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Peter MoorePeter Moore addressed a few interesting points during the Microsoft CES keynote:

Selectica to join Flextronics and Wistron as a third manufacturing partner.

Xbox 360 to ship between 4.5 and 5.5 million consoles by the end of June.

On Xbox 360 more than 50 percent of all consoles worldwide are now connected to Xbox Live (Compare to 10% on Xbox).

Since the launch of Xbox 360, more than 4 million Xbox Live marketplace downloads.

Xbox Live Arcade games count up to 20 by March.

We’re certainly not going to complain. We’ll be seeing more consoles on store shelves, more Xbox 360 games, and more Live Arcade games soon. The future is bright.


Read More | Next Generation


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Bruce CarverBruce Carver, one of our industry’s finest, passed away on December 28th. He suddenly lost a battle with cancer. Caver was a great innovator and made huge contributions to sports games. Most notably, he worked on Links in the 1980s; Links was the first game to feature the swing-meter that’s used in all modern golf games.

Make the jump to read a great obituary Next Generation has put together on Mr. Carver. Rest in peace, Bruce. We’ll never forget you - and we’ll always have fond memories of Links.


Read More | Next Generation


HD-DVD 360

This week at CES, Microsoft announced plans to release an external HD-DVD drive for the Xbox 360. The drive will be an add-on and it looks like it will only be able to play HD-DVD movies.

The next-gen dvd format battle is looking to be a brutal one, with Sony supporting Blu-Ray Microsoft has had no choice but to team up with Panasonic, the manufacturer of the HD-DVD format. We respect Microsoft’s decision to manufacture an external HD-DVD drive for the 360 since the PS3 is definitely going to feature a Blu-Ray drive. Had Microsoft decided to sit out of the next-gen dvd format war, consumers who desire high-def movies - along with their games - would rush to the PS3. Now though, Microsoft is giving consumers yet another reason to run out and buy an Xbox 360. Of course, we don’t know how much the HD-DVD drive is going to retail for but it will most likely go for at the minimum two or three hundred dollars at first. Meanwhile, the PS3 will have a Blu-Ray drive already built into it. And finally, recently the Blu-Ray format has been looking like it’ll edge out HD-DVD anyways because more studios support it.

Still, we should sit tight for now and watch things unfold this year. In all honesty, the HD-DVD format does have a chance of winning the war.


Read More | Microsoft


I am 8 bit

A new art book entitled “I am 8-bit” was just released and a number of pictures from the book have been posted online. As you could probably guess, the pictures are based upon games from the 8-bit days. The artistic styles of each of the pictures certainly vary but all of them have a strong feeling of 8-bit nostalgia - it’s definitely worth a look.


Read More | I am 8-bit


7 Year Old Halo 2

If this doesn’t put a smile on your face and make you chuckle, nothing will. MLG has posted details of a gigantic Halo tournament in Chicago where a 7 year old, know as ‘Lil Poison’ finished in second! We can only imagine how horrible the gamers who lost to this kid felt…


Read More | MLG


Yeah, you read that right. The developer Super Fighting Team is going to release Beggar Prince, a new RPG, for Sega’s old machine this spring!

Beggar Prince tells the story of Steven, a bored prince who decides to escape his castle dressed as a beggar to experience life among the commoners. Of course with the prince gone the evil Minister usurps control of the throne and now Steven is barred from re-entering his own castle. Thus begins Steven’s adventure of who must prove his identity and retake the throne.

The game sounds worth a look, but unfortunately it’s going to retail for $46. Yowzers!


Read More | Gaming Steve


Call Of Duty 2: Xbox 360If you’ve played Call Of Duty 2 (Xbox 360) on Xbox Live then you know that the experience is less than stellar as a result of the lack of options. Some gamers decided to do something other than just complain - actually, maybe it’s not much more than complaining at this point, but at least it’s something in writing and directed at the people that can do something about it. Thanks to the ease of making online petitions there is now a petition online that needs your signature and your help promoting. The petition calls for the following additions:

  1. 16 player support
  2. Ability to create custom games
  3. Host is chosen by person who has best upload speed
  4. Admin options such as kicking a player out of the game
  5. Options such as map vote, vote kick player, etc…
(Thanks Munkyxtc!) Sign The Petition

Sony PSP GrafittiRecently, Sony hired grafitti artists to spray ads for its PSP around Philadelphia. In trying to appear cool and create buzz about its portable game machine, Sony’s plan has taken a turn in a direction it didn’t hope for.

We have a hard time pointing a finger at Sony only because advertising is shifting away from traditional venues to new fresh channels. While millions of Americans still watch television, not many people pay attention to commercials. In fact, less people are watching television now in the face of other ways to spend leisure time. For example, as everyone here knows, more time is being spent on the Internet as well as playing videogames.

As Sony’s traditional advertising channels haven’t been as strong recently as they have in the past, who can blame them for trying something new? And heck, even if Philadelphia is upset with the company for its grafitti, the PSP’s word of mouth is on the rise - as shown by this post and the linked story, as well as all of the other coverage out there on this ordeal.


Read More | Chicago Tribune


PS3 Bugs? According to the Inquirer, Sony’s upcoming home console won’t be ready for it’s expected March release date because it’s full of bugs. We haven’t expected the PS3 to launch in North America this Spring, although a Japanese launch within the time frame is fairly likely. Based upon the Inquirer story, the PlayStation 3 may not make it out quite so soon in Japan because bugs have been holding it up.

The Inquirer’s source, an anonymous industry employee, claims that based upon his experience with the machine, it isn’t close to being ready for release and neither are the PS3 games that are being developed. While this is some unfortunate news, it’s still a rumor. Stil, hopefully the supposed bugs will be fixed soon and the games in development will be finished up in time for a fall release. As The Inquirer writes, the cell may just be a little too powerful - but then again, didn’t we hear similar complaints early on about the PS2 hardware?


Read More | The Inquirer


2D Mario Sunshine If you’re longing for a new Mario platforming game from Nintendo, you’ll have to keep waiting. In the meantime, PT Games is hosting an interesting 2D take on Mario Sunshine - originally a 3D platformer on Gamecube. Check it out by clicking the link below.


Read More | PT Games


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