Archive for March 25th, 2010

Shigeru Miyamoto knows what his priorities are at Nintendo, and he doesn't see online gaming as number one. Asked about an overall decline in game sales in 2009, the Mario and Zelda franchise mastermind blamed a shortage of fun new products rather than pointing at the global economy. The recently announced Nintendo 3DS system will be a platform to watch to see if Miyamoto's theories hold true, as he seems to be looking back to the Wii's success in an attempt to recapture that scale of traction for his company.

"The fact that in 2009 we were not able to sell more than we did in 2008 was simply that in comparison, we were not able to produce fun-enough products," Miyamoto told The Economist. "There are always ups and downs in the business. As long as we create unique and unprecedented experiences with video games, there should be nothing to worry about."

The industry sage acknowledged criticism that Nintendo has lagged behind its competitors in the console world when it comes to network play, but he cited improvements made on the Wii as evidence that they have taken steps to cultivate multiplayer games in recent years, even if online multiplayer elements fell behind entertainment on his priority list.

"Starting from the launch of the Wii, we became more proactive," Miyamoto explained. "I think it is obvious that when everyone is connected online, there will be enormous opportunity for me to create something really unique. But my job is to try to entertain as many people as possible, and I see all Wii owners as the audience. Of course, we have 'Mario Kart,' which can be played online by multiple people. So we are gradually expanding the experiences using the internet, but my own personal focus is to try to entertain people, even if they are not connected to the Internet. That is my first priority."

Nintendo has won its victories this decade on its own terms thus far, so I don't see much reason to doubt Miyamoto's resolve looking ahead to 2011.

Do you agree with Miyamoto's outlook on Nintendo's strategy and the game industry broadly? How do you think Nintendo will perform in the coming years? Share your predictions in the comment section below.

Netflix took its time coming to the Wii, but then again, Nintendo's console as been the lone rebel in this generation's fight for multimedia supremacy. It won't be a holdout much longer, however, now that Netflix has announced that discs similar to those used for subscribers with PlayStation 3's have already shipped. Those discs will enable streaming movie functionality without any addition charge to Wii owners who already have Netflix account and an Internet connection.

"We are in the final phase of getting ready for the launch of streaming to Wii," Netflix marketing VP Jessie Becker announced on The Official Netflix Blog. "Today, we shipped out instant streaming discs for the Wii to some of our Netflix members. Their feedback will ensure that we deliver a great experience to everyone when we launch."

Anyone who paid attention to Netflix's rollout on the PS3 should recognize their plan of attack on the Wii. They apparently liked the system enough to try to it again.

"Instantly watching movies and TV episodes from Netflix via Wii will be available soon at no additional cost – all you need is a Netflix unlimited plan starting at $8.99 a month, a Wii console and a broadband Internet connection," Becker wrote. "If you have reserved your disc already, you don’t need to do anything - we will send you an email as soon as we ship the disc."

What I really want to see now is a side-by-side comparison of Netflix on the Wii with the miracle-espousing VD-W3 Wii HDMI Upscaler Processor and without. Then we'll see what it can or cannot do.

Are you going to give Netflix a try on your Wii? How do you think it will work? Share your expectations in the comment section below.

"Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2" faced its fair share of outrage when it launched last fall, specifically on the PC, where the game's developers decided to pass on setting up dedicated servers in favor of the IWnet matchmaking system. A quarter of a million signatures on an online petition didn't stop "MW2" from becoming a profit juggernaut, though, and leading up to the new "Stimulus Package" map pack release on March 30th, Infinity Ward says even the haters stayed around to play after the game shipped.

"You know once it hits a certain level of popularity in the mainstream that's when people start to stand back," Infinity Ward community manager Robert Bowling told CVG. "But that doesn't mean they stop playing. I mean the numbers show that these guys are still logging on every night."

Given the billion-dollar sales numbers "MW2" brought in, I don't doubt that many of the same players who complained on message boards during those opening weeks were also logging in. It would be nice to know what percentage of online petition signers still opted to buy the game anyway, though. I'm curious to know how easy it is to tell where the overlap lies. Nevertheless, Bowling credited the game's high profile for the backlash it received.

"I think when any property is number one at anything [it will face backlash]," he said. "Whether it's the number one move at the Box Office or the number one most played game online, like 'Modern Warfare 2,' you're going to be up against that instinct."

Do you think "MW2" would have seen the same criticism it did if it weren't a high-profile release? Was the online petition deserved? Share your own thoughts in the comment section below.

Early this morning, G4 ran a story about how "Halo: Reach" will offer persistent, customizable characters for both multiplayer and single player. It's called the "Player Investment System" but that's a fancy term for what they're offering.

Basically as you play matches online or play through the campaign, you'll earn in-game credits which you can use to unlock pieces of armor in "Halo: Reach." The armor you unlock has no effect on your abilities, it's just a visual difference.

