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Forza Motorsports 2: Recording Vehicle Audio
Posted by Josh Smith Categories: Driving, Xbox 360,
Over on the Forza Motorsport site the developers talk about how they went about capturing the engine sounds that will be placed into the game. The article centers around capturing the audio from a ‘88 E24 M6 BMW and shows behind the scenes audio captures. The audio captures are done on a dyno which allows the car to be put through it’s paces in a stationary environment. The audio has been captured with carefully placed microphones and the process of capturing one car’s auditory feel takes an entire day. The recordings are done every 500 rpm in 10 second intervals which will later allow the in game developers to piece together the rich and ever changing engine sounds. This process will be done for each car in the game, creating cars with their own distinguishable engine noise.
The article has a few good snapshots for BMW lovers and brings to the spotlight the owners of the Forza Motorsports cars. The article brought to my attention that the cars in Forza Motrosports 2 are real cars owned by individuals, not just a car that has been digitally created. Car owners get their name in the credits and a free copy of Forza Motorsports 2 on top of having their car appear in the game. Hey guys, need to do some audio recording on a ‘00 Cavalier?
Read More 
| Forza Motorsport
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PSP Epsilon BIOS Custom Flash Announced
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Hardware, Mods/Hacks, PSP,
Reports of the first fully open custom BIOS firmware replacement for the PSP has been announced. The so-called Epsilon BIOS supposedly has cracked the PSP encryption methods to allow homebrew and unsigned code full access to the PSP, including running in kernal mode. Firmware revisions up to the latest 2.71 release are supported with this BIOS, and UMD .ISO booting from memory stick is included. The BIOS itself requires an original PSP firmware to operate, so the new release will work only in conjunction with the recently announced Undiluted Platinum modchip. This BIOS, plus the new modchip should allow all homebrew developers full access to the PSP hardware and firmware feature set.
Read More | MaxConsole
Kaz Hirai Talks PS3
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Corporate News, E3, PlayStation 3,
Kazuo “Kaz” Hirai talked to Dean Takahashi at E3 about the PS3 post-announcement, about pricing and their plans for the next generation of gaming. Hirai felt generally positive about the announcement, generally expressing that Sony was able to stay on message for the press. Of course, the question of price came up, and Kaz’s response basically parroted the Sony party line, saying “We get no breaks. If we didn’t say the price, you would be all over us for that. I think that is the right price for what we’re bringing to consumers.” But of course, the price has been an issue, and has really dominated the conversation about the PS3. While Sony might have felt like they were in a lose-lose situation on the price announcement, putting such large numbers out there has really made any discussion about the Playstation 3 in the media start with the cost, pushing their positives to the side.
Also discussed was the impression of arrogance that Sony gave at the press conference; to some extent Sony has earned a little arrogance in the gaming arena, since dominating with both the original Playstation and the Playstation 2, but to say that Sony “ushered in the era of the CD-ROM and 3-D” pushes things a little bit. A small measure of arrogance from the current leader can help, but there’s a fine line between enough and too much, and a lot of gamers feel that Sony has counted on their mindshare a little too much in this generation.
Overall, Sony wanted their message to be about the content, and about the advantages that Cell and Blu-ray will bring to the next generation. Sony wants to extend the console lifecycle, and expand the market, but these messages were seemingly easily lost in the uproar over the cost that gamers will pay to play with Sony this holiday season.
Read More | Mercury News
Rumor: Xbox Live Vision Camera for $39.99
Posted by Michael Cardiff Categories: Accessories, Rumors, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, Xbox Live Arcade,
According to Xbox Addict and computerandvideogames.com, the Xbox Live Vision Camera will come bundled as a set with a wired headset, a month of Xbox Live Gold access, and the Live Arcade game UNO. Sounds like about the right price point, especially when compared with Sony’s Eye Toy. No word yet on whether you’ll be able to buy the camera without a bundle or if the camera may be bundled with other games.
