Anybody who has seen Crysis 2 in action has likely been wowed by the graphics. Come this August Crytek will be offering the CryEngine 3 SDK for developers to use for free, with sample code from Crysis 2 included. The engine looks like it is capable of spectacular things (trailer), so the sooner more developers use it the better. While using the engine is free, those interested in releasing their creations commercially will still be required to pay licensing fees.
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Cohort Studios is closing their doors for good after five years of business. They had previously done contract work on titles like Motorstorm and Buzz, but had most recently developed The Shoot, a rail shooter for the Playstation Move peripheral. Around 25 people will be affected by the closure. As always I hope that everyone is placed quickly.
Nintendo's next console is currently the hot topic of the gaming world, with the focus currently resting on the controller. That is quite understandable considering how the Wii's controller changed the industry completely. New rumors suggest that the controller will feature a 6" touchscreen, a front facing camera, IR lights and even traditional buttons.
I think that this controller will replace the classic controller when used with the console, working alongside the Wii Remote Plus as the main controller for the system, and actually become the system when used on the go. It is no secret that Japan has largely moved towards portable gaming and I think this console will be Nintendo's first attempt at a hybrid of sorts. The IR lights would even allow you to use a Wii remote's pointer on the go, even though that probably isn't ideal on a 6" screen. The system's codename, Project Cafe', also leads me to believe that social gaming will be a large aspect of the console, taking your console games to public places and playing them with others will now be much more feasible. The camera could be used for augmented reality gaming that Nintendo has taken a liking to on the 3DS, or even for online communication (yeah right). The touchscreen built in to the controller could have a number of benefits for gaming at home as well, allowing players to pick their plays in Madden secretively, act as a HUD that clears up valuable television space, act as a real-time inventory that doesn't interrupt gameplay, as well as act as a second game screen if players get separated from each other in a co-operative mutliplayer game. These are simply ideas based upon rumored features of the controller. It is still likely that none of this is true, Nintendo has always been a very secretive company. But these features certainly would make for an interesting console, especially when paired with capable hardware. Update: Click over to see excellent renderings of the concept I drew out in MS Paint, courtesy of Redditor xsp. Software
01. Pokémon White Version (NDS) 02. Pokémon Black Version (NDS) 03. Homefront (360, PS3, PC) 04. Dragon Age II (360, PS3, PC) 05. Call of Duty: Black Ops (360, PS3, NDS, Wii, PC) 06.Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars (Wii, 360, NDS, PS3, 3DS, PSP, PC) 07. Crysis 2 (360, PS3, PC) 08. NBA 2K11 (360, PS3, PS2, Wii, PSP, PC) 09. MLB 11: The Show (PS3, PSP, PS2) 10. Fight Night Champion (360, PS3) Hardware Nintendo DS - 460,000 Nintendo 3DS - Just Under 400,000 Wii - 290k Xbox 360 - 433,000 Jerry Lawson, inventor of the Channel F game system, passed away on Saturday. The Channel F, released in 1976, was the first console with programmable game cartridges. Before that point video game systems only played the games that were built into them, much like the plug and play t.v. games you find in the toy sections of stores today. Last month Lawson was honored by the International Game Developers Association's Minority Special Interest Group at the Game Developers Conference. He will also be fondly remembered for creating one of the first games to hit arcades after Pong, Demolition Derby, which he had made in his garage in the early 70's. Check out Jerry Lawson's wikipedia entry for more information on this gaming great Yet another developer has jumped on the social games train. Factor 5, best known for the Rogue Squadron games and the horrendous bomb that was Lair on the PS3, has announced the creation of a new studio focused on social games, TouchFactor. The studio is committed to building social games that will "bring people together on all mass market platforms." Julian Eggebrecht, former president of Factor 5, as well as several other high profile names from Factor 5 are coming together to make some of the most beautiful Facebook games ever seen. Just kidding on that last part.
via press release Grasshopper is going to reveal Frog Minutes, their first iOS game in support of Japanese relief efforts, at their March 30th Grasstream 2 event. We know nothing about the game outside of its logo, as seen on Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu's website, and that all of the proceeds for the game will go to the Red Cross in support of the Japanese earthquake victims. Source: Famitsu In what seems like a cruel joke, Take-Two has announced that Duke Nukem Forever will be delayed once more. The one liner spouting, woman grabbing Duke won't be strutting his stuff on your console of choice until June 10th abroad and the 14th here in America. We've waited nearly 15 years, I think we can wait a few more months at this point.
"What are you waiting for? Christmas?" SEGA is currently auctioning off 20 pieces of unique, one-of-a-kind merchandise in support of Play for Japan, with much more to come. 100% of the proceeds from the auctions will be donated to the American Red Cross to support the organization in its efforts to aid and assist Japan. Here are a few of the items up for auction:
Today marks the launch of Amazon's Android app store, which is great news for indie game developers and gamers alike. This new store front will allow games that might get lost in the shuffle another chance to shine. Also as another added bonus the site's banner claims that a a paid app will be given away for free each day, starting today with Angry Birds Rio. The games are cheap enough as is, but you would have to be crazy to turn down free!
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