Author: Jeff Morgan (Page 205 of 260)

      Rhythm games begin their inevitable decline

      December 21, 2009 /

      Rock Band isn't so fun anymore.The world’s love affair with plastic instruments was bound to end some time and it looks as though that time is now. According to the latest NPD data, rhythm games are struggling, showing weak sales despite new genre releases like DJ Hero and The Beatles: Rock Band.

      As always, things are relative. The games may not be doing as well as they were, but Michael Pachter still thinks the niche will level out somewhere around $500 million in sales a year. That’s a pretty little penny, even for a company like Activision. Developers need to pick their ventures wisely, though. DJ Hero tanked. Hard. In a shrinking market that’s the last thing you want, especially after paying for the likes of Jay-Z and Eminem. Even The Beatles: Rock Band undersold expectations by 200,000 units.

      Source: Reuters

      Activision, Nintendo Wii, PS3, Xbox 360

      Is WiiRelax the Vitality Sensor’s killer app?

      December 20, 2009 /

      Wii Vitality Sensor.Back in April, an Italian company called Siliconera announced “Wii Relax,” a product complete with web pages and press info. That info has since disappeared, and Nintendo has now officially trademarked the name, though it removes the space to form WiiRelax, in Europe.

      As Destructoid reports, the trademark is good for PAL territories. I hate to say I think this will be a real game, but I do. The question remains, why? Is Nintendo trying to encourage the already pervasive drug culture that comes along with a lot of games. And how do you determine who wins? Will it always be the guy with the Volcano?

      My curiosity pretty much stops with theory, though. I have absolutely zero interest in playing a game associated with the Vitality Sensor. Sure, motion control is fun, but even then it’s more of a mental exercise in timing, control, and trouncing the competition. I don’t need a video game to help me fall asleep.

      Development, Nintendo Wii, Previews

      EA sounds uneasy about Tiger Woods franchise

      December 19, 2009 /

      Tiger Woods in the rough.Companies are dropping their Tiger Woods sponsorships like crazy in light of his latest press explosion. To think, all it takes is a twelve-woman affair to turn hundreds of millions of dollars into thin air. EA was an exception, one of a rare group of corporations willing to wait for this all to blow over.

      “Our strong relationship with Tiger for more than a decade remains unchanged. We respect Tiger’s privacy, we wish him a fast recovery and we look forward to seeing him back on the golf course.” That’s from a company statement on December first. After his decision to take indefinite leave from his sport of choice, though, EA sounds a little uneasy about Tiger.

      “We respect that this is a very difficult, and private, situation for Tiger and his family,” said a company statement to the New Britain Herald. “At this time, the strategy for our Tiger Woods PGA Tour business remains unchanged.” The language is ambiguous enough that EA could do anything, which is probably a smart play. Honestly, unless Tiger Woods 2011 grants players an extra golf bag with fourteen spots for women, I don’t think I’ll be buying.

      Source: Go Nintendo

      Development, EA

      Proof that 3D gaming is a long way off

      December 19, 2009 /

      XpanD shutter glasses.The other day, Sony said it would rely on motion control, 3D gaming, and the PlayStation Network to drive sales in 2010. To me, 3D gaming is a pipe dream, at least for the next five years or so, and today I’ve got a little proof.

      XpanD, the company that produced the glasses for Avatar has said a pair of their shutter glasses will start at $70 a pair and run up to $150. That’s on top of the premiums you’ll pay for the TV, though some sets will likely ship with glasses included.

      For a family of four, you’re looking at about $300 just for the glasses. Granted, your average family of four won’t be gaming in 3D together, but think about having your friends over. The expense of the hardware is going to dictate that you enjoy your 3D games alone, a trend the industry has been moving away from for the last decade.

      Until costs come down, there’s no way Sony can expect real revenue from 3D next year. It’s just too expensive.

      Development, PS3

      Playstation Home reaches 10 million users

      December 19, 2009 /

      Playstation Home logo.Despite the service’s non-priority status, Playstation Home has hit a significant milestone this week. According to a press release this morning, the place “where users and developers meet” has hit 10 million users. The news comes as Home has opened new spaces recently, including one for Uncharted 2.

      “Every new game space enhances the overall experience for consumers, offering more variety, more choice and more enjoyment from a PlayStation Home session,” said Dan Hill, Sony’s European Home business manager. “The more game spaces there are, the better it gets, and the number of spaces keeps on growing. For developers, there’s no better way of driving interest in their titles than giving fans a hands-on, interactive experience based around the game itself.”

      Well, a hands-on, interactive experience with the game itself always seemed sufficient to me. Really, I have very little interest in Home as any sort of serious marketing platform. It might be a nice way for Sony to make a few bucks if they can properly monetize it, but I can’t imagine the value for developers being as high as Hill makes it out to be.

      Development, PS3

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