Monday, January 4, 2010

Its Rumoured Microsoft Is Either Neutering The Natal Processor Or Removing It Plus Halo Reach Won't Use Natal


On the 4 Guys 1up podcast from 25/12/2009, in a discussion between the host, David Ellis, and guest, John Davison, Microsoft's Natal was brought up. The conversation starts at 1:17:05 into the podcast.
David Ellis spoke about a rumour he had heard regarding Natal and how Microsoft may neuter/remove the processor in Natal to reach a cheap price point.


“Microsoft is paring back natal to reach that price point that has been kinda announced out there. Trying to launch it sub 100, sub 70, sub 60 trying to hit 49.99 with it, and as part of that they are having to pair it down”

And that the Xbox 360 Main Processor will have to be used instead. however, he pointed out that this move is not welcomed by some of the Natal developers as it will impact the games they are working on.

"my understanding, this is rumour cause its not 100% sourced, but my understanding is the processor is either being neutered or completely taken out of it and those CPU cycles are going to have to come out of the processor of the 360 now.
Some of the people that were saying similar things to it were saying that it made them less interested in making things for natal as that would mean sacrificing CPU cycles from the the main processor in the system."

David Ellis goes even further to suggest that the games we'll see come out for Natal won't be the big budget Xbox 360 games like Halo or Burnout or even small titles like Katamari. it'll be the smaller games like the Breakout thing they showed.

“they showed some kinda shareware kinda throwaway games. Like the break out thing,. I think that's were they are going, that's the direction. Its not the burnout title, is not a new Halo, its not even Katamari”

When John Davidson asked about Halo Reach Using Natal, David Ellis says its not.

“Reach is supposed to use it?”
“no its not”
“no?”
“Reach is not using it”

There is no official word from Microsoft and this is just rumour at this point.


This Weeks WiiWare, DSiWare, And Virtual Console Releases

Here are the USA WiiWare, DSiWare, And Virtual Console Releases.

Virtual Console

Final Fight 3
this is the Super Nintendo Version of the game. it is a 1-2 player game and it costs 800 Wii Points. in the game you play as 1 of 4 fighters as you try to take down the Skull Cross gang and bring peace back to Metro City.


WiiWare

Heron: Steam Machine
this is a 1-4 player game and it costs 500 Wii Points. in the game you have to keep gauges on a machine stable by connecting pipes. if a gauge goes critical, the machine blows up.


Pub Darts
this is a 1-4 player game that costs 500 Wii Points. you use the WiiMote to mimic the dart throwing action. you play in a local pub where you have a choice of different dart games like 501 and cricket. you can create your own profile, select a avatar pic from a selection.


Fast Draw Showdown
This is a 1-2 player game and it costs 500 Wii Points. use your WiiMote as a gun and shoot the enemy before they shoot you. you don't just need speed to beat the enemy, you have to have accuracy also.


DSiWare

Trajectile
this is a 1 player game only and it costs 500 DSi Points. in the game you have to line up your shot and launch a flurry of missles at enemy targets. you can bounce the missiles of walls to get them to reach their targets. there are 3 different types of missiles available, each with their own characteristics.


Animal Puzzle Adventure
This is a 1 player only game and it costs 500 DSi Points. this is a puzzle game where you have to lead animals to their respective barns on a map. there are 10 stages per level and 5 levels in total.


Hell's Kitchen Vs.
this is a 1-2 player game and it costs 800 DSi Points. the game is based on the USA TV Show. two players go up against each other in a kitchen challenge. there are time management tests where you will be judged and rated by Gordon Ramsay.


Press Release

Should old acquaintance be forgot? We can't remember. But what we can remember is that this week's downloadable lineup from Nintendo asks a lot of questions. The Nintendo DSiWare™ service wonders if you can master missiles with Trajectile™, lead animals to their proper pens with Animal Puzzle Adventure or match wits with TV chef Gordon Ramsay in Hell's Kitchen Vs. The WiiWare™ service puts you in charge of maximizing your rubber duckie output with Heron: Steam Machine, asks you to aim for the bull's-eye with Pub Darts and wonders if you have an itchy trigger finger with Fast Draw Showdown. Finally, Final Fight™ 3 on the Virtual Console™ service makes you wonder if the fight is ever really final.