We've Seen This Before

The system's closest analog would probably be "Rainbow Six Vegas 2," which let players earn experience in single and multiplayer. Experience unlocked new customization options, but those customizations included new weapons, more durable armor, elements that actually impact gameplay. Bungie went the other way by making all of the unlocks purely cosmetic.

It's no different from "Halo 3." In "Halo 3" you unlocked armor by playing online matches and the campaign. It was more tied into your ranks and achievements, and you couldn't choose which armor you wanted to unlock when, but the end result was exactly the same as what they're proposing.

Not A Big Enough Carrot

And here's the problem with that: It's not enough. Unlocking a new rank, or a new piece of armor isn't enough to justify me playing for another hour, giving me that "Just one more match" feel I get with games like "Bad Company 2" and "Modern Warfare 2." There's the whole carrot-on-a-stick mentality in online games these days, and what Bungie is offering isn't a big enough carrot.

What Could've Been Done

What I'd like to see are more meaningful unlocks which work with your style of play. I'm gonna propose something that would change the foundation of "Halo" gameplay, but I think it's time: No more weapon spawn locations on the map. You should be able to spawn with the weapon you feel most comfortable with, or you think is best in the given situation. Instead, you have folks fighting over sniper rifles or having to use weapons they're unskilled at. Your starting weapon could be unlocked via credits, so if you're more of a close-range player you could focus just on shotguns and SMGs.

Take it a step further and you can look at unlockable armor which actually affects gameplay. Lightweight armor which increases run speed (or allows you to sprint, as seen in the trailer), heavy armor which is slower but more durable. Again, this is all about putting the control in the hands of players and letting them decide what style works best for them.

Better Luck Next Time

Now granted, this is a massive overhaul of the "Halo" franchise that simply won't happen in "Reach," but I think it's due. Players want to feel like the 6 hours they put into the game on Saturday has some impact on how they play on Sunday, and a visual armor upgrade (especially for a game that's almost entirely played from the first person) just isn't enough of a reward.

I realize what I'm inviting here: A large amount of hate from "Halo" fans who think I should just go and play "Modern Warfare 2." But I feel like there may be a group of you out there who feel like these sort of changes are due for the franchise, and that drastic shifts need to be made to keep "Halo" as addictive and entertaining as it once was. I also realize that there are elements of "Reach" that have yet to be revealed, and my issues may be mitigated by other features in the game.

Anyway, if you have thoughts one way or the other about the player investment system in "Halo: Reach", lemme know in the comments.

Long before Disney got brave with Junction Point and "Epic Mickey" to allow its characters to be portrayed in a non-traditional way, Square Enix broke ground with their "Kingdom Hearts" games. While "Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep" will finally make its way to North American PlayStation Portables this year, the full-on sequel "Kingdom Hearts 3" has remained just off of public radars. The game is in development, though the series' creator says "Final Fantasy Versus XIII" could slow it up.

“About the next title, 'Kingdom Hearts 3' depends on 'Final Fantasy XIII Versus,' but development of the next title is already underway," director Tetsuya Nomura said in a guidebook interview translated by HeartStation.org. "There are two titles other than 'Kingdom Hearts 3' in conception, and I think I’ll release one within this year."

Additionally, Nomura said he wants to see multiple main characters appear in "KH3," which unsurprisingly won't conclude the franchise.

"As from next year, I want to put out a title with multiple main characters," the translation reads. "The series won’t end in 'Kingdom Hearts 3,' more like the conclusion of the Xehanort saga."

Disneyphiles may barely notice a Wii-exclusive "Epic Mickey" launch if Square Enix manages to get a PS3-exclusive "Kingdom Hearts" game out in the same season. We'll just have to wait and see how closely these releases coincide, but the next year in gaming looks like it will have plenty of Disney to go around.

Which are you more excited about, "Epic Mickey" or "Kingdom Hearts 3"? Are you glad to know that more "KH" games are coming? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

The first "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World" trailer has been unleashed and there's little doubt that the project is very focused on capturing the visual style of the comic series, complete with "POW!"s "WHUD!"s and "WHAM!"s at appropriate times.

Fans of the comics will also recall that the series has a ton of video game references throughout (Scott Pilgrim's band, for example, is called "Sex Bob-omb"), and the trailer even hints at this with a "Street Fighter"-style "KO!" echo at the end of one of the flick's fights.

There's definitely a lot of promise with this one, especially with "Hot Fuzz" and "Shaun of the Dead" director, Edgar Wright, at the helm.

For more on "Scott Pilgrim," check out Splashpage.MTV.com.

Blizzard Entertainment's annual gaming smorgasbord has become a rite of passage for "World of WarCraft," "StarCraft" and "Diablo" fans the world over. This year's BlizzCon will once again take place at the Anaheim Convention Center, with the festivities running from October 22nd to the 23rd.

Expectations, as usual, are running high this year. Those dates put it right around the theoretical launch of "World of WarCraft: Catalclysm" and "StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty" should already be unleashed on the world. The big question, though, is whether we'll finally get a release date for "Diablo 3," a game that I, for one, will buy a new computer to play.

