Late Night Consoling

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First off, don't forget to check this story published earlier in the day concerning most of the major details of J Allard's keynote address. If you missed last night's LNC, there were even more Xbox 2 goodies in there. So, after a couple days of developer-related announcements, we finally get a treat. I think it's rather nice of Microsoft to get this stuff out of the way now as it's quite a bit to wrap our minds around. All the "HD era" talk certainly is music to a technophile's ears, but the Marketplace aspects makes this gamer a bit wary. I'm all for expanding the longevity of my games, but I truly hope it doesn't mean I get shafted with the initial purchase. "Oh, we'll create that area after release and sell it, let's just get it out now." This could also be a problem with online games; having to buy this or that item to keep up with the Joneses. Time will tell!
  • More Details on Xbox 2

    [xbox]

    To add onto the stuff already covered in this news post, J Allard had a few other things to say. He opened by saying over 1,000 engineers has been part of the three-year development of the next Xbox. He confirmed that games are to be made with the 16x9 format and 5.1DD sound in mind to guarantee a high definition experience. Live awareness will be mandatory. Finally, the event closed with 1,000 attendees getting a free Samsung HDTV (lucky!). Also, here are some shots of the "Next Generation Xbox Guide."

  • SEGA's Spartan: Total Warrior

    [ps2] [xbox] [gcn]

    With the acquisition of The Creative Assembly, SEGA immediately issued a press release announcing that it's publishing Spartan: Total Warrior, a console-only title based on the popular PC strategy series, Total War. "Spartan: Total Warrior was conceived, designed and implemented right from the beginning as a console only product," says Ian Roxburgh, Studio Marketing Manager at The Creative Assembly. It's based in the Roman Empire era where your character is leading a fight against the Romans. The environments, armies, and battles are to be fought on a massive scale. "...CA has developed a title that offers both dynamic, real-time combat sequences and epic-sized battles; a combination that has never been technically accomplished on this generation of hardware," said Scott A. Steinberg, VP of marketing for SEGA of America.

  • Sony Talks PS3

    [ps2]

    They weren't as open about their new system as Microsoft, but Sony did talk about a few important things for the development crowd. For instance, Cell will rely on standard OpenGL libraries and support Cg, a language developed by nVidia. Finally, they wrapped it up by saying it's up to the developers on how they want make to use of the nine processing units. "You, the developers, are the composers," said Dominic Mallinson, research director for SCEA. "It's up to you to assign tasks to get the best possible performance."

  • James Cameron's Xbox Next Title

    [xbox]

    During a video played at GDC showing reactions from different people involved with Xbox Next development, film director James Cameron revealed he's working on a game. "In my next film, I can only tell you what we're planning on doing which is simultaneous developing a major motion picture and hopefully a major game title that co-exists in the same world, that share characters." He continued, "Going into that world will actually inform those watching the film and vice-versa. I don't want to say anything more than that because I don't want to give away some of the cool stuff that we're working on." However, it's already known that his next project is a film adaptation of the anime Battle Angel Alita.

  • Third Shadow Hearts Revealed

    [ps2]

    Japanese gaming magazine published the first details on the third entry in the Shadow Hearts series, Shadow Hearts: From the New World. Details are scant since the article is in Japanese, but the two characters are aged 21 and 16 and the United States appears to be the central location.

  • Microsoft Game Studios Using Unreal Engine 3

    [xbox]

    Epic Games announced that they have licensed their Unreal Engine 3 to Microsoft Game Studios to use in future titles. "We only work with the best partners and utilize the best technologies, and Epic and the Unreal Engine 3 hit the mark on both those fronts," said General Manager Shane Kim.

  • Misc. Q&As/Features

    Kotaku interviews Cameron Ferroni, general manager of the Xbox.

Misc. Media/Previews

PS2

GameSpot has a hands-on with Cold Winter and shots of Squadra Corse Alfa Romeo. Game Informer previews Namco x Capcom.

GameCube

Game Informer has a new batch of screens for Donkey Konga 2, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones, and Geist.

Portable

IGN has fun with Puppy Times (DS). GamesAreFun has details and screens for Lost in Blue (DS). You can find some shots of WarioWare Twisted! (GBA), Polarium (DS), and Pac-Pix (DS) at Game Informer. GameSpot has plenty of PSP media with an EA Trailer and updated hands-on of Death, Jr. and Ridge Racer.

Multi

GameSpy puts up new shots of Delta Force: Black Hawk Down (PS2, Xbox) and they also preview Spy vs. Spy (PS2, Xbox). GameSpot has new impressions of FlatOut (PS2, Xbox), Scarface (PS2, Xbox), and The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction (PS2, Xbox, GCN).

Console Game Of The Evening [Submit Yours!]

Samurai Shodown for the Neo Geo. "One dollar meant an hour of play on three quarters, and a soda for the walk home.. Ahh, the memories with Haohmaru ..." (submitted by dextius).

From The Chatty
  • reply
    March 9, 2005 8:09 PM

    it's up to the developers on how they want make to use of the nine processing units. "You, the developers, are the composers," said Dominic Mallinson, research director for SCEA. "It's up to you to assign tasks to get the best possible performance."

    after being in a position to view common problems for PC game developers over the last 5 years, I think I can say that I'll be quite surprised if many development houses get multi-threading working bug-free.

    • reply
      March 9, 2005 8:18 PM

      Its definately going to be interesting. We're going to hit a huge learning curve with this, but by the time we get it down its going to be very awesome.

    • reply
      March 9, 2005 8:36 PM

      umm if they are leaving it up to the devs themselves the ps3 might be in a bit of trouble. ahem saturn ahem.

      granted sony's marketing dept is alot more adept than sega's was but still....might not be smooth sailing

      • reply
        March 9, 2005 8:38 PM

        I forsee DOOM... (devs w/no tools from sony to get started on coding for cell?!)

        Sony- "figure it out yourself."

        Microsoft- "We'll give you the tools, you make the games."

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