September 2011 Archives
San Jose Mercury News tech columnist Troy Wolverton today delivered this column on Amazon's newly-introduced Kindle Fire tablet, which he says may be the first "worthy competitor" to Apple's iPad.
The San Jose Mercury news is the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin and Sun's sister newspaper.
Apple, of course, has the big advantage of creating a market for tablet computers like the iPad and being able to deliver a product to its fiercely loyal fan base. Other companies, like Hewlett-Packard, have tried to break into the tablet business but have not been able to knock the iPad from its perch. Hewlett-Packard, of course, made the bewildering decision to cancel its TouchPad tablet this summer, mere weeks after entering the marketplace.
Amazon seems to have been paying attention to the failings of other iPad competitors. Unlike previous tablets, the Kindle Fire is not trying to be an iPad clone. It's got a much smaller screen than the iPad. It has a much smaller amount of storage space. It doesn't have any cameras, so you can't use it to take pictures or do video chats. And it only connects the Internet via WiFi, not the cell phone networks.
But those differences help make the Kindle Fire distinct -- and allow Amazon to offer it for a much lower price. At $200, the Kindle Fire is in a completely different league than the iPad and the iPad knock-offs. That price is even $50 cheaper than Barnes & Noble's Nook Color, a similar device that's marketed as an eBook reader. It's a price that, in these tough economic times, is going to be a lot more accessible to mainstream consumers.
The San Jose Mercury news is the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin and Sun's sister newspaper.
Swedish actor Max von Sydow played chess against Death himself in "The Seventh Seal," the 1957 Ingmar Bergman film dealing with questions about religious faith and the prospect of an afterlife.
Von Sydow is now scheduled to appear in a game itself. Bethesda Softworks announced today that he along with Academy Award-nominated actors Christopher Plummer and Joan Allen will all have roles in Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
Actress Lynda Carter, best known for her performance as television's "Wonder Woman," also appears in the cast.
The cast also includes Michael Hogan ("Battlestar Galactica"), Vladimir Kulich ("The 13th Warrior," "Smoking Aces"), Claudia Christian ("Babylon 5"), Diane Louise Salinger ("Carnivale"), Renee Victor ("Weeds"), and Saturday Night Live-alum George Coe.
Skyrim's release date is scheduled for Nov. 11.
Von Sydow is now scheduled to appear in a game itself. Bethesda Softworks announced today that he along with Academy Award-nominated actors Christopher Plummer and Joan Allen will all have roles in Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
Actress Lynda Carter, best known for her performance as television's "Wonder Woman," also appears in the cast.
The cast also includes Michael Hogan ("Battlestar Galactica"), Vladimir Kulich ("The 13th Warrior," "Smoking Aces"), Claudia Christian ("Babylon 5"), Diane Louise Salinger ("Carnivale"), Renee Victor ("Weeds"), and Saturday Night Live-alum George Coe.
Skyrim's release date is scheduled for Nov. 11.
Betting that video game players, as a set of the American population, includes a number of people who also enjoy looking at attractive women, EA Sports today announced a pair of Sports Illustrated swimsuit models will have co-starring roles in Need for Speed: The Run.
The models are Irina Shayk, who scored the cover of this year's Swimsuit Edition and Chrissy Teigen. The women will play the roles of best friends who are competing against Jack, the game's protagonist, in a race from San Francisco to New York City.
The game is set for a Nov. 15 North American release for Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Wii, PC, PlayStation 3 and XBox 360. Shayk and Taigen, however, will not appear on the Nintendo versions.
The models are Irina Shayk, who scored the cover of this year's Swimsuit Edition and Chrissy Teigen. The women will play the roles of best friends who are competing against Jack, the game's protagonist, in a race from San Francisco to New York City.
The game is set for a Nov. 15 North American release for Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Wii, PC, PlayStation 3 and XBox 360. Shayk and Taigen, however, will not appear on the Nintendo versions.
"Gears of War 3" is today's biggest new release, and other notables include "Lonesome Road," the final storyline-based DLC for Fallout: New Vegas and 2K Sports' demo for NBA 2K12.
