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At the Microsoft Research TechFest 2007, the company's annual showcase
of research projects, the software giant unveiled several new
technologies, including an application that uses the Xbox platform as a
teaching tool. Boku: Lightweight Programming for Kids is designed to
give children early exposure to the principles of software engineering.
This application lets kids as young as four years of age to use the
Xbox 360 to program Boku, a virtual robot in a simulated world. Kids
learn to program the robot so it can interact with its world, travel
around among various objects the kids create, and even eat an apple...more click on heading
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Even with Shigeru Miyamoto's keynote just minutes away, Nintendo has
already made a huge announcement at GDC regarding this year's second
quarter lineup for the North American market. And the focal point of
this lineup is the announcement of Pokemon Battle Revolution, the first
Wii game that will take advantage of the console's online capabilities.
But in addition to being the first online title, the impending release
of Pokemon Battle Revolution also marks the first game to feature Wii
and DS connectivity. Through this feature, users not only have the
option of importing saved characters from the upcoming Pokemon Diamond
and Pokemon Pearl, but they can also use the DS as a makeshift
controller...more click on heading
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EA plans to lead the next wave on the Wii from Nintendo with the
release of SSX Blur, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 07, The Godfather Blackhand
Edition and Medal of Honor Vanguard this spring and share exciting news
about MySims, set to launch in fall of 2007. Each title remains true to
the hallmarks of its franchise but is designed to take full advantage
of the Wii from Nintendo’s one-of-a-kind controller and the other
unique features of this revolutionary gaming platform. The games will
be showcased tonight at EA’s press event in San Francisco, CA.
“The Nintendo Wii has allowed us to explore new and exciting game play
possibilities and attract a whole new audience to EA games,“ said Paul
Lee, President, Worldwide Studios, EA. “In the upcoming year, we will
continue to custom-design our most popular franchises and develop new
EA properties that take full advantage of this unique gaming platform.” ...more click on heading
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Nintendo has announced that Pokemon Battle Revolution, the first
Pokemon game for Wii, will be the first Wi-Fi Connection capable game
for Wii. Pokemon Battle Revolution will also be the first Wii game
capable of linking with the Nintendo DS, as well as being the first Wii
game that can be controlled by the Nintendo DS. Even though the game is
only set to release in June, it shouldn't be too difficult for Nintendo
to be right about these statements considering that it currently is
denying third party developers access to the Wii's online capabilities
(that note care of Kotaku) . Also courtesy of Kotaku, it turns out
Nintendo is also holding Miis back from third party developers. Either
way, Pokemon Battle Revolution won't simply be DS compatible, it will
also be compatible with Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl, both of
which are set to release next month. Players will be able to import
their characters from the DS games to the Wii. Pokemon Battle
Revolution is currently scheduled to release on June 25th.
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SEGA® of America, Inc. and SEGA Europe Ltd. today announced that six
titles from its SEGA Genesis™ library, Streets of Rage, Bio-Hazard
Battle, Gain Ground, Comix Zone, Bonanza Bros. and Sword of Vermilion,
are now available on the Wii™ Shop Channel for download and play on the
Wii's Virtual Console. Prices start at 800 Wii™ Points for SEGA Genesis
titles. Wii Points can be purchased online or at select retailers at an
MSRP of $20 for 2,000 points.
"The Wii Shop Channel continues to be a great avenue for gamers who
want instant access to classic SEGA Genesis titles," said Scott A.
Steinberg, Vice President of Marketing, SEGA of America. "Streets of
Rage, Bio-Hazard Battle, Gain Ground, Comix Zone, Bonanza Bros. and
Sword of Vermilion, are all great titles that were popular hits in
their day and now they have a second life via Wii's Virtual Console." ..more click on heading
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When Microsoft launched the XNA program last year, it was widely assumed that user-created content would end up on the Xbox Live Arcade. Microsoft has confirmed today via a press release that Schizoid, a co-op action game "in which teamwork matters like never before" will be the first Xbox Live Arcade title built using XNA Game Studio Express.
