Games News for Games Heroes
'Gears of War' breaks out for Xbox
In what is expected to be another record-breaking year for the more than $10-billion-a-year video game industry, the breakout hit is a science-fiction action game called Gears of War.The game didn't sneak up on anyone - developer Epic Games and Microsoft hyped it for nearly a year and a half leading up to its release Nov. 12 - but the futuristic sci-fi combat game has overcome an industry hurdle in establishing a new intellectual property as a hit.
It's not easy to compete in the marketplace with Mario, Madden and other established franchises.
Gears of War has sold more than 1 million copies in the USA and an estimated 2 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling game for Microsoft's year-old
Xbox 360 video game system.
Well reviewed by critics, the game is reaping year-end awards. GameSpot named Gears of War the game of the year, along with best shooter game, best multiplayer game and best graphics (technical).
Last month, it lost game of the year to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion at the Spike TV Game Awards but won studio of the year (for Epic Games), best graphics, best shooter and best multiplayer game.
"Gears of War is certainly one of the best games of the year," says Geoff Keighley, video game journalist and host of Spike TV's Game Head. "It's beautiful, engrossing and features very polished gameplay. It's the kind of game you want to show off to the friends. I dare say it's one of the first true next-generation games on the market."
More important, Gears of War (Microsoft, $60 and $70 for a collector's edition with an art book and DVD) provided a boost for Microsoft's game system at a time when much of the industry attention was focused on the launch of the competing Sony PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii systems.
"It's no doubt sold a lot of Xbox 360s and has made existing 360 owners feel very good about their investment," says John Davison, editorial director of Ziff Davis Media's game group, including Electronic Gaming Monthly.
"It came at exactly the right time and has proved to be a great counter to the launch of the PS3."
At Newsweek, general editor for technology N'Gai Croal is withholding his verdict on whether Gears of War can be a "system seller" that significantly increases the base of Xbox 360 owners, which rose about 511,000 in November to 3.4 million.
But he will say, "Microsoft can hold up Gears of War and say, 'Sony says their machine is more powerful than ours, yet we have this game that looks better (than any PS3 games).' "
Mike Snider, USA TODAY
Gears of War has sold more than 1 million copies in the USA and an estimated 2 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling game for Microsoft's year-old
Xbox 360 video game system.
Well reviewed by critics, the game is reaping year-end awards. GameSpot named Gears of War the game of the year, along with best shooter game, best multiplayer game and best graphics (technical).
Last month, it lost game of the year to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion at the Spike TV Game Awards but won studio of the year (for Epic Games), best graphics, best shooter and best multiplayer game.
"Gears of War is certainly one of the best games of the year," says Geoff Keighley, video game journalist and host of Spike TV's Game Head. "It's beautiful, engrossing and features very polished gameplay. It's the kind of game you want to show off to the friends. I dare say it's one of the first true next-generation games on the market."
More important, Gears of War (Microsoft, $60 and $70 for a collector's edition with an art book and DVD) provided a boost for Microsoft's game system at a time when much of the industry attention was focused on the launch of the competing Sony PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii systems.
"It's no doubt sold a lot of Xbox 360s and has made existing 360 owners feel very good about their investment," says John Davison, editorial director of Ziff Davis Media's game group, including Electronic Gaming Monthly.
"It came at exactly the right time and has proved to be a great counter to the launch of the PS3."
At Newsweek, general editor for technology N'Gai Croal is withholding his verdict on whether Gears of War can be a "system seller" that significantly increases the base of Xbox 360 owners, which rose about 511,000 in November to 3.4 million.
But he will say, "Microsoft can hold up Gears of War and say, 'Sony says their machine is more powerful than ours, yet we have this game that looks better (than any PS3 games).' "
Mike Snider, USA TODAY
Labels: xbox 360
Racing games offer different ways to speed
Three new video games let you put the virtual pedal to the metal
Racing video games have come a long way since “Pole Position” was considered cutting-edge back in the 1980s.
Three recent titles — “Need for Speed Carbon,” “Test Drive Unlimited” and “Full Auto 2: Battlelines” — show off the power of the newest consoles with blistering graphics that’ll make you reach for a seat belt, even if you’re sitting on the sofa.
“Full Auto 2: Battlelines” (Rated T, $59.99) for the shiny new PlayStation3 is by far the best-looking of the bunch. It’s less of a sequel than it is an enhanced version of the original “Full Auto,” which was released for the Xbox 360 in early 2006.
The biggest changes to the original are improved graphics and new game modes. Notably, Arena mode blends gas-guzzlers with shooting, like in “Twisted Metal.” Crossing the finish line isn’t the goal here — blowing up your enemies is.
The game’s regular racing modes are intense and the sensation of speed is practically overwhelming as you blur through various city districts with hood-mounted machine guns, missile launchers and smoke screens.
But like the original, the focus is on arcade-style action. The gameplay is about as simple as driving around in a bumper car.
