itself, suggesting that the game won’t be like your average Olympics title nor will it be a cheap knock off of Wii Sports.
“It's not a typical sports title. We feel that Olympics games in the past have all pretty much been the same kind of game, the standard track & field gameplay mechanic. The opportunity to introduce two characters like Mario and Sonic into an Olympic game really presents a bunch of opportunities and a bunch of challenges.
There obviously will be multiple sporting events within the game itself. But the main premise is fun, interaction and using the control mechanisms of both the Wii and the DS in unique and fun ways. We don't want the game to feel like just an iteration of Wii Sports.
We want the game to really feel unique, like it is an Olympic event, and that it's making most of the gameplay styles of both the Sonic games and the Mario games."
Check out the original interview here for a few more details regarding the sharing of publishing rights between the two companies and more.
Mar 29, 2007News by Karn Bianco.
Fischer Speaks Wii First Party Games
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Laurent Fischer insists that new first party games will be available on the Wii "when they're ready".
Nintendo Europe has responded to recent criticism suggesting there are not enough first party titles available on the market right now for the company’s latest home console, Wii.
Speaking with Gamesindustry.biz, marketing director for Nintendo Europe, Laurent Fischer, stated, "I would say that these titles - and this has always been the Nintendo policy - will be on the shelves when the director says so.”
“If the development team says they need one more month or two more months to deliver a unique Wii experience, we're comfortable with that.”
"At Nintendo I'm marketing director, but I'm proud to say that the marketing department has the last voice. When the product is out it's exactly as the creator intended”, Fischer added.
"It's the way the development studio dreamt it from the very beginning. Some companies may aim to release games at Christmas or for specific financial times of the year - Nintendo has nothing to do with that, it's never been the case."
Fischer also reiterated that the company intend to release Metroid Prime 3: Corruption and Super Mario Galaxy by the end of the year but maintained that he felt the Wii has a "strong line-up of titles".
News by Michael Harradence.
G1 Jockey Wii Details
Home : News : GI Jockey : News Story
Koei reveals details on its upcoming port of PS2 horse riding adventure, G1 Jockey.
Koei has unveiled some new information on the company’s upcoming horse-riding adventure, G1 Jockey.
Due for release on 29th June, the game allows players to utilize the Wii-remote as a whip to thrust your noble steed around the track, while the nunchuck will be used to guide the animal.
The games main attraction is career mode, which has you starting off as an aspiring young rookie and eventually hitting it big time as you jump from horse to horse until you hit that winning steed. Additionally, you’ll be able to raise your own thoroughbreds in your very own stables to beat out the competition.
"We're hoping that this game will make all horse racing games before it look like a right load of old pony and have gamers trotting down to their local store to back a genuine winner and be first past the post with the greatest horse racing game ever”, commented Koei sales manager, Will Curley.
G1 Jockey is out on Nintendo Wii from June 29th, and is also currently available for PS2.
News by Michael Harradence.
Nintendo Stars For Wii Points
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Following a mix up with the European Stars Catalogue, Nintendo are now offering a few lucky people the chance to be reimbursed with Wii Points!
On the official Nintendo Europe website a recent Stars Catalogue update seemed to be offering Wii Points (used for buying Virtual Console games) for Stars which are acquired by buying specific Nintendo products and games.
Nintendo later revealed that the item should not have been listed and was merely a test scenario that was accidentally put up for public viewing. For 789 stars gamers could get their hands on 1000 Wii Points which would normally equate to around £7.
Nintendo have now sent an email to those people who attempted to claim the offer apologizing for the inconvenience, explaining that it was an unintentional listing that isn’t actually available.
“First of all, we want to apologise for any inconvenience caused.But all is not lost for those that did ‘waste’ their Stars, Nintendo have now revealed that they will be reimbursing people with 1000 Wii Points as a way to apologise for the mix up!
This item is not available in the Stars Catalogue, and the price of 789 stars used during the testing period was entirely random."