Read More | computerandvideogames.com
Top Public Relations Exec Leaves Sony
Posted by Michael Cardiff Categories: Corporate News, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3,
In an interestingly timed announcement, Sony’s top PR executive Molly Smith has said that she will be leaving Sony. Smith has presided over the launch of the original Playstation and the PS2, working with them since 1994. Given the amount of bad press Sony’s been receiving for the price of the PS3 lately, I can’t say I’d blame her. No official statement about her resignation has been given yet, so we don’t yet know what the impetus was for this decision - although we’re guessing an official statement will simply say that she’d like to “pursue other interests.”
Read More | Gamasutra
Rumors of the launch of the Nintendo Wii have been spreading ever since it was revealed as the Revolution back at E3 2005. Most recently, MCVUK has announced that the system by be set for a November 6th launch; just in time for the holiday shopping season, and also one week before the launch of the Sony Playstation 3. Despite all of the talk, the Wii launch date and price remains unknown, with Nintendo being largely silent on the issue, only guaranteeing
that the Wii would indeed be available by the next holiday season.
Read More | MCVUK
Nintendo Knocks Out E3 Competition
Posted by Thea Davis Categories: Corporate News, E3, Nintendo, Wii,
The entire buzz coming out of E3 has centered on the new Nintendo Wii console, and its magic stick…er, the vibrating remote and controller. While the other two big players, Microsoft and Sony, mainly introduced systems that are basically the same as their previous models—just faster and bigger—Nintendo KO’d the competition by introducing a truly innovate gaming experience. And the lower price point didn’t hurt either. To Microsoft’s credit, the Xbox 360 had already upped the ante. But sometimes it’s the one calling a bluff that takes our collective breath away.
Read More | Buffalo News
As games have gone mainstream, so too has the industry that produces them. Even island nations like Ireland are taking note of the change. Whereas before talented students heading off to university would aim to become a doctor or lawyer, today’s promising youth can opt to become game programmers and designers or even Irish dancers. Schools like the Carlow Institute of Technology now offer a degree in computer games. Students have the chance to study a program of interest along with others as fanatical about the subject as they are. No longer are gamers merely rationalized as closeted “nerds” who lack the social skills and graces, for the entire evolutionary leap from avid gamer to big time game maker has become more cosmopolitan. Don’t be surprised to hear little Jimmy say he aims to be a gamer (for pay) when he grows up. Be proud, he might be leading the next revolution.
Read More | Unison
Club Nintendo Members Can Test “Bit Generations”
Posted by Michael Cardiff Categories: Nintendo, Retro,
Nintendo has never been one to shy away from strange gameplay ideas (see Electroplankton), but the new titles in Nintendo’s “Bit Generations” might be some of the oddest. Through these titles, which feature very simplistic graphics, Nintendo hopes to “re-examine the roots of gaming.” Now, if you’re one of the lucky member’s of Nintendo Japan’s Club Nintendo, you can get in on the action early. Nintendo is looking for 700 participants from the club to try out the 7 simple games before their July launch dates.
Nintendo definitely seems to be taking to heart their mantra that great graphics don’t necessarily make great games. It’ll be interesting to see whether these games provide deep, compelling play experiences or if they just prove that terrible graphics don’t necessarily make great games either.
Read More | Nintendo of Japan
Ms. Pac-Man On The iPod nano
Posted by Michael Cardiff Categories: Culture, Mods/Hacks, Portable/Mobile, Retro,
Remember all the rumors from a few days back about how Apple is possibly hiring game designers to work on iGames for the iPod? Well, they’re definitely going to want to send this guy a job offer. Some guy known only as “Scott” used his iPod nano, some enginuity, foamboard, and really tiny print-outs for a MAME cabinet to make the world’s smallest Ms. Pac Man machine. This thing has to be seen to be believed. It stands just over 5 inches tall, and “it works”.
The idea of one day carrying around an arcade in my pocket makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. Mr. Smallest MAME cabinet in the world inventor, we salute you.
Read More | “Scott’s” Photo Gallery via Kotaku
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