You can still play off-line, but clearly this game was meant to be enjoyed with others. So what does one do here? Like most open-ended online games, that’s really up to you. You can drive around, soup up your vehicles, win prize money from various races and even move into nicer dwellings eventually. Customizing and exploring are key draws here.
If your idea of a perfect Sunday afternoon involves motoring around curvy country roads in some exotic sports car, this could be your game. If not, you might get car sick from all the driving around.
If you thought “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift” was, like, the coolest movie ever, then “Need For Speed Carbon” (Rated T, $29.99-$59.99) for all the platforms is your video game.
“Carbon” is the latest in a long line of street-racing games from Electronic Arts Inc. where “drifting” along curvy canyon roads is just as important as stomping on the gas and brake pedals.
The sensation of speed is impressive, especially on the graphically tweaked Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions I tested.
Yet, sadly, EA seems intent on cranking out a new sequel every year, regardless of innovation.
What this means is there’s not much new from last year’s “Need for Speed: Most Wanted,” so if you already have that game there’s not a whole lot of new stuff to check out.
One of the best features — high speed police chases — is missing this time around.
The new “Autosculpt” feature lets you customize your hot rods in numerous ways, yet the end result doesn’t seem to affect performance much.
But of these three racers, “Carbon” definitely strikes the best balance between simulator and arcade game.
Matt Slagle
msnbc.msn.com
“Full Auto 2: Battlelines” (Rated T, $59.99) for the shiny new PlayStation3 is by far the best-looking of the bunch. It’s less of a sequel than it is an enhanced version of the original “Full Auto,” which was released for the Xbox 360 in early 2006.
The biggest changes to the original are improved graphics and new game modes. Notably, Arena mode blends gas-guzzlers with shooting, like in “Twisted Metal.” Crossing the finish line isn’t the goal here — blowing up your enemies is.
The game’s regular racing modes are intense and the sensation of speed is practically overwhelming as you blur through various city districts with hood-mounted machine guns, missile launchers and smoke screens.
But like the original, the focus is on arcade-style action. The gameplay is about as simple as driving around in a bumper car.
You can still play off-line, but clearly this game was meant to be enjoyed with others. So what does one do here? Like most open-ended online games, that’s really up to you. You can drive around, soup up your vehicles, win prize money from various races and even move into nicer dwellings eventually. Customizing and exploring are key draws here.
If your idea of a perfect Sunday afternoon involves motoring around curvy country roads in some exotic sports car, this could be your game. If not, you might get car sick from all the driving around.
If you thought “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift” was, like, the coolest movie ever, then “Need For Speed Carbon” (Rated T, $29.99-$59.99) for all the platforms is your video game.
“Carbon” is the latest in a long line of street-racing games from Electronic Arts Inc. where “drifting” along curvy canyon roads is just as important as stomping on the gas and brake pedals.
The sensation of speed is impressive, especially on the graphically tweaked Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions I tested.
Yet, sadly, EA seems intent on cranking out a new sequel every year, regardless of innovation.
What this means is there’s not much new from last year’s “Need for Speed: Most Wanted,” so if you already have that game there’s not a whole lot of new stuff to check out.
One of the best features — high speed police chases — is missing this time around.
The new “Autosculpt” feature lets you customize your hot rods in numerous ways, yet the end result doesn’t seem to affect performance much.
But of these three racers, “Carbon” definitely strikes the best balance between simulator and arcade game.
Matt Slagle
msnbc.msn.com
Labels: reviews
Despite its age, PlayStation 2 still rocks
In December video game maker Square Enix Co. began running prime-time TV ads in Japan featuring battle scenes from its new adventure game "Seiken Densetsu 4," or "Legend of the Sacred Sword." Every 30-second spot ended with a familiar logo: PlayStation. But the game isn't played on Sony Corp.'s new PlayStation 3 console. It's for the PlayStation 2.
This might seem an odd time to launch an ad blitz for a game designed for the PS2, which has been around since 2000. The PS3, after all, was just introduced this fall and offers richer graphics with more lifelike action. But despite all the hype surrounding the PS3, its predecessor is likely to outsell it for two more years.
"The PS2 will have legs well into 2008," says Michael Pachter, an analyst at Wedbush Morgan Securities in Los Angeles.
And while Nintendo Co.'s Wii console is getting most of the industry buzz, and the Xbox 360 from Microsoft Corp. has racked up big sales in its year on the market, some say the PS2 might even beat out each of those offerings in 2007.
"The PS2 probably has the capacity to sell more than any other gaming" console, says Simon Jeffrey, chief operating officer at game maker Sega of America.
The PS2 already owns the industry's all-time sales record. As of last March, Sony had shipped more than 103 million units worldwide. In the year ending in March, 2007, Sony expects to sell an additional 11 million — and just 6 million PS3s. In the following year, Sony will likely ship another 11 million PS2s versus 7 million PS3s, according to research by rating agency Standard & Poor's.