“However, we understand that this may have caused a disappointment. So, as we know how committed you are to Nintendo - and given the exceptional circumstances - we decided to electronically send you 1000 Wii points, if you'd like that. In case you do not want to get these Wii Points, we will of course reimburse the amount of Stars you spent.”The email goes on to say that time is needed “to properly prepare the opportunity… to choose between Wii Points or Stars,” and as such a follow up email will be sent out shortly allowing customers to make their choice. Mar 29, 2007
News by Karn Bianco.
Take-Two Investors Ditch CEO
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After five quarters of losses, Paul Eibeler was ousted at the annual shareholder meeting today, along with three board members.
Take Two have been hampered by a scandal involving backdated stock options for some time now. Today, the CEO and board faced their investors. CEO Paul Eibeler was removed, with Benjamin Feder taking his place. New Directors were also announced - including Strauss Zelnick, owner of New York-based investment firm Zelnick Media.
Mar 29, 2007"If the new board and the new management team can take steps to restructure Take-Two and fix some of the issues it's faced in the past, it will be a good thing,'' said Evan Wilson, an analyst at Pacific Crest Securities in Portland, Oregon. "I think most investors are willing to give a new management team a shot."
News by Richard Manley.
Decline in Visitors at Yosemite Blamed On Video Games
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Here's a new one. The decline in visitors at Yosemite National Park is being blamed on video games.
From a new article in the BillingsGazette comes a revelation. Video games are keeping people out of Yosemite National Park. Oh yes, if you've been to the park recently you'd have noticed that the crowds of people are not quite so prevalent as they once were. From the article:
"Yosemite National Park has long been known as a place with stunning waterfalls, dramatic rock formations and frustrating weekend crowds. But all that is changing.
The waterfalls and rocks are still there. A lot of the people aren't."
Scott Gediman, a ranger who has worked in Yosemite since 1996 says the steady decline in visitors is in part due to kids having more entertainment options nowadays.
"We certainly want parks to be relevant to young people today, and to pass on the preservation ethic, but there is a different entertainment ethic. Half Dome is competing now with PlayStation and Xbox."
According to the article nobody knows exactly why visitor numbers keep decreasing.
"... park officials point to busy families, video games and a series of natural disasters."
Certainly, kids do have more entertainment options nowadays, but would that really prevent families from visiting outdoor locales such as Yosemite? I have my doubts, though there could be some truth to the notion that the more entertainment-centric kid's lives become, the less they go outside. Whether that's a good or bad thing, is topic for another debate altogether. Now ,have your way with our comments. What do you make of this story? Have you been outside lately?
Mar 29, 2007News by Richard Manley.
The Wii Takes A Cruise
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Nintendo have teamed up with Norwegian Cruise Line to bring Wiis on board their cruise ships!
Norwegian Cruise Line have announced a partnership with Nintendo to bring “red-hot” Wii systems onto their various cruise ships. Units are currently installed on “NCL's newest ship - Norwegian Pearl - and all NCL America ships.”
The Wii be coming to the rest of the NCL fleet by the end of April. Each system comes with either Wii Sports, Wii Play, Wario Ware: Smooth Moves or Excite Truck for some easy-going gaming action that all the ships passengers can enjoy."With its active, engaging and inviting game experiences appealing to every age from kids to parents to grandparents, the Wii from Nintendo is a natural fit for Freestyle Cruising," said Colin Veitch, NCL's president and CEO. "With the addition of Wii to our on-board activities, we can now offer bowling, boxing, golf, tennis and baseball across the entire fleet. Cheering, yelling and high-fives will be highly encouraged
"This partnership with Nintendo is an industry first and another innovation for NCL," Veitch said. "This continues our mission to dismantle the traditional cruise experience and deliver the most exciting and most customizable experience at sea."Each ship will feature their Wiis “in the atrium and other public rooms allowing guests to gather and play against each other while viewing the game on large video screens”. There will also be units in the ‘Kids Crew’ facility (pictured above) for younger gamers only, there is also the potential for tournaments and other activities.
"Millions of people around the world continue to discover the fun of playing Wii with their friends and families," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "Norwegian Cruise Line is a great partner, as they offer us direct access to non-traditional gamers. Our partnership reinforces how Wii's social phenomenon continues to grow, from the centerpiece of gaming parties, to a workout supplement, to a fun facet of vacation cruises."Mar 29, 2007
News by Karn Bianco.
