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Late Night Consoling

by jason bergman, Feb 28, 2003 8:30pm PST
Related Topics – Sega, Blizzard, Capcom, Sony, Naughty Dog, Games: Console, Vivendi

In case you needed further proof that Sega had become a financial whipping boy, its stock surged overnight on rumors that both EA and Microsoft were eyeballing it as a possible buyout opportunity. This pretty much proves that nobody's looking at the recently announced merger with Sammy as the wonderful opportunity it was supposed to be. Internally Sega doesn't sound unanimously enthusiastic, and lord knows the rest of the world isn't cheering. No matter what happens, few would argue that a buyout of Sega by either company makes more sense than paying $3 billion for Vivendi Universal Games, which outside of Blizzard and Black Isle Studios really doesn't have all that much to offer. As I've already said, I'd prefer Sega remain independent, but I'm not sure how some of Sega's quirkier titles would fit into either company. Stuff like Sonic is pretty obvious, but can you imagine Electronic Arts publishing Samba de Amigo? But that aside, both EA and Microsoft could tremendously benefit in Japan from a Sega acquisition: EA just ended their partnership with Square, and Microsoft, well, Microsoft's still failing miserably in that territory, despite throwing plenty of money at it. Needless to say, I'll be watching this closely as it develops, particularly in light of this item that says EA's the likely suitor.

PS2 Grid Details Next Week At long last the first bits of info are coming out regarding Sony's use of "grid" technology...as this News.com article reports, Sony is working with Butterfly.net to create "virtual supercomputers" for multiplayer PlayStation 2 games. According to the article, this will give developers some of the benefits of Xbox Live, like having a single ID across multiple games, while allowing them to retain full control over everything (as opposed to XBL, where Microsoft controls everything). No real specifics are available yet, but expect more next week from the Game Developer's Conference.
Xbox Holy @#$%!! Conker's #@%&#$ Online!! While they haven't really backed their claim up very well, Computer and Video Games is reporting that Conker's Bad Fur Day Online is in development at Rare for Xbox Live. If true, expect this to be the one multiplayer game where foul language and rude behavior is encouraged.
Xbox No Xbox Live Support in Marvel vs. Capcom 2 In a strange last-minute announcement, Capcom has confirmed that while Marvel vs. Capcom 2 will still be shipping in a few weeks, it will not include Xbox Live support. No reason has been given for the sudden change of plans. I guess Capcom vs. SNK 2 will remain the only Xbox Live-enabled fighting game for the foreseeable future (although it's safe to assume that the next Dead or Alive to have it).
PS2 New X-Files Stuff Some new details from The X-Files: Resist or Serve are up at GameSpot tonight, based on what they saw at a recent Vivendi press event. More screenshots can be found at IGN.
Xbox ISO News Raided Using the DMCA, the Department of Justice has seized the ISO News web site. The owner pled guilty to "conspiring to import, market and sell circumvention devices known as modification (or "mod") chips" after importing 450 Enigmah Xbox mod chips and selling them online for $28,000. He now faces up to $500,000 in fines and 15 years in prison.
Xbox SWAT Impressions GameSpot has posted their hands-on impressions of SWAT: Global Strike Team, the upcoming Xbox shooter from Argonaut that became a SWAT title after having been in development for some time. This marks the first new information since the game was first announced, and they provide some gameplay details along with new screenshots.
GameCube GameBoy Advance Miyamoto Q&A A new Q&A with Shigeru Miyamoto is up at GameSpot tonight, which was conducted in person at the DICE summit in Las Vegas. The questions deal with Zelda, but also touch on his involvement with the GameCube port of Soul Calibur II and even the surprising news that he's involved with the GameCube port of Metal Gear Solid (which hasn't been formally announced yet, but was confirmed again recently).
GameCube PS2 GameBoy Advance GameSpot's Busy Hands GameSpot has a handful of miscellaneous hands-on impressions tonight: specifically there's a look at Burnout 2 and The Hobbit for GameCube and WarioWare Inc. and Golden Sun: The Lost Age for GBA. Also at GameSpot is a new preview of Final Fantasy X-2.
GameCube PS2 Xbox Medal of Honor: Rising Sun Announced EA has announced Medal of Honor: Rising Sun, a new two-chapter console-only installment of the Medal of Honor franchise. The first game will be out this fall, while the second will ship in 2004. The story moves across both games.
PS2 Jak & Dexter 2 Confirmed (Sorta) At the DICE show in Las Vegas, Naughty Dog's Jason Rubin all-but-confirmed that a sequel to Jak & Dexter is underway. Expect a formal announcement soon.
GameBoy Advance Nintendo Using 3D Memory? Nintendo has invested $15 million in Matrix Semiconductors, a developer of nonvolatile 3D memory. While no products are named, this technology would theoretically be used in a future portable device from the company.
GameCube PS2 Xbox Um...a Wine Tasting Game? Gamers.com is reporting that Yuji Naka, while attending the DICE Summit, suggested that he'd like to make a wine tasting simulator. I suspect he was joking (either that, or he's been using his Trance Vibrator a bit too much). On a slightly less crack-addled note, an interview with him is up at Computer and Video Games, talking about Phantasy Star Online.
GameCube PS2 Xbox GameBoy Advance Misc. Media GameSpot has some new movies from Pokemon Sapphire (GBA), new shots from Sonic Adventure DX (GameCube), and new shots from Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life and Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town, the two new Harvest Moon titles for PS2 and GBA respectively. IGN has new shots from F-Zero (GC) and Mace Griffin: Bounty Hunter (PS2), along with the first details and screenshots fromThe Hulk (multiple). And finally, Gamers.com has some new shots from True Fantasy Live Online (Xbox).
Console Game of the Evening: Nothing tonight...I've been thinking about setting up a system to let you guys submit your own CGotE (with the usual one-sentence description/reason for the nomination), of which I would select one per night. Does that sound like something you'd all be interested in?


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