Nintendo DSiWare

Trajectile
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: Trajectile is a puzzle game that's as much about firepower as it is about brainpower, requiring you to line up your shot and launch a flurry of missiles at enemy targets. Three types of missiles are at your disposal, each one with its own characteristics - but all of them can bounce off walls on their path to smash, blast or drill through enemies and blocks. Along the way, you'll find item blocks just waiting to be destroyed so that you can obtain special power-ups ... and cause even more destruction. Be careful though, as missile type and position are predetermined and you get only a limited number of launches per stage. Complete multiple classes containing numerous individual stages, earning medals when you clear stages in fewer than the given number of turns. Are you ready to take aim at becoming a Trajectile master?

Animal Puzzle Adventure
Publisher: Aksys Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Mild Suggestive Themes
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Animal Puzzle Adventure is a simple puzzle game where you have to lead various animals to their respective barns placed on the map, while avoiding pitfalls and cliffs and using the objects on the field to your advantage. There are 10 stages per level with a total of five levels, creating 50 stages in all. After clearing a stage, you unlock a piece of a photo. Once you clear all 10 stages in a level, the wallpaper for that level becomes unlocked and you can then view it in the gallery. With so many puzzles to unravel, you'll find yourself immersed in the puzzle-riffic world of Animal Puzzle Adventure.

Hell's Kitchen Vs.
Publisher: Ludia
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Hell's Kitchen Vs. is based on the U.S. TV phenomenon where world-renowned chef Gordon Ramsay puts aspiring chefs through rigorous culinary tests. The game recreates the show's pressure-cooker atmosphere as two players battle head-to-head in an arcade-style kitchen challenge. Try to conquer your opponent in each time-management test, while taking the heat of Gordon Ramsay judging and rating your performance at every stage of the game.

WiiWare

Heron: Steam Machine
Publisher: Triangle Studios
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points™
Description: Heron: Steam Machine is a game about a factory where rubber duckies are being produced by a large steam engine. On this steam engine, there are four different gauges which you will have to watch carefully. By connecting the pipes, you will earn points and relieve some of the pressure, keeping the machine running just a little bit longer. If one of the gauges reaches its maximum, the machine will eventually blow up, and the game is over. If you were lucky enough to achieve a high score, make sure you enter your name in the list so other players can compete with you. In Multiplayer, you are able to cooperate with friends in maintaining the steam machine. When you play with two, three or four players, the screen is divided into sections with different background colors. Each player is able to solve his or her own part of the puzzle. Players are restricted to their own section of the screen, so you will have to work together to make the pipes fit properly. (Additional accessories are required for multiplayer play and are sold separately.)

Pub Darts
Publisher: Big Blue Bubble Inc.
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Alcohol Reference
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Pub Darts is a simple darts simulation which uses the Wii Remote™ controller's unique controls to mimic dart-throwing motion. The game is set in a local pub where the players will settle in to play some of their favorite dart games, including 501, Cricket, Around the Clock, Killers and Baseball. Controls function just like throwing a real dart. Players are able to create their own personal profiles, including selecting their avatar image from a collection of creative characters and the design they would like displayed on the dart flights.

Fast Draw Showdown
Publisher: Digital Leisure Inc.
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) - Alcohol Reference, Violence
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: When it comes to fast draw there're only two types of people: the quick ... and the dead! Now you have the chance to find out where you stand, or lie, as the case may be. You'll go up against the best quick draws in the business, including one of the world's fastest, Wes Flowers. Unholster your Wii Remote controller and show 'em who the fastest draw really is, in this live-action shooter. You can even take on a friend in multiplayer modes, and see which of you has the quickest draw. You'll need some serious speed and awesome accuracy to take on these gunslingers ... so get ready for some real fast draw action.

