Late Night Consoling

July 11, 2003 8:00 PM

I found myself having a conversation last night about Grand Theft Auto 3, and specifically its impending Japanese release. The game is due out in September, and I can only imagine how closely its release is going to be watched by the Japanese gaming industry, especially competing developers. In the last week or so I've posted a handful of stories about prominent Japanese developers who spoke rather harshly about us Americans and our love of violence, and I for one would love to see what those same people would do if GTA3 is an unqualified hit over there. I mean, can you imagine what the response from Nintendo would be if suddenly Japanese gamers expressed their preference for Grand Theft Auto over say...Mario Party? All jokes aside, it's going to be an interesting cultural study. That's assuming the game isn't totally ruined in the translation. Hopefully not, because I really would like to see what the reaction is even if it's only mildly successful.

	Cell Tech Using XDR RAM Sony issued a press release today, formally announcing that they have licensed XDR DDR RAM that was developed jointly by Elpida, Toshiba and Rambus for use in their "Cell" technology, which everyone and their brother pretty assumes will be in the PlayStation 3. From this announcement, gamesindustry.biz has inferred that the PS3 should be on track for a mid-2005 release in Japan, with other territories to follow shortly thereafter (in other words, exactly what we've assumed for some time now). Thanks Slashdot Games for the tip.
	Star Wars: KOTOR on Live Computer and Video Games has confirmed with LucasArts that Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic does indeed have limited support for Xbox Live. While there's obviously no multiplayer content in the game, the game will allow for extra content to be downloaded over the service (and yes, that's downloaded, not "unlocked" like Activision did with RtCW). Specifics on the extra content aren't available, but this may wind up being the extra planet that's going to be included with the PC version or something else entirely.
	"Phantom" Really Not a Console Okay, this is officially my last mention of the Infinium Labs Phantom "console," as this article over at NewsForge finally offers some concrete details on the device, and it is as I have said from day one, just a closed-box PC, and not a game console (I realize it's a fine line, but there is one). I hand this subject back to the other guys from here on out.
	Dedicated Tribes: Aerial Assault Servers Tribal Warfare has announced that they have been given permission by Sierra to develop their own PC-based dedicated server for Tribes: Aerial Assault, which they eventually intend to release to the public. Aside from the inherent novelty of being able to run a dedicated server for a PS2 game on your PC, this server offers a handful of significant additions to the game, including an increased maxplayers count of up to 32 and even an in-game chat menu, the lack of which I felt rendered the game utterly useless.
	OutRun 2 Announced Sega AM-2 has at long last announced OutRun 2, a game that's been hinted at for ages now. While no home version has been announced, the arcade version runs on the Chihiro arcade unit, which is Xbox-based, making an Xbox port a fairly painless process. Details and screenshots are up at GameSpot.
	Area 51 Reborn Midway has announced plans to resurrect their infamous light shooting game Area 51 as a full-fledged FPS for PS2 and Xbox. While no shots are available yet, it has been confirmed that the game will feature a story-driven single player mode as well as online multiplayer and sport creatures by the one and only Stan Winston. I can't wait to see how it turns out.
	NARC Announced Area 51 isn't the only franchise Midway's bringing back...they have also announced NARC, a revisiting of the anti-drug side scrolling arcade series for all three consoles. This game promises "drug busting mayhem" and licensed music that includes "the best drug songs of all-time." No, I have no idea what that means either (maybe "pass the dutchie"?). Details are up at IGN with screenshots available at GameSpot.
	Justice League Announced One last Midway announcement tonight...they have also announced plans to make a Justice League game, based on the show currently airing on Cartoon Network. Hopefully this will fare better than the other recent DC animated adaptations, which were mildly entertaining at best.
	Sony Sells a Crapload of Network Adapters Games Are Fun is reporting (by way of Bloomberg Japan) that Sony has announced that they have sold 2.4 million PS2 network adapters worldwide, including 2 million in North America alone. Hey Nintendo, are you listening?
	Fable Q&A (Did someone say PC port?) GamePro.com has posted a Q&A with the always well-spoken Peter Molyneux, talking with him about the upcoming Xbox RPG Fable. He touches on a few subjects, but most surprising is this comment when asked about a port to another platform: "we are thinking of possibly one other format, and it's not a console."
	Xenon == Xbox 2? According to Computer and Video Games, the current codename for the Xbox 2 is "Xenon," and it has already been shown to a handful of developers. There's not a whole lot one can gleam from a codename, but at least this one's not as patently offensive to Japanese developers as "Midway" which was the codename for the original Xbox (a reference to the Battle of Midway, the turning point in the US campaign against Japan).
	Tonight's Gaming Oddities This BBC story reports that a clever web designer has found a way to use the in-game interface from Sony's SOCOM as a full-fledged web browser. I'm not sure why anyone would really want to do that, but hey, you can if you really want to. And on a completely different note, this story at Slashdot Games talks about what may be a very weird viral marketing campaign for Sega's upcoming ESPN Football.
	Misc. Media/Previews GameSpot has new details and screenshots from Capcom's Killer 7 (GC), a new installment of their NBA Jam developer diary (GC, PS2, Xbox), new movies and PS2 and Xbox specific shots from ESPN Football, a new preview of Legacy of Kain: Defiance (PS2, Xbox), updated impressions of Whiplash (PS2, Xbox), new shots from F-Zero GX (GC), new shots from Fatal Frame 2 (PS2), new footage from Ghost Recon: Island Thunder (Xbox), new (rendered) shots from Halo 2 (Xbox) and a hands-on look at Champions of Norrath: Realms of EverQuest (PS2, Xbox). Over at IGN they have a hands-on look at Mario Kart: Double Dash (GC), new shots from Phantasy Star Online Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution (GC), new gameplay footage from Medal of Honor: Rising Sun (GC, PS2, Xbox), their own hands-on look at Champions of Norrath (PS2) and a new Sudeki (Xbox) developer's diary. Elsewhere online tonight, The Magic Box has new shots from SquareEnix's Drag-on Dragoon (AKA Drakengard) for PS2 and Onimusha Tactics for GBA, SquareEnix has launched their official Japanese-language Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles site and Capcom has launched their official English-language Viewtiful Joe site (both GC, and both thanks to Planet GameCube).

Console Game of the Evening: Tales of Phantasia for the Super Nintendo. "Roughly on par with Chrono Trigger in terms of gameplay and uniqueness. Battles are a side scrolling action style, and the story is much more mature in theme than many games at the time. Japanese only, but well worth importing." (submitted by Omnova).