Worth noting that BlizzCon sells out every year, so if you're planning on taking the pilgrimage, make sure you stay tuned to Blizzard's site in the months leading up to the show.

Nintendo denies that they have in-house plans for a Wii HD upgrade. They just don't feel HD compatibility alone will be worth their time. Such skepticism has not hindered VDIGI, however, and the third-party electronics maker now claims to have a device that will upgrade a Wii's video output to a full 1080p. It's called the VD-W3 Wii HDMI Upscaler Processor. Now I'm the one getting skeptical.

The VD-W3 Wii HDMI Upscaler Processor supports output at 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p, 1280x1024, 1440x900 and 1650x1050 at refresh rate of 59.94Hz, according to the specs posted on GoNintendo. The part where I get confused comes when trying to understand what this Upscaler does that a true HD display isn't already doing to to the Wii's 480p output signal. Beyond cleaning up the signal for HD presentation as a decent HD monitor or TV will already do, I'm not sure I follow what what this additional intermediary gadget brings to the table.

I'm no hardware expert, but I'm open to being wowed after seeing this thing operational. The benefits just aren't totally apparent from reading capabilities on the stat sheet.

Do you want to give the VDIGI Upscaler a try? Do you think it will augment your Wii-playing experience? Share your reactions in the comment section below.

Gangster wannabes will have to wait until late this Summer before they can be Made. Take-Two and 2K Games just announced that "Mafia 2" will be releasing on August 24th. I've seen the game a few times and it's definitely on my list of most anticipated titles for the year. Great graphics and great storytelling (a hallmark for the franchise) all point to a title that shouldn't be missed.

If you happen to find yourself at PAX East this weekend, "Mafia 2" will be publicly playable for the first time, so you won't have to take my word for it.

Gas Powered Games' "Supreme Commander" took the real-time strategy genre and packed a more epic experience in. Your armies were larger, as were the battlefields, and so your tactics had to be deeper and often cover more than one front. Individual unit commands were still an option, but sound tactics depended on grand-scale management of forces. "Supreme Commander 2" improves on its predecessor in just about every way... including how it delivers what few before it have: a fun console RTS.

The Basics

Does anyone actually pay close attention to RTS narratives? There are three campaigns in "Supreme Commander 2," one for each faction. The basic setup posits that humans eventually spread beyond the confines of their home planet, forming the Earth Empire. The scale of the thing eventually grew too large to manage and a civil war broke out, leaving three separate factions in its wake: the United Earth Federation, the Illuminate and the Cybran Nation. The three groups formed an alliance in the previous game's expansion pack, "Forged Alliance." Those good vibes have gone away now, however, so it's back to the battlefield for all.

The Highs

Get Your Tech On
The tiered technology of "Supreme Commander" has been replaced in the sequel by a unified tech tree. Points build up over time, with research moving faster for each dedicated Research Facility you build. These points are then spent on a tree broken up into subcategories covering the different types of units. It is through the tech tree that additional build options are unlocked -- including massive experimental units -- and existing units are upgraded.

Console-Friendly!
The controls in "Supreme Commander 2" are surprisingly friendly to console play. Aside from the baffling absence of options like rotating buildings before you place them and destroying created structures that is. If you can look past the diminished complexity however, what you're left with is a lean set of options that any armchair general can put to work on crushing the opposition.

Crawl Before You Walk
There are three campaigns in "Supreme Commander 2," one for each faction. They must also be played in order, from UEF to Illuminate to Cybran. There's a gradual ramping up in difficulty which feels just right. By the time you finish a given campaign, you know the associated army well enough to capably handle yourself in the more free-form skirmish and competitive online modes, which is where the game really shines.

The Lows

War Is... Ugly
"Supreme Commander 2" certainly isn't the worst-looking game out there, but it feels like a visual step down from its predecessor. The trade-off is that, no matter how many units you're fielding and how much action is unfolding, it runs very smoothly. But if you game for eye candy, prepare to be disappointed.

Armchair Generals For Dummies
The move from tiered unit construction to a more general tech tree is one example of how "Supreme Commander 2" offers a simpler experience that its predecessor. Resource gathering is revamped, battlefields are smaller, the action moves quicker... clearly, someone as Gas Powered Games was trying to be mindful of console player. This dumbing down of the warfare isn't necessarily a dealbreaker, but fans of the first game who appreciated the complexity are in for a big disappointment.

Final Word

"Supreme Commander 2" is an unusual sequel. Rather than delivering an experience that is better or worse than that of its predecessor, it is simply... different. "Supreme Commander" was all about the challenge of balancing grand-scale warfare with unit-level micromanagement. "Supreme Commander 2," on the other hand, sacrifices some of that scale for faster action and tighter gameplay. The original game actually worked well enough (and better than most RTS titles) in the console arena; the sequel goes one step further. "Supreme Commander 2" strikes a nice balance between complexity and flexibility, making it an ideal strategy game for console gamers.