Late Night Consoling
by Chris Remo, May 16, 2006 8:00pm PDTThe news is staying pretty slow. I guess publishers figured if they had anything worth announcing, they might as well do it at E3!
- In a recent GameSpy interview, Will Wright claimed that his upcoming sim-everything game Spore (PC) is in development for not just PC, but "all platforms," though the PC version will be released first. Presumably, since the game is not expected until 2007, this means it will appear on the next generation platforms (which, by that time, we can finally refer to as "current generation platforms" or, even better, "platforms") PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii. However, given publisher EA's general multiplatform tendencies as well as the high expectations no doubt accompanying a new game by the maker of the phenominally successful The Sims, it may be in development for current generation systems as well. In related news, several months ago, a job listing surfaced, calling for a designer to supervise portable versions of Spore. This almost certainly refers to DS and PSP, as well as potentially GBA. Wright noted that the game is coming to cell phones in some form as well.
Spore Growing on Consoles
[ps3] [xbox360] [nintendo] - Here's a bit of news that came out last week during the hustle and bustle of E3, that you may have missed (I did! Whoops.). Atari announced that it has acquired the "online and handheld rights" to the classic platforming character Earthworm Jim, originally developed by Shiny Entertainment in the mid-90s. The press release is quite vague about just which platforms are included in those rights, at some point implying next-generation home consoles and at other points not. Atari expects to develop several games in the franchise over the next five years. First up is a game for "next-generation handheld systems" (PSP? DS? N-Gage? Gizmondo?) being developed by Shiny.
New Earthworm Jim in Production
[ds] [psp] - After massive corporate restructuring, publisher Majesco stated that it will be shifting its focus to portable gaming, but it seems that it will be making a few exceptions. In an extremely short press release, Majesco announced that it will be releasing a Bust-A-Move (aka Puzzle Bobble) game for Wii in early 2007. The game is called Bust-A-Move Revolution, hanging onto the former codename of Nintendo's upcoming system. Bust-A-Move's gameplay, which hinges on precision aiming, seems well suited to the system's pointer-like controller. This upcoming game is described as the "first of several titles" from Majesco for Wii, though no others are named.
Majesco Busts a Move, Says "Wii"
[nintendo] - Speaking of Shiny Entertainment, founder Dave Perry left the studio earlier this year in an attempt to drum up interest on the part of another publisher to buy Shiny from current owner Atari. In the meantime, it looks like's decided to start up a consulting firm. GameConsultants.COM, billed as providing "Executive Video Game Industry Advice," is apparently already talking with investment companies and hardware and software developers as to "how to position strategic projects for the US market."
Dave Perry Consults
- In a recent interview, Grasshopper Manufacture head Goichi Suda revealed that his game for Wii, which had been previously mentioned but not revealed in any way, is currently going by the name Heroes. Rumors prior to E3 suggested that the game would be shown at E3 in trailer form, and it appears even Suda himself thought that was to be the case; in the interview, he admits he is not sure why the game was absent. A trailer should be forthcoming this summer. Suda and Grasshopper are best known for the unapologetically insane Killer7 (PS2, GCN) as well as the recent Samurai Champloo: Sidetracked (PS2) and the upcoming Contact (NDS).
Suda Names Wii Project
[nintendo] - IGN chats with three developers on Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (Wii), director Mark Pacini, manager Kensuke Tanabe, and senior producer Bryan Walker. On the previews front, everybody is still finishing up assorted E3 coverage. If you're interested, check that out at Game Informer, GameSpot, Eurogamer, IGN, GameSpy, and surely others.
Misc. Q&As/Features
Splinter Cell Blacklist co-op modes partially detailed
FIFA 14 on PC won't use Ignite engine
Ace Attorney Trilogy coming to iOS next week
Far Cry 3 editor jazzed up with Blood Dragon shinies
Epic Mickey 2 for Vita coming June 18
Poker Night 2 antes up on iOS
Warhammer Quest hitting iOS May 30
Super Stardust dev making 'spiritual successor' for PS4
Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara preview: classic arcade revival
Final Fantasy XIV gets reborn on August 27; collector's edition detailed





Comments
http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=64631
If it works this game will get a ton of play at my house.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 9 replies.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 4 replies.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 4 replies.
I hope they switch that, I don't like controllers like that. :~(
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 3 replies.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 12 replies.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 23 replies.
C'mon shackers, enlighten me!
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 4 replies.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 10 replies.
I found the new 0ldsch00l way of gaining free lives in World 2-4.
Same way as so long ago. At end of the level, jump on the turtle as he comes down the stairs trapping him between jumps and the step gaining points until they peak and you reach a free life. Stop pressing the jump button and watch Mario bounce your way to 99 lives.
I so much enjoy when they leave little fun things that I remember so foundly in reworks of older titles . Thank you Nintendo for New Super Mario Bros. and returning us to the days of 2d side scroller platform games that we loved as adolescents.
-formerly known as the shacker *metal*
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 4 replies.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 3 replies.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 2 replies.
This game is good enough to justify the price it goes for on Ebay. If you can afford to pay $150-$190 for a great RPG then go buy this off of Ebay right now!
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 2 replies.
In the most recent preview video (the one with Robin Williams), Will Wright talks about a card game played with the things you have in your Sporetopedia.
I'm betting that the handheld games will be mainly or entirely focused around that card game due to the limited processing power available to do all the procedural stuff the full game needs.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 2 replies.
P.S.: Contact looks cool with its stark contrast in art across the two screens on the DS. Hopefully, the game doesn't disappoint.
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 4 replies.
http://english.etnews.co.kr/news/detail.html?id=200605120008
Only interesting to me in that it's even possible, I generally done with MMO's though.
You must be logged in to post.