Sony makes their Move, will gamers follow?

March 10, 2010: A day that will live in infamy. The crumbling of an empire began while the rise of the new king was whispered about in hushed tones. Truly, history was made on this most hallowed and memorable day. Hyperbole aside, it was the day Sony officially unveiled their motion control device at the 2010 Game Developer’s Conference. Those who missed it should know it’s named the Playstation Move, and it caught the attention of the gaming world as planned. Unsurprisingly, the device shares a lot of the same qualities as Nintendo’s Wii remote, right down to the PR pictures (see the image below). Even Nintendo’s Reggie Fils-Amie noticed this, saying he would be “embarassed” to have Nintendo produce such a copycat. There’s no denying Sony is attempting to capture the same market the Big N has had so much success with since the 2006 launch battle, but is it too little too late? Probably, but they’re not doing themselves any favors at this point by ignoring a couple of key ideas that helped their competition get off to and maintain such a massive lead.

Move

While Sony showed off a few games during unveiling, they failed to show off what is commonly referred to in the industry as a killer app. For those not in the know, a killer app is the game that is supposed to both show off what your system is capable of and, perhaps more importantly, catch on as a talking point in popular culture to help build hype and drive sales. Look at what Halo: Combat Evolved did for the Xbox — there would likely be no Xbox 360 today without that game. The Nintendo 64 had Super Mario 64; even the Natal had the Milo demonstration at E3 2009 to capture the imagination of the public (whether it’s within its capabilities another discussion). Those great games and demonstrations aside, what Sony is truly lacking is their Wii Sports. What will drive the Move should be intuitive to pick-up use, be fun to play in a group setting, and most of all come standard with every Move package — just like Wii Sports did for the Wii. Move Party! is probably the closest thing they have at the moment (click for a video), but cutting hair and catching baby birds just doesn’t have the same appeal as a four-player match of bowling, or a rousing and intense match of tennis.

Another way Sony could help the Move succeed is simply by shoving it down our throats, gamers and developers alike. The Move will be relegated to secondary and niche status unless it comes with every Playstation 3 from the device’s launch and on. Looking back at Sony’s previous peripheral profile will show this to be true. The PS2 hard drive and network adapter were supposed to take the system to the next level, regardless of whether it needed it or not. They met with tepid response at market due to a lack of public interest, and it’s Sony’s fault for that. There was no reason for the public to grab them because so few games required their use. Looking back a little further reveals a successful blueprint. The Dual Shock controller was a hit on the original Playstation because developers made creative use of its capabilities (Ape Escape was seriously innovative for its time) and because Sony used it to replace the original controller entirely. Can the Move replace the Dual Shock 3? No, not unless they intend to stop making traditional games altogether. Either way, it can’t be a fringe option if there’s any hope for its success, either.

Move

One thing the Move does that the Wii doesn’t is make use of a camera, namely the Playstation Eye. Allowing the player to actually step into the game Nick Arcade-style is something any video game player has imagined; this is a positive step in that direction. It’s also pretty neat how the controller in your hand can be made to look like you’re holding anything. A sword, a baseball bat, a tennis racket, an octopus… whatever fits the game can be put in the palm of your hands. It’s here Sony has something special, and it’s something they should make the most of. There’s a good chance, though, that they unintentionally shot this aspect in the foot years ago with the Eye Toy on the PS2. People have seen this type of functionality before, and they didn’t bite then either. Even the PS3 version hasn’t met with much success. Granted, neither alone could show you on the screen with an axe in your hand, but it looks similar enough for people to make a connection.

When all is said and done, the Move will likely be seen as a mildly successful “me too” device that failed to live up to its potential. If Sony throws a good potion of their weight behind it there’s a good chance it could see some traction, but it’s more likely that this is serving as a test to see what can be done with motion controls in the inevitable Playstation 4. Sony’s new device is no Wii killer and they only have themselves to blame — Nintendo’s blue ocean will not opt to move on.

Street Fighter IV

sf4logoGenre: Fighting
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Players: 1 – 2
Retail Price: $9.99
Availability: iPhone

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It’s hard not to be skeptical about playing a fighting game on a platform with no physical buttons, so when Capcom said they were bringing Street Fighter IV to the iPhone, I can honestly say I wasn’t expecting much. What I came to find after out after only a short period of time with the game, is that Capcom had done an amazing job of bringing one of the best fighting games of recent years to a platform that by all means, shouldn’t be able to handle it. The visuals are astounding and the game plays far better than you would expect at first glance.

The most impressive thing you’ll notice right away is how great this game looks. Although the game only features eight characters, each of them has been shrunk down to look and perform just like their larger console counterparts. The gameplay is incredibly fluid and I was surprised at multiple points and how well the game played with the amount of action during each fight. Capcom has brought all of the super and ultra combos, and they look just as amazing on the reduced size screen. The only time I really noticed any slowdown was right at the start of a match or when my phone was receiving emails or text messages, otherwise the gameplay was tight and fluid the entire time.

All your favorite moves on the small screen

All your favorite moves on the small screen

I think the real question on everyone’s mind though is how well the game plays since you obviously have no buttons to press. What you’ll find is that the onscreen joystick and buttons are extremely responsive and after a little practice allow you to perform all of your favorite moves. The first thing you’ll probably notice is the the amount of buttons has been decreased and only includes four buttons kick, punch, focus, and special. The special button is optional, but if you really want to be able to keep up with the action you’ll probably want to play with it turned on. Once you figure out how to use the reduced button arrangement you’ll quickly be taking on all challengers CPU and Human alike.