By all appearances, Epic Games' conclusion to its Gears of War saga follows its predecessors tradition of chainsaw-bayonets, cover-based tactics and hulking characters. Some people say Gears of War can be too much on the "dudebro" side of things, and although they have a small point, Epic Games deserves a lot of credit for pioneering the cover -based mechanics that are pretty much standard in any game featuring a third-person perspective.
In my opinion, no one has done it quite as well since. I also got a kick out of the developer's introduction in the original's manual, which explained how a game of paintball led to a new approach to gameplay.
Gears of War 3 is an XBox 360 exclusive.
By all appearances, Epic Games' conclusion to its Gears of War saga follows its predecessors tradition of chainsaw-bayonets, cover-based tactics and hulking characters. Some people say Gears of War can be too much on the "dudebro" side of things, and although they have a small point, Epic Games deserves a lot of credit for pioneering the cover -based mechanics that are pretty much standard in any game featuring a third-person perspective.
In my opinion, no one has done it quite as well since. I also got a kick out of the developer's introduction in the original's manual, which explained how a game of paintball led to a new approach to gameplay.
Gears of War 3 is an XBox 360 exclusive.
Continue reading Chainsaw bayonets, the Mojave Desert and basketball.
Would you like to go to Paris and shoot at people?
Of course you would, but you probably don't have the authority to initiate military actions against France. That being the case, you may be interested in learning that the open beta for Battlefield 3 is scheduled to be open to PC, PlayStation 3 and XBox 360 players on Sept. 29.
The beta takes place in a multiplayer map set in Paris. See for yourself:
Of course you would, but you probably don't have the authority to initiate military actions against France. That being the case, you may be interested in learning that the open beta for Battlefield 3 is scheduled to be open to PC, PlayStation 3 and XBox 360 players on Sept. 29.
The beta takes place in a multiplayer map set in Paris. See for yourself:
Netflix made a lot of people angry this summer when the company announced a price hike for its DVD-by-mail and video streaming services. The price change split the DVD-by-mail and streaming services into two separate options, when previously they were bundled.
Price hikes are never popular, but the complaining and media coverage of said complaining may have gone too far.
The split between the DVD-by-mail and streaming services became more pronounced today, when Netflix CEO Reed Hastings announced in a letter to subscribers (who include this blogger) that Netflix will continue to stream video, but its DVD-by-mail option will be carried out under the guise of a new company called Qwikster.
The switch, to happen in a matter of weeks, will mean that customers who have streaming and mail services will have to manage two separate accounts. Qwikster customers will also be able to rent video games by mail if they pay an additional premium, but Hastings tells customers there will be no further price changes.
Got that? No? Maybe? Is Netflix crazy like a fox?
My initial reaction is that Netflix's impending split makes no sense at all, but maybe the company's executives know more than I do. Nonetheless, Qwikster strikes me as a terrible name. The name "Netflix" tells me that I can watch movies, or, "flicks" on the Internet. The word "Qwikster" tells me something is quick, but I have no idea what.
Netflix announced lowered subscriber estimates but the company also reported that executives stuck by their new pricing plan. But splitting the service makes it easier for customers to leave at least half of their plan, and the competition seems to be tougher in the streaming services that Netflix pioneered.
If I want to watch a movie that Netflix doesn't stream, it's easy under the company's current structure to request the DVD and have it in a couple of days. If another company has a better streaming option, which Hulu Plus may have with its addition of the Criterion Collection, I may end up choosing to leave Netflix and maybe keep Qwikster. Or maybe I just support my local video store, depending on which is a better value for my dollar.
Reactions from around the web after the jump:
Price hikes are never popular, but the complaining and media coverage of said complaining may have gone too far.
The split between the DVD-by-mail and streaming services became more pronounced today, when Netflix CEO Reed Hastings announced in a letter to subscribers (who include this blogger) that Netflix will continue to stream video, but its DVD-by-mail option will be carried out under the guise of a new company called Qwikster.
The switch, to happen in a matter of weeks, will mean that customers who have streaming and mail services will have to manage two separate accounts. Qwikster customers will also be able to rent video games by mail if they pay an additional premium, but Hastings tells customers there will be no further price changes.
Got that? No? Maybe? Is Netflix crazy like a fox?