Virtual Console

Final Fight 3
Original platform: Super NES™
Publisher: Capcom USA
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) - Animated Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: Following the defeat and subsequent disappearance of the Mad Gear Gang, a small group known only as "Skull Cross" is responsible for a new uprising of vandalism, terrorism and death. The government of Metro City is at a complete loss. Metro City's mayor, Mike Haggar, and Guy are prepared to take on the new gang, but before they can act, the door bursts open, revealing Lucia, Cody's old friend. "Metro City is under attack!" she shouts, "Skull Cross is loose, and they've got something up their sleeves." But before any of them can move, a mysterious man appears in the doorway. "My name is Dean," he says. "I know Skull Cross inside-and-out, and I hate them more than anything. I can help you, and you can help me. We must go!" All four fighters vow to bring Skull Cross down. It will be a tough assignment, and may even be their final fight!

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visitWii.com or NintendoDSi.com.

Sega Announce A PC Version Of Sonic & Sega's All Star Racing And Release New Screenshots


Sega have revealed that there will be a PC version of Sonic & Sega's All Star Racing. no definitive release date was provided, but they do have it down as coming out in early 2010. Sega have also released new screenshots for the Wii, DS, And PS3/360 versions of the game. all the screenshots appear to be in-game and show many of the characters and their karts in the game. a few different tracks are also shown.

Wii Screenshots


DS Screenshots


PS3/Xbox 360 Screenshots



EA Is Going To Shut Down Online Servers For Numerous Old Games From February 2nd


EA has announced that on February 2nd, many game online servers will be shut down. the following games will have their online servers turned off and will not be playable.

UEFA Champions League 07 PC and x360
Facebreaker x360 and PS3
Fantasy Football 09 x360 and PS3
FIFA 07 PSP, PS2, PC
Fight Night Round 3 PS2
Madden 08 Wii
Madden 08 PC
Madden 09 Xbox1
Madden 09 Wii and PSP
March Madness 07 x360
NBA 07 PSP, x360
NBA 08 PS2, PSP, Wii
NBA 09 Wii - Europe only
NBA Street (2007) PS3 and x360
NCAA Football 08 PS2
NCAA Football 09 PS2
NASCAR 08 PS2
NASCAR 09 PS2
NASCAR 09 PS3 and x360 - Europe Only
NFL Tour PS3 and x360
NHL 07 PSP and x360
NHL 08 PC
Tiger Woods 07 PC
Madden 09 x360 and PS3
Madden 07 Xbox 360

From CVG


Aardman Animations Have Done 2 More Animations For The Legend Of Zelda Spirit Tracks Using Flipnote Studio

Aardman Animation have done 2 more animations using Flipnote Studio. these two are done for The Legend Of Zelda Spirit Tracks. The first animation shows of teamwork in a dungeon, whilst the second animation Shows Link running and getting his picture taken.






Tecmo Have Released Screenshots And A Trailer For Quantum Theory On The Playstation 3

Tecmo have released screenshots and a trailer for the Playstation 3 version of Quantum Theory. the trailer has a mix of both in-game action and in-game cutscenes. the trailer focuses on the world, the monsters and battling in the game. small snippets of story are also revealed in the trailer. the screenshots are also a mix of in-game action and in-game cutscenes. these screenshots focus more on the shooting in the game, showing how the cover system works, some of the different weapons, some of the monsters, and the HUD showing the current weapon and ammo.



Quantum Theory



Tecmo Have Released Screenshots And A Trailer For Monster Rancher On The Nintendo DS

Tecmo have released new screenshots and a trailer for their upcoming Nintendo DS game, Monster Ranger DS. All of the screenshots are in-game and show many of the different aspects of the game. there is battling, monster creating, training, and much more. the top screen is where most of the action happens with the bottom screen used for maps, information, and menus.
The Trailer for the game features alot of in-game footage focuses on aspects on the game like training, breeding, creating, raising of the monters.




Monster Rancher DS