Microsoft announces it will release a software development kit for Windows systems in the next few months.
Soon after the Kinect hit the market last November, academics and hobbyists began to experiment with it. Using open-source drivers on Windows-based PCs, various independents created all sorts of applications that used the Xbox 360 peripheral, ranging from helicopter guidance systems to
unauthorized sex games.
And although Microsoft has ruled out any officially endorsed XXX-rated Kinect game, this week it did say an official PC Kinect software development kit will soon hit the market. First hinted at last month, the SDK will be available this spring for noncommercial use, although no exact date was given for its launch.
The release marks a turnaround from Microsoft’s original position on PC users hacking the Kinect, which was initially met with official protest and threats of legal action. Now, though, the official Kinect PC SDK is in the works at Microsoft Research (MSR) in association with the Xbox 360′s parent group, Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment Business.
“Supporting this community and enabling creativity around natural user interfaces (NUI) is important to us, and our hope is that this SDK will ignite further creativity in an already vibrant ecosystem of enthusiasts,” the company said in a statement. “We are very excited by this announcement. Not only does it showcase our investment in this important technology trend, but it ensures that people have the tools they desire to revolutionize how people interact with technology.”
LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars features overhauled visuals and new gameplay alongside the cooperative action and humor the series is known for.
Having chronicled the two trilogies of live-action Star Wars movies, Lego Star Wars is setting its sights on the animated Clone Wars series for its next installment. Lego Star Wars III will follow the entire arc of the Clone Wars series. We visited LucasArts at E3 to check out a gameplay demo and saw Yoda and a few clone soldiers team up to vanquish a good number of Lego foes. Aside from new abilities and new enemies, we were impressed by the graphical overhaul that lends the environments a more realistic look while highlighting the Lego characters and making them look crisp and vibrant. Add in the possibility of large-scale battles featuring hundreds of clone soldiers, and Lego Star Wars III appears to be on track to upholding the series’ good name.
Bryan Lee O’Malley said California studio approached him to make adventure game based on graphic novel series; author said franchise wasn’t suited for a game from the developer.
Bryan Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim graphic novel series was spun into a full-length feature film over the summer via the Michael Cera-led Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Further, a beat-’em-up game accompanied the film from Ubisoft in the form of the coolly received side scroller of the same name. Now, the author has revealed that Telltale Games also courted him for his series.
“Telltale wanted to do Scott Pilgrim, but I said no,” reads his tweet. “I couldn’t see it as an adventure game. All respect to them, though.”
Ubisoft’s Scott Pilgrim game follows the central plotline of the graphic novels, as the mediocre bass guitarist Scott Pilgrim tries to win his dream girl Ramona’s heart by fighting her seven ex-boyfriends. A ragtag coalition of her failed lovers–including a vegan rock star, identical twins, and an infamous skateboarder–are determined to prevent Scott from dating their old flame.
This is the follow-up title to 2008′s popular hit, de Blob.
LOS ANGELES–In February, THQ entered into a development deal with broadcasting network SyFy, in which the two would collaborate on creating new intellectual property for use in games and on TV. The deal also extended to existing IP, and to help launch SyFy’s Kids brand, THQ offered up its colorful 2008 puzzle-platformer de Blob. As could be guessed, de Blob’s television aspirations won’t be the culmination of the franchise.
De Blob can’t be taken anywhere without making a mess.
As part of the 2010 Electronic Entertainment Expo, THQ announced today that de Blob 2: The Underground will arrive for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, and DS in spring 2011. The sequel represents an expansion to new platforms for the well-regarded original installment, having made its debut on just the Wii and PC.
In the console versions of de Blob 2, antagonist Comrade Black returns to suck the vivacity out of Prisma City, rigging an election to regain control of the commonwealth. As de Blob, players platform their way through the mired Prisma City, spreading color and restoring the city to its once-vibrant nature. de Blob will have a number of new moves and upgradable abilities, as well as a robot sidekick named Pinky. In addition to free-roaming levels, the console versions will feature a 2D underground component.
The DS version will feature exclusively 2D side-scrolling play. The handheld installment sees de Blob lounging in the tropics after having reclaimed Chroma City from the clutches of Comrade Black. In said jungle, however, the evil machinations of Comrade Black collaborator Dr. Von Bolt continue. He is conducting nefarious experiments on woodland creatures. New moves, compatriots, and enemies await de Blob in the DS adventure game.
Latest Call of Duty battles back to the number one spot as sales treble; Marvel vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds brawls into second place, TDU2 slips back to four.
2009′s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 managed nine weeks at the top of the UK sales chart–and after a four-week absence from the top spot, Call of Duty: Black Ops is making one last assault on that record. Sales for the military FPS almost trebled last week securing the title its eight week at number one, within spitting distance of MW2′s record.