My initial reaction is that Netflix's impending split makes no sense at all, but maybe the company's executives know more than I do. Nonetheless, Qwikster strikes me as a terrible name. The name "Netflix" tells me that I can watch movies, or, "flicks" on the Internet. The word "Qwikster" tells me something is quick, but I have no idea what.
Netflix announced lowered subscriber estimates but the company also reported that executives stuck by their new pricing plan. But splitting the service makes it easier for customers to leave at least half of their plan, and the competition seems to be tougher in the streaming services that Netflix pioneered.
If I want to watch a movie that Netflix doesn't stream, it's easy under the company's current structure to request the DVD and have it in a couple of days. If another company has a better streaming option, which Hulu Plus may have with its addition of the Criterion Collection, I may end up choosing to leave Netflix and maybe keep Qwikster. Or maybe I just support my local video store, depending on which is a better value for my dollar.
Reactions from around the web after the jump:
Continue reading The Netflix split. Why, Netflix? Why?.
The mighty skill trees of Diablo 3 are finally available for everyone to peruse at their leisure.The beta is due out "soonish", though prospective demon slayers can slap down a few skills using this free tool online to plan out the perfect build for their chosen character. Or characters. Endless scrutiny ahoy!The tool does remind prospective adventurers that the level cap for the beta is set at 13, though it allows window shopping skills that unlock further on such as at level 29.
All of the classes are represented from the muscle-bound juggernaut, the Barbarian, to the newish Demon Hunter who apparently replaces the Rogue. I'm tempted to go Wizard or Monk this time around, though the voodoo-inspired trickery of the Witch Doctor - who is apparently covering for the no-longer-around Necromancer - is also a tempting choice.
A group of modders got together and replaced the area-clearing, uber weapon from Unreal Tournament 3, the Redeemer, with Nyan Cat. If you're not sure what Nyan Cat is, you can follow this link to the original video and bear witness to an internet meme that some find hilarious and others use as an excuse to never wander around on the internet again.
It's a PC only mod meaning that I might have to fire up UT3 just to try this out. Or to see who will have the guts to use this in multiplayer.
It's a PC only mod meaning that I might have to fire up UT3 just to try this out. Or to see who will have the guts to use this in multiplayer.
Here's a new trailer for Max Payne 3, a neo-noir set in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The game is scheduled for a March 12 release date for PC, PlayStation 3 and XBox 360. By the looks of things, the developers are continuing the series' tradition of turning the tough guy talk and gunfire up to 11.
The game is scheduled for a March 12 release date for PC, PlayStation 3 and XBox 360. By the looks of things, the developers are continuing the series' tradition of turning the tough guy talk and gunfire up to 11.
The good news is that the visuals, especially the backgrounds, in Kid Icarus: Uprising look amazing in this trailer.
The bad news is that the game is being delayed again. Nintendo promised at E3 that the much-anticipated title would be out for the Nintendo 3DS before 2012, but the game is not going to make that deadline, the company reported today.
Better late than lame (in a similar vein, I don't know if I saw any complaints when Bioware pushed Mass Effect 3 into next year), but the hype around Uprising seems to put it in the position of being the game that makes or breaks the 3DS.
Video embedded from the unofficial Nintendo 3DS channel on YouTube
The bad news is that the game is being delayed again. Nintendo promised at E3 that the much-anticipated title would be out for the Nintendo 3DS before 2012, but the game is not going to make that deadline, the company reported today.
Better late than lame (in a similar vein, I don't know if I saw any complaints when Bioware pushed Mass Effect 3 into next year), but the hype around Uprising seems to put it in the position of being the game that makes or breaks the 3DS.
Video embedded from the unofficial Nintendo 3DS channel on YouTube
If Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 are not enough Mario for you, there is Mario Tennis.
Mario Tennis is scheduled for release for the Nintendo 3DS handheld sometime in 2012, Nintendo reported today.
Here's a trailer:
Video embedded from the unofficial Nintendo 3DS channel on YouTube
Mario Tennis is scheduled for release for the Nintendo 3DS handheld sometime in 2012, Nintendo reported today.
Here's a trailer:
Video embedded from the unofficial Nintendo 3DS channel on YouTube
Here's a new trailer for Mario Kart 7, which in this writer's opinions appeared to be one of Nintendo's more promising looking games at E3 this year.