The PS2's direct rivals, Microsoft's original Xbox and Nintendo's GameCube, are no longer in production. So why is the PS2 doing so well this late in life? For starters, it's cheap. Sony has cut the PS2's price to about $130, down from a high of $300, to entice casual gamers and kids. And with continuing sales and so many PS2 consoles in living rooms worldwide, there's plenty of demand for new titles.
"All the media focus is on next-gen consoles and games, but a lot of the software companies will make a substantial portion of their earnings by selling (older) games," says Erik Whiteford, marketing director at California game maker 2K Sports.
Family fare
To keep sales growing, software makers are tweaking their PS2 efforts. In the console's early days, hard-core gamers were its main audience, but those diehards are now moving on to the PS3. So makers are beefing up offerings of family-oriented titles, kids' games, and movie tie-ins.
Square Enix next spring plans to sell "Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix Plus," a collaboration with Walt Disney Co. Around the same time, Paris-based Ubisoft will unveil "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" to coincide with the release of a film in that series. And Sega is working on a game based on a film from Philip Pullman's story "The Golden Compass," due before the holidays in late 2007. While some of these will be available for other platforms as well, game makers have no plans to discontinue PS2 titles.
Nor is Sony in any hurry to kill the PS2. The launch of a new console always puts game makers in the red, and the PS3 is no exception. With delays and production snafus for the machine, Sony's game unit is expecting a $1.7 billion loss this fiscal year.
The PS2, meanwhile, long ago turned profitable as component prices have plunged and development costs have been written off. Even at $130 a pop, Sony earns about $8 on each PS2 it sells, compared with an estimated loss of $250 per PS3. (Nintendo is believed to break even on the Wii, while Microsoft takes a loss on the Xbox 360.)
And Sony will rake in some $1.4 billion this year from license fees paid by game makers and sales of its own game titles for the PS2 and its predecessor, the PSOne, Goldman, Sachs & Co. estimates. So it's clear Sony will want to milk the PS2 for all it's worth.
Kenji Hall
msnbc.msn.com
"The PS2 will have legs well into 2008," says Michael Pachter, an analyst at Wedbush Morgan Securities in Los Angeles.
And while Nintendo Co.'s Wii console is getting most of the industry buzz, and the Xbox 360 from Microsoft Corp. has racked up big sales in its year on the market, some say the PS2 might even beat out each of those offerings in 2007.
"The PS2 probably has the capacity to sell more than any other gaming" console, says Simon Jeffrey, chief operating officer at game maker Sega of America.
The PS2 already owns the industry's all-time sales record. As of last March, Sony had shipped more than 103 million units worldwide. In the year ending in March, 2007, Sony expects to sell an additional 11 million — and just 6 million PS3s. In the following year, Sony will likely ship another 11 million PS2s versus 7 million PS3s, according to research by rating agency Standard & Poor's.
The PS2's direct rivals, Microsoft's original Xbox and Nintendo's GameCube, are no longer in production. So why is the PS2 doing so well this late in life? For starters, it's cheap. Sony has cut the PS2's price to about $130, down from a high of $300, to entice casual gamers and kids. And with continuing sales and so many PS2 consoles in living rooms worldwide, there's plenty of demand for new titles.
"All the media focus is on next-gen consoles and games, but a lot of the software companies will make a substantial portion of their earnings by selling (older) games," says Erik Whiteford, marketing director at California game maker 2K Sports.
Family fare
To keep sales growing, software makers are tweaking their PS2 efforts. In the console's early days, hard-core gamers were its main audience, but those diehards are now moving on to the PS3. So makers are beefing up offerings of family-oriented titles, kids' games, and movie tie-ins.
Square Enix next spring plans to sell "Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix Plus," a collaboration with Walt Disney Co. Around the same time, Paris-based Ubisoft will unveil "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" to coincide with the release of a film in that series. And Sega is working on a game based on a film from Philip Pullman's story "The Golden Compass," due before the holidays in late 2007. While some of these will be available for other platforms as well, game makers have no plans to discontinue PS2 titles.
Nor is Sony in any hurry to kill the PS2. The launch of a new console always puts game makers in the red, and the PS3 is no exception. With delays and production snafus for the machine, Sony's game unit is expecting a $1.7 billion loss this fiscal year.
The PS2, meanwhile, long ago turned profitable as component prices have plunged and development costs have been written off. Even at $130 a pop, Sony earns about $8 on each PS2 it sells, compared with an estimated loss of $250 per PS3. (Nintendo is believed to break even on the Wii, while Microsoft takes a loss on the Xbox 360.)
And Sony will rake in some $1.4 billion this year from license fees paid by game makers and sales of its own game titles for the PS2 and its predecessor, the PSOne, Goldman, Sachs & Co. estimates. So it's clear Sony will want to milk the PS2 for all it's worth.
Kenji Hall
msnbc.msn.com
Labels: PS2 Games
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