There was good news for Capcom too, despite Marvel vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds only entering at number two; it nearly sold more in its launch week than its predecessor managed over its entire lifetime in the UK. EA’s sci-fi survival horror title Dead Space 2 slipped to number 3 despite a 61 percent sales bump, while Namco Bandai’s Test Drive Unlimited 2 slipped from two to four.
FIFA 11 gave EA its second top-five place of the week thanks to a 44 percent sales bump, while Ubisoft claimed six and seven with Just Dance 2 (sales up 74 percent) and Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (sales down 10 percent). The rest of the top 10 was rounded out by Nintendo’s Mario Vs Donkey Kong: Mini-land Mayhem! at eight, Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto: Complete Edition at nine and Sony’s Little Big Planet 2 at 10.
Black Ops will have its work cut out for it if it hopes to claim its ninth week at the top next week, however. The last week in February sees a slew of new releases lined up in the UK; Killzone 3, Bulletstorm, Kirby’s Epic Yarn, Tactics Ogre: Let us Cling Together, De Blob 2 and Two Worlds II are all vying for gamer’s attention when they release on Friday February 25.
Top 10 Entertainment Software (All Prices) – Week Ending February 12, 2011:
1. Call of Duty: Black Ops (Activision)
2. Marvel vs Capcom
3. Dead Space 2 (EA)
4. Test Drive Unlimited 2 (Namco Bandai)
5. FIFA 11 (EA)
6. Just Dance 2 (Ubisoft)
7. Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (Ubisoft)
8. Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! (Nintendo)
9. Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition (Take 2)
10. LittleBigPlanet 2 (Sony Computer Ent.)
Creator of Fable, Populous and Theme Park to receive Fellowship at the March ceremony.
While the British Academy of Film and Television Arts has been honouring video games and their developers since 1998, it was not until 2007 that leading game creators were put on the same level as leading lights in the other creative arts. This was marked by Will Wright receiving a BAFTA fellowship–the highest honour the Academy can bestow.
After the awards’ hiatus in 2008 the next developer to be inducted was Nolan Bushnell in 2009, followed by Shigeru Miyamoto in 2010. This year, the honour is to be bestowed on Peter Molyneux. The 51-year-old founder of Bullfrog and current head of Fable studio Lionhead is the first British developer to receive the honour.
“We are delighted to be honouring Peter at this point in his long and successful career in video games. He is one of the leading figures in the development of video games as an art form and an inspiration to the next generation of creative minds,” said BAFTA’s chief executive, Amanda Berry.
Molyneux’s credits include games such as Populous–which popularised the God Game genre–and Dungeon Keeper, as well as Theme Park and more recently Microsoft’s Fable series. He is also to receive a lifetime achievement award at the Game Developers Choice Awards, which are set to happen alongside GDC in San Francisco next week.
Leading the pack this week is Killzone 3. Due out on Tuesday exclusively for the PlayStation 3, the title is the second Killzone title to debut on Sony’s high definition console, following 2009′s adored Killzone 2.
Killzone 3 will be available in two versions, a standard $60 release and a $130 limited-edition package with a replica mask and helmet of the series’ signature Helghast armies. While the headgear is the centerpiece of the extra goodies, the collector’s edition will also include a 6.5-inch articulated cloaking Helghast marksman action figure, an art book, and a voucher to download multiplayer maps, the game’s soundtrack, and more.
Out this week for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC is People Can Fly’s controversial first-person shooter/kicker Bulletstorm. Developed by Epic subsidiary People Can Fly, Bulletstorm is built around a skillshot system that rewards players for dispatching enemies in creative and often gory ways.
Also out this week is Knights Contract for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. Knights Contract sees players following the unlikely duo of the witch Gretchen and the immortal executioner Heinrich. Though Gretchen actually died at Heinrich’s hands, she has been resurrected and now controls the scythe-wielding warrior. Together the pair struggles to save the world from a “black spell of death” and a supernatural army called the Harmonculous.
As Heinrich, gamers string together appendage-dismembering combos while the computer-controlled Gretchen uses her magic in a supporting role. Players will also be able to coordinate the pair’s attacks by issuing mid-melee commands to Gretchen, as well as executing finishing moves. While Heinrich is invincible, players will need to protect the vulnerable Gretchen if they want to complete their quest.
Gamers looking to get messy can pick up de Blob 2 this week. Unlike its predecessor, which debuted only on the Wii, the sequel hits the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, and DS on Tuesday.
In the console versions of de Blob 2, antagonist Comrade Black returns to suck the vivacity out of Prisma City, rigging an election to regain control of the commonwealth. As de Blob, players platform their way through the mired Prisma City, spreading color and restoring the city to its once-vibrant nature. de Blob will have a number of new moves and upgradable abilities, as well as a robot sidekick named Pinky. In addition to free-roaming levels, the console versions will feature a 2D underground component.
The DS version will feature exclusively 2D side-scrolling play. The handheld installment sees de Blob lounging in the tropics after having reclaimed Chroma City from the clutches of Comrade Black. In said jungle, however, the evil machinations of Comrade Black collaborator Dr. Von Bolt continue. He is conducting nefarious experiments on woodland creatures. New moves, compatriots, and enemies await de Blob in the DS adventure game.
