Not everything in the gaming garden is coming up roses. There are some “classic” games that many players do not get on with. Maybe it’s time to stop applauding gaming as a medium when it still has so many flaws?
Read moreSo Scottish developer Realtime Worlds has gone into administration, following the poor response to its online game APB, leaving ambitious future project MyWorld hanging in the balance. What has gone wrong for founder David Jones, and what impact will it have on the British software industry?
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Nintendo themselves are trying again with the 3DS. Interestingly, this includes a control button to turn down the depth of the 3D “field”, presumably in an attempt to make things comfortable for the player. Shaped like a conventional DS with two screens, only the top screen displays the 3D image – the bottom screen is still touch-sensitive. Familiar Nintendo franchises will make the leap to 3DS, including the long-forgotten Kid Icarus, Zelda and Starfox.
Read moreIn April 2010 the Labour Chancellor Alistair Darling announced a review of tax rules for companies producing computer games, with the promise of tax breaks for games with a British cultural flavour – in line with a similar French system. After the General Election, June’s Emergency Budget by Conservative Chancellor George Osbourne announced that there would be no tax breaks. Why the sudden change? And why is it such an important issue?
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Sony confidently predicted a ten-year lifespan for the PS2, and that has come to pass. They are now suggesting a similar tenure for the PS3, and it could be to their advantage. This year has been a strong one for Sony with exclusives and good sales on the back of the PS3 Slim, and another good Christmas with interest in Move could push it further. Meanwhile, Kinect is going after the Wii’s audience to a large extent. Microsoft still has the edge in online gaming for many with Live, but the gap has narrowed. Moving on from the 360 may not suit Microsoft either, now that is making good profit and building its user base.
Read moreThe E3 Expo is a lot like a roller-coaster. There’s the anticipation of that first hill (the build-up to the show with hints of what’s coming), the sudden drop into the exciting parts (the actual announcements and reveals) and the slowing down as the ride comes into the station (wading through discarded goodie bags and leaflets to the exit).
Read moreIt’s that time of year again, when strawberries increase in price, barley water is consumed in vast quantities and yellow balls are bouncing on usually empty courts. It’s Wimbledon fortnight, and a nation’s thoughts turn to how soon the British hopefuls will lose. Of course, tennis in video game form has a long and impressive history.
Read moreSitting near my computer is a pile of unwatched films on DVD, each of them based on a computer game. They all have a bad reputation, both as films and as adaptations. But the other day I did pay my money and take a chance on visiting the cinema to check out Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, the movie adaptation of the successful series. I was pleasantly surprised to find a summer blockbuster worth my time.
Read moreElectronic Arts is in the headlines again, for its new Online Pass system. Many of its new sports titles will require a registration code for online play. This code will be included with new retail copies of the game, or can be purchased for a fee (set at $10 initially, under their Project Ten Dollar initiative).
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With the annual E3 show less than a month away, it seems certain that there will be no announcements on the next generation of hardware. Indeed, the focus will be on upgrades and add-ons for the current generation of hardware, expanding its lifespan. But who will play the next generation game successfully?
Read moreFilm critic Roger Ebert has once again caused controversy by stating that videogames can never be art and the gaming community has responded. From a Penny Arcade comic to long forum debates, there are many different views. Here’s mine.
Read moreBobby Kotick of Activision has become a figure of hate. There is a great deal of Internet anger about the departure of the founders of Infinity Ward, the developers of Modern Warfare 2.
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Piracy is once again back in the headlines, for several reasons. The latest DRM for PC games from Ubi Soft has been heavily satirised by the web cartoonists. The industry has also released figures showing losses accumulated due to game piracy. Then there was the million-dollar fine for the Australian accused of illegally uploading a Wii game.
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Hollywood does it all the time – take an old movie from one or two generations ago, cast young actors, hype the remake and put out something that is vaguely satisfying. Unfortunately the video game industry appears to be heading down this track too.
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It’s traditional to round up what has been happening at the end of the year, and to take a look forward at what is coming next. So here are some of my highlights of the gaming year.
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Every year there is a major race on for the consumers’ money. And this winter is no different. So what is the form guide for the runners going into the race, and what are the odds on a new leader?
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