According to IGN, during a session at the GDC this morning, time was allowed for developers to express their opinions and go on a little bit of a rant. One of the speakers, Chris Hecker (who is currently working on Spore at Maxis) decided to express his unfavourable opinions on the Wii.

Hecker began his rant by stating that the "The Wii is a piece of sh*t!", his talk was called "Fear of a Wii Planet". Hecker continued by stating the Wii is nothing more than two GameCubes stuck together with duct tape and the console just isn't powerful enough to provide the next generation experience he was after...more click on heading

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Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced today the North American release of MotorStorm(TM), available exclusively for the PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(TM)) computer entertainment system. Developed by Evolution Studios, the acclaimed development team renowned for their World Rally Championship (WRC) game series, MotorStorm introduces players to an alternative and extreme off-road racing festival where the only rule is to take out the competition and win at all costs.

Recently launched in Japan, MotorStorm has incorporated numerous graphical and gameplay enhancements for the North American version, including the addition of a 12-player online mode...more click on heading

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While the Game Developer's Conference has yet to begin, that hasn't stopped the big-name companies from making some new announcements. This time, it's Sony giving us a glimpse at some brand new material for Resistance: Fall of Man coming in two parts later this spring.

First up are two new multiplayer game modes. The update adds Team Conversion, which is a take on Conversion mode that allows for two teams of humans to square off, each with single lives. The other mode is Assault, which is based around destroying your enemy's defenses before going after their base...more click on heading

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Amazon.com on Tues. restocked Nintendo Co.'s Wii and quickly sold out within minutes. The online retailer made available the Wii console at 9 a.m. PST and sold out to eager buyers in about 12 minutes.

The brisk sales allowed Wii to rank No. 5 in the best-selling Computer & Video Games division. Products in the top five products include the Wii Nunchuk controller, Wii Remote, and Wii Play...more click on heading

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If there is one thing that Xbox Live definitely has a massive shortage of, its needlessly difficult side scrolling action. Contra harkens back to a time when game completion time was determined not by the content of the game itself but of the amount time spent doing the same impossible challenges over and over. Contra is the classic side scrolling shooter in which players using a variety of fictional firearms must battle against the evil alien terrorists known as the Red Falcon.

The added features of the Xbox Live version of Contra include an enhanced graphics mode (we’ll get to that in a second) the ability to play co-op locally or online, and of course the ever popular Xbox Live achievements...more click on heading

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Sony Corp. is on track to ship 2 mln PlayStation 3s to North American stores by the end of March, and expects shortages of the video game console to have completely eased by May, a top executive said on Tuesday. 

"April or May is when we feel like we're going to catch up to demand and have product fully in stock across North America and stay there," said Jack Tretton, chief executive of Sony Computer Entertainment America.

Asked about widespread reports on video game Web sites that stacks of unsold PlayStation 3s are a common sight in many electronics shops, Tretton told Reuters in an interview that the console was still out of stock in some areas three months after its November launch...more click on heading

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According to new statistics, the Nintendo Wii is outselling both the Xbox 360 and the PlayStations 2 and 3 from Sony. Last month, Nintendo sold 436,000 Wiis, beating out the second place PS2 and the third place Xbox 360.  

Nintendo's Wii is cheaper than its competitors, though it is not as cutting edge as either the Xbox or the PS3. To win customers, Sony has announced it will be giving away freebies, such as a Blu-ray version of "Casino Royale" to buyers in Australia. Analysts are expecting Microsoft to lower the price of the Xbox 360, but some believe that won't happen until next year, following the release of "Halo 3".

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So despite the shortages and the bamboozled “experts”, the Nintendo Wii is dominating the gaming console sales charts. 

Sure there will be content download, a swish new Blu-ray drive, wireless connection, undefined PSP connectivity, the ability to whack Linux on the machine as well as stylish piano black finish.

But what about the games?  As I said in my previous rant about the impending release of the PS3, it is my belief that Sony are growing up with their demographic.  As such they see dominance of the living room as an imperative.  The focus has shifted somewhat...more click on heading

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Linux distributor TerraSoft is accepting pre-orders for Sony Playstation3 gaming devices pre-installed with Linux, alongside the PS3's native gaming OS. Additionally, TerraSoft, IBM, RapidMind, and Vivendi game publisher High Moon Studios are offering seminars to help game developers exploit the PS3's Cell architecture.

Sony's Playstation3 does not run Linux as its standard OS. However, the device's Cell BE processor has been supported in the mainline Linux kernel since late last year, and TerrSoft has offered a version of its Yellow Dog Linux for the Playstation3 since October -- a month before the PS3 actually shipped...more click on heading

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Since the launch of the PS3 last November, new titles have been far and few to keep gamers interested as the winter season winds down. Sega hopes to kick off the spring season by shipping the anticipated Virtua Fighter 5 to North America today for the next-gen console.

“Sega delivers the first martial arts style fighting game for the Playstation 3 system with Virtua Fighter 5,” said Scott A. Steinberg, Vice President of Marketing, SEGA of America. “Not only is it a stunning looking game graphically, but Virtua Fighter 5 delivers the most intense fighting experience available.” ...more click on heading

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Sony are planning to launch their own movie download service on the PS3 in a bid to compete with Microsoft's recently launched Xbox live video service.

On November 6, 2006, Microsoft announced Xbox Live Video, an exclusive video store accessible through the console. Launched in the United States on November 22, 2006, the first anniversary of the Xbox 360 launch, the service allows users in the United States to download high-definition and standard-definition television shows and movies through Xbox Live onto an Xbox 360 console for viewing...more click on heading

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Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars is not just coming to PC anymore, the award winning title will be making its way to Xbox 360 and PS3 as well. The war between the GDF and Strogg will soon be igniting on next-generation consoles as id Software and Activision, Inc. today confirmed that Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars, the team-based first person action title, and already one of the most anticipated new properties of 2007 is coming to next-gen platforms...more click on heading

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Racing fans probably aren't complaining about the Sony's PlayStation Store, part of the online experience of the PlayStation 3. In addition to the downloadable game GripShift and PlayStation port of Jet Moto for the PlayStation Portable, demos for Motorstorm and Gran Turismo HD Concept are currently available for free...more click on heading

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Rumors of God of War II running in 720p on the PS3 were debunked after we contacted a Sony Representative for confirmation. Ryan B. from Sony Computer Entertainment America stated the Playstation 2 title is "only available at 480p."

The rumor originated from IGN's review of God of War II: "The first is that God of War II will not only be playable on the PlayStation 3, of course, but that it will run at a true HD resolution of 720p."

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Spider-Man 3 won't be hitting Wii until May 5th, but we've finally got some details about the upcoming Activision game. It appears that the Nintendo Wii version will get two bonus Marvel villains, just because the console is so darn special.

This is Spider-Man™ like you’ve never seen him before. BOLDER. Feel the rush of protecting New York as the heroic Spider-Man, plus feel the thrill of becoming the more aggressive Black-Suited Spider-Man—unleashing your powers while struggling against the darkness that threatens to tear your world apart.

BIGGER. Explore the most massive, most detailed New York City ever in a Spider-Man game, roaming from skyscraper to subway and beyond. BETTER. Not only does next-gen technology raise the bar in gameplay, a unique combat system and unprecedented freedom to call the shots make this the most fun and exciting Spider-Man gaming experience ever. ...more click on heading

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