For further details on the week’s games, visit GameSpot’s New Releases page. The full list of downloadable games on the PlayStation Store, Xbox Live Marketplace, and Wii Shop Channel will be revealed later this week. Release dates are based on retailer listings and are subject to change.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21
Ys I and II Chronicles–PSP–Xseed Entertainment
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22
Bulletstorm–PC, X360, PS3–Electronic Arts
de Blob 2–DS, Wii, X360, PS3–THQ
The Dreamcast Collection–PC, 360–Sega
Fallout: New Vegas: Dead Money–PC, PS3–Bethesda Softworks
Gray Matter–PC–Viva Media
Knights Contract–PS3, 360–Namco Bandai Games
Radiant Historia–DS–DS–Atlus U.S.A. Inc.
Rec Room Games–DS–Destineer
Trackmania–Wii–Dreamcatcher
Trackmania Turbo–DS–Dreamcatcher
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23
Bejeweled Blitz Live–X360–PopCap
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24
Gemini Rue–PC–Wadjet Eye Games
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25
Painkiller: Redemption–PC–DreamCatcher Interactive
Trapped Dead–PC–Iceberg Interactive
Today on the Spot you get the latest coming This Week on Wii Shop Channel and New Releases. Guy Cocker reports from Barcelona on the Sony Xperia Play, and Homer goes toe to toe in Fight Night Champion.
Geralt of Rivia is called upon to investigate a crime of passion during our hands-on demo of The Witcher 2.
It has been four years since Polish developer CD Projekt Red released The Witcher back in 2007. Inspired by the works of fantasy author Andrzej Sapkowski, this dark, high-fantasy role-playing game followed the stoic Geralt of Rivia, a “witcher” well versed in the study of monsters and other creatures. Set after the events of the first game, The Witcher 2 pits Geralt’s martial and magical prowess against a deadly elven spy, Iorveth, as well as the mysterious assassin Kingslayer. The sequel also changes up the combat mechanics and forgoes the rhythmic timing and constant stance switching of the original Witcher in favor of one fluid system. We got the chance to see a few of the changes in motion during a hands-on demo set in one of the game’s numerous side quests. Be advised that although this story focuses on a side quest, it may contain minor plot spoilers.
Our journey began in the city of Vergen in front of an old tavern. Nearby, an elf was anxiously looking about, and we could tell just by looking at him that he was eager to tell his tale to anyone who would listen. Seeing his distress, we decided to approach but then passed right on by into the warm glow of the tavern beyond. Inside, we took the opportunity to try out one of The Witcher 2′s mini-games in a friendly round of arm wrestling with one of the dwarven patrons. While playing this mini-game, a bar appeared onscreen underneath the characters with a constantly-moving slider. In order to win the match, we had to keep our mouse cursor within the area of the slider long enough for Geralt to pin his opponent’s wrist to the table. Having proven our manliness, we were now properly warmed up for the inevitable adventure and stepped outside.
Wedbush’s Michael Pachter breaks down NPD data, with Microsoft’s console coming out on top; Donkey Kong Country Returns sales come in at about 166,500.
Any hope that US game industry retail sales would be rounding a corner at the beginning of 2011 were squashed yesterday with The NPD Group’s January recap. Total retail sales, including PC and non-PC games, hardware, and accessories, slipped 5 percent year-over-year to $1.16 billion. Though NPD no longer offers precise software or hardware figures, the firm did say that Call of Duty: Black Ops, released in November, was January’s top-selling title.
Call of Duty: Black Ops failed to break 1 million at retail in January.
Today, Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter issued a note to investors that provides more color on NPD’s report. In terms of console hardware, Pachter pegged the Xbox 360 as the top-selling system in January, echoing Microsoft’s announcement of 381,000 units sold. The Wii followed with 319,000 units sold, according to Pachter, with the PlayStation 3 picking up the rear, having sold 267,000 units.
Software also saw declines in January, falling 6 percent to $603.1 million. And though it was the top-selling title, Black Ops was a heavy contributor to that shortfall, Pachter said, as it sold only about half of his 1.5 million-unit prediction (or 750,000 units). Nintendo’s Donkey Kong Country Returns also vastly underperformed Pachter’s expectations, as the analyst said the game sold just one-third of his 500,000 unit projection (about 166,500 units).
More casual console titles also performed below Pachter’s expectations. THQ’s uDraw sold “well below our estimate of 300,000 units,” Pachter said.
However, it wasn’t all bad news. Two companies that exceeded Pachter’s expectations were Majesco and Ubisoft. The former was boosted by Zumba Fitness, whose fifth-place finish on NPD’s chart amounted to sales of 300,000 units. And while Just Dance 2 only sold about half of Pachter’s 1 million-unit expectation, the publisher’s sales were still up 63 percent compared to the same month a year ago.