The game is scheduled for a Dec. 4 release in North America.
Video embedded from the unofficial Nintendo 3DS channel on YouTube
The game is scheduled for a Dec. 4 release in North America.
Video embedded from the unofficial Nintendo 3DS channel on YouTube
A bunch new media from Nintendo today on the 3DS. I'll break them up into individual posts to make everything easier to handle for those interested in Nintendo's (pick your bias) awesome/disappointing handheld.
First off is a new trailer for Super Mario 3D Land, which is set for a Nov. 13 release in North America.
Video embedded from the unofficial Nintendo 3DS channel on YouTube
First off is a new trailer for Super Mario 3D Land, which is set for a Nov. 13 release in North America.
Video embedded from the unofficial Nintendo 3DS channel on YouTube
Almost forgot to post these. If you're interested in Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, you'll want to see these new gameplay videos.
Elder Scrolls V game director Todd Howard, of Bethesda Softworks, walks players through the creation of the game's vast world, weapons and items and the developers approach to gameplay mechanics.
Links are below:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
.
Skyrim is scheduled for a Nov. 11 release for PC, PlayStation 3 and XBox 360.
Elder Scrolls V game director Todd Howard, of Bethesda Softworks, walks players through the creation of the game's vast world, weapons and items and the developers approach to gameplay mechanics.
Links are below:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
.
Skyrim is scheduled for a Nov. 11 release for PC, PlayStation 3 and XBox 360.
Max Payne 3 will come out in March 2012, Rockstar games. The game is set for release on PC, PlayStation 3 and XBox 360.
From Rockstar:
The announcement signifies not only a new chapter for the modern noir franchise, but yet another upcoming game with the letter "3" in the title.
Max Payne 3, meet Gears of War 3 (Sept. 20 release date), Battlefield 3 (Oct. 25 release date), Uncharted 3 (Nov. 1 release date), Modern Warfare 3 (Nov. 8 release date) and Mass Effect 3 (March 6 release date).
From Rockstar:
Still haunted by the memories of his traumatic past, Max begins a new life working private security protecting a wealthy industrialist and his family in Sao Paulo, Brazil. When gangs target the family under his protection, Max is forced to fight to save his clients and clear his name, in a bid to, once and for all, rid himself of the demons that have tortured him for far too long.
A true cross-studio collaboration between Rockstar Games' global development teams that picks up from where series creator Remedy Entertainment's Max Payne 2 left off, Max Payne 3 utilizes cutting edge technology for a seamless, cinematic action experience, incorporating the latest advances in Natural Motion physics as well as a brand new iteration of the Rockstar Advanced Game Engine, resulting in highly-refined gameplay with an extensive range of realistic weaponry, an intelligent cover system and sophisticated Bullet-Time mechanic
The announcement signifies not only a new chapter for the modern noir franchise, but yet another upcoming game with the letter "3" in the title.
Max Payne 3, meet Gears of War 3 (Sept. 20 release date), Battlefield 3 (Oct. 25 release date), Uncharted 3 (Nov. 1 release date), Modern Warfare 3 (Nov. 8 release date) and Mass Effect 3 (March 6 release date).
Nintendo reported selling more than 235,000 Nintendo 3DS units last month, and the company attributed a significant number of those sales to its recent major price drop for the handheld.
Nintendo cut the 3DS' MSRP from $249.99 to $169.99 on Aug. 12. Since the price cut, retailers moved roughly 185,000 3DS units. Nintendo's report of a 260 percent sales increase refers specifically to units sold during the last 19 months of August when compared to those sold during the last months of July.
Players who purchased a 3DS before the price drop became 3DS Ambassadors, a title that wouldn't mean much except for the free downloadable games. Titles released so far are all throwbacks to the NES era, such Super Mario Bros., Metroid, The Legend of Zelda and Wrecking Crew, the last being one of the earlier and more obscure Mario titles. Another 10 games from the Game Boy Advance era are set to be released later.
What will be the long-term impacts of the price drop? Will more new buyers flock to the 3DS startinf Friday, when stores begin selling the "flame red" colored model and Star Fox 64 3D? Will Kotaku will stop badmouthing the 3DS? Will Giant Bomb readers make their peace with plans to release a second circle-pad add-on? Will this writer ever finish the Adventure of Link, another of the NES downloads? I don't know.