Microsoft has also launched a competition for game developers to, "create visions in a world where they make the rules, shape the characters and create the evolution of the story". The competition, titled Dream-Build-Play, is a global contest which encourages entrants to create their own Xbox Live Arcade title using the XNA Game Studio Express tools. The competition is open to any user of XNA Game Studio Express and is open until July 2nd. Winners will be announced on August 13th at the Microsoft Gamefest in Seattle...more click on heading
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In 1996, the Nintendo 64 became home to Mario Kart 64, a sequel to the SNES smash Super Mario Kart. Mario Kart 64 is still considered one of the best games for the system, and is arguably the top kart racer to this day. For all the critical acclaim it has received, it deserves every bit of it. Now, the game has been re-released on the Nintendo Wii, introducing the classic title to new and old audiences alike...more click on heading
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Analysts are predicting that Nintendo's Wii will be the best selling console in the world. Merrill Lynch analyst Yoshiyuki Kinoshita said that a third of US and Japanese households will have a Wii console by 2011.
Market research group NPD expects the Wii to be North America's most popular console in January, selling 436,000 units compared to 294,000 for Microsoft's Xbox 360 and 244,000 for Sony's PlayStation 3.
NPD also found that Nintendo's Wii took a 68 per cent share of the 600,000 consoles sold in Japan, while the PlayStation 3 only picked up 25 per cent and the Xbox 360 just seven per cent...more click on heading
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Although analysts say price reductions would benefit PS3 sales, Sony isn't likely to make any price cuts for at least another two years, said Kimberly Otzman, a spokeswoman for Sony Computer Entertainment America. She noted a similar time frame for lowered prices for the PS2.
"We probably expect the same for PS3," Otzman said, adding that while the console's price is higher than competitors', it comes completely packaged so consumers don't have to buy extra equipment or attachments." ...more click on heading
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THQ yesterday announced its plans to bring the famous Conan brand to the Xbox 360 and PS3. This epic action adventure will be the first product in THQ’s multi-year licensing agreement to develop interactive games based on the character brought to life in Robert E. Howard’s original stories.
The Conan video game is scheduled to debut on the next generation consoles in early 2008. It joins a lineup of licensed products for the Conan brand which is currently celebrating the 75th anniversary of its first published story. The brand is also recognized for its brand extensions with action figures, motion pictures, collectible trading cards and over 800 comic books...more click on heading
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Almost immediately after the recent surfacing of rumours regarding an Xbox 360 reincarnation of Wing Commander, Electronic Arts confirmed that the antique sci-fi series is indeed headed for Microsoft's console. Not as a full-priced title, however, but only an XBLA gameling called Wing Commander Arena, and developed by Gaia Industries. That would be the same studio that's currently working on Street Trace: NYC (website), also for the Xbox Live Arcade...more click on heading
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Sony Computer Entertainment today officially marked the launch of the next-generation Playstation 3 gaming platform in Australia, despite a one-month wait before the product hits retail shelves.
Launched in North America and Japan in November, the local launch was held today at Sydney Theatre, showcasing the new platform's capabilities to both the press and representatives from the vendor's major retail partners including K-Mart, JB Hi-Fi, Myer and Target.
Available March 23, the 60GB Playstation 3 will be sold at an RRP of $999.95, with gaming titles priced at $99.95...more click on heading
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Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360 bested Sony Corp.'s Playstation 3 in U.S. sales for the month of Jan. according to the latest market research data released this week.
NPD Group this week reported that the Xbox 360 sold 294,000 in the first weeks of 2007. By comparison, the PS3 sold 244,000 units in the same period...more click on heading
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As more people start to jump online with their Wii some websites are offering versions of their site specifically designed for a simplified Wii-like experience. Stumbleupon.com is the latest to join in on the fun with a Wii friendly version of their video site which sources the best videos from youtube as voted upon by users...more click on heading
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It appears that Microsoft's Xbox service problems are not isolated to the UK but right here in Australia. A report last week that Microsoft is fighting a major PR battle in the UK after the BBC "Watchdog" program claimed that it had received a lot of complaints from customers about faulty Xbox 360 consoles which were hit by "the red ring of death" disease...more click on heading
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