That game was hard, man.
Nintendo cut the 3DS' MSRP from $249.99 to $169.99 on Aug. 12. Since the price cut, retailers moved roughly 185,000 3DS units. Nintendo's report of a 260 percent sales increase refers specifically to units sold during the last 19 months of August when compared to those sold during the last months of July.
Players who purchased a 3DS before the price drop became 3DS Ambassadors, a title that wouldn't mean much except for the free downloadable games. Titles released so far are all throwbacks to the NES era, such Super Mario Bros., Metroid, The Legend of Zelda and Wrecking Crew, the last being one of the earlier and more obscure Mario titles. Another 10 games from the Game Boy Advance era are set to be released later.
What will be the long-term impacts of the price drop? Will more new buyers flock to the 3DS startinf Friday, when stores begin selling the "flame red" colored model and Star Fox 64 3D? Will Kotaku will stop badmouthing the 3DS? Will Giant Bomb readers make their peace with plans to release a second circle-pad add-on? Will this writer ever finish the Adventure of Link, another of the NES downloads? I don't know.
That game was hard, man.
America - and the rest of the world - owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to George Lucas. The man who created the Star Wars movies is now doing his utmost to cure fans of their excessive devotion to the series.
Since releasing Star Wars in 1977, Lucas has earned countless billions (I could probably look up the number, but don't feel like it right now) from the series. Movie tickets. Toys. T-shirts. Toys. Home video. Toys that are slightly different than the last series of toys. Star Wars has been cocaine for nerds, and George Lucas has been its Tony Montana.
But what if Tony Montana developed a conscience? What if he survived rival drug lord Alejandro Sosa's assault - and that instead of being the basis for a video game I never had any inclination to play - his hypothetical survival became the basis for a new life? A new life devoted to freeing Miami's cocaine addicts from their crippling chemical dependency.
Thus, the only explanation for Lucas' decision to make the following change (confirmed in the New York Times) to Return of the Jedi is that series' own creator has decided people like Star Wars movies too much and need to find something new to do with their lives.
Since releasing Star Wars in 1977, Lucas has earned countless billions (I could probably look up the number, but don't feel like it right now) from the series. Movie tickets. Toys. T-shirts. Toys. Home video. Toys that are slightly different than the last series of toys. Star Wars has been cocaine for nerds, and George Lucas has been its Tony Montana.
But what if Tony Montana developed a conscience? What if he survived rival drug lord Alejandro Sosa's assault - and that instead of being the basis for a video game I never had any inclination to play - his hypothetical survival became the basis for a new life? A new life devoted to freeing Miami's cocaine addicts from their crippling chemical dependency.
Thus, the only explanation for Lucas' decision to make the following change (confirmed in the New York Times) to Return of the Jedi is that series' own creator has decided people like Star Wars movies too much and need to find something new to do with their lives.
Continue reading Lucas to fans: "Just say no.".
Here's a new video with the people at From Software, the Japanese developers of the upcoming Dark Souls and Armored Core V.
Dark Souls is being billed as a spiritual successor to Demon's Souls, a favorite of many PlayStation 3 owners and RPG fans who seemingly can't stop referring to its difficulty. Namco Bandai is banking on that reputation as a selling point, even making preparetodie.com the URL for the game's website.
Dark Souls' release date is scheduled for Oct. 4 for PlayStation 3 and XBox 360.
Dark Souls is being billed as a spiritual successor to Demon's Souls, a favorite of many PlayStation 3 owners and RPG fans who seemingly can't stop referring to its difficulty. Namco Bandai is banking on that reputation as a selling point, even making preparetodie.com the URL for the game's website.
Dark Souls' release date is scheduled for Oct. 4 for PlayStation 3 and XBox 360.
Bodycount carries itself as arcade-styled FPS that generically pits you against an enemy known only as 'the Target' in two major areas: a fictional country in West Africa and a city on the Chinese coast. Apparently, 'the Target' is supporting conflict throughout the world for some unknown reason and as a part of 'the Network', you are guided to stop them by a mysterious voice.
Continue reading Review: Bodycount (X360).