Although the game looks great and plays better than you probably thought, it could have probably used a few additional characters. Only eight fighters made the jump from the console to the iPhone but hopefully Capcom can address the issue with an update somewhere down the road. Additionally you’ll also notice that the title is a bit lacking in gameplay modes. You can tackle the standard tournament mode, or if you’re still getting used to the controls you might want to make your way to the Dojo for some additional training. There is also a Free-Sparring mode that allows you to take on your choice of opponent, or the Training Room that lets you practice the moves you’ve learned against any character and allows you to set your opponents actions and guard. If you’re looking for some multiplayer action you can play locally with an opponent but there is no WiFi or 3g support.

For an iPhone game the $9.99 price tag can be a bit high, but if any game so far has been worth that amount this is it. Capcom has taken one of the best fighting game franchises and brought it to a platform no one would expect it to succeed on. All of the fun and excitement you’re used to on the big screen has been shrunk down into an impressive package that fighting fans should definitely check out. The only real downside to this game is the lack of characters and gameplay modes. With only eight characters and no real additional gameplay options besides your standard tournament and training modes, you’ll probably want to find some friends with the game if you want to extend the replay value.

Torchlight may hit consoles in the future

Torchlight

Diablo clones are surprisingly few and far between, and even then, they rarely hit consoles. Torchlight is the latest to take up the mantle, PC-only status and all. However, it may be leaving that last part in the dust if Runic Games’ CEO, Max Schaefer, is to be believed.

Schaefer was the guest on a podcast called The Rumble Pack (as reported by Game Informer) and all but guaranteed the game would be hitting consoles in the future. “We’re going to put some serious effort into it – pretty quick – getting Torchlight onto consoles,” he said.

There are reportedly multiple publishers interested in the project, but no further details were discussed. Even still, this is good news for fans of the genre. We’ll be sure to keep you updated.

Reminder: tomorrow the last day to get your Jirachi on

jirachiIt’s been quite a while since we’ve talked about our Pokemans on this site, which is odd considering that’s literally all I did while on paternity leave for two months.

If you’ve got a copy of Diamond, Pearl or Platinum and live in the US, until tomorrow you can mosey up into a Gamestop* and pick up a Jirachi via Wifi Mystery Gift. It’s a Wishmaker, aka the same one you can get out of the bonus disc that came with Colosseum, but this version also has Draco Meteor.

The Jirachi unlocks the Night Sky’s Edge Pokewalker course in HeartGold/SoulSilver (out on Sunday in the US), and if I’m not mistaken you should also still be able to get the shiny Pichu being given away via wireless (aka, from the comfort of your own home).

* If you’re like two of this site’s editors, you can also bring your two copies of the game and park outside the store so you don’t actually have to go in

College Humor Video Game Bosses’ Lament

A new animated video has been posted over at College Humor titled “Video Game Bosses’ Lament” and it is definitely worth checking out. Many classic video game villains make an appearance and voice their concerns to their minions. You can hit the link to check out the site, or watch below.

Sam & Max Season 3 Officially Announced

General Skunkape

General Skunkape

Sam & Max Season 3 is has officially been announced and it is just over a month away. The new season is titled “The Devil’s Playhouse” and in typical Telltale fashion, will be available in five episodes appearing monthly. The first episode, “The Penal Zone”, comes out on April 15 and is available for pre-order on the official website. You’ll be able to download your copy on either PC, Mac, or PS3 though no mention was made about Xbox or Wii.

The entire season will cost $34.95 and in addition to receiving all five episodes, if you place your pre-order before the season launches you’ll also receive a few other surprises. Pre-order customers will receive a free episode from any other Telltale series including Sam & Max, Strongbad, or Monkey Island. Additionally you’ll also be granted an exclusive membership to the Freelance Police “Elite Forces” which will provide you access to a private forum and special chat sessions with the creator and designers of the Sam & Max series. You’ll also be given special opportunities for store discounts throughout the season.

If you’re interested in learning more about the season you can check out the official website, or take a look at the new trailer below.

God of War III DLC a possibility

GoWIII

God of War III is coming out on March 16, five days from now, but that hasn’t stopped discussion about downloadable content. The development team’s official stance, to paraphrase, is maybe someday.

Design director Todd Papy spoke with VG247 about the possibility of DLC for Kratos’ third chapter. “We’re talking about DLC, and the possibilities of it, to see if it’s worth for us to do it. From a fan standpoint, I think it’s very worth it, but at the same time we don’t want to compromise our next projects.

“We’re gonna take a break, come back, look into new IPs, and at the same time we are going to look and see if there is anything left in the God of War series that we feel is very compelling that we can sink our teeth into, and get really excited about – then it will really translate well into the game and fans will be able to see that as well.”

While we don’t know what those projects will be, they likely won’t be a sequel to God of War III… at least not right away.

“The story we set out to tell in the original God of War finishes with this one”, continued Papy, “and that’s, well, that’s kind of where I will leave it for now. We’re gonna look and see how we can support God of War III, and we’ve got some ideas that we are already looking into and working on, but we’ll see if it ever comes to market”.

Resident Evil 5 DLC Bundled Up

But wait, there's more!

Resident Evil 5

If you already own a copy of Resident Evil 5 and you haven’t picked up any of the new DLC, now is your chance to grab it all at once with a discount. The new bundle, named the Untold Stories Bundle, is available today on the the Xbox 360 and tomorrow for PS3, and it includes both downloadable episodes as well as costume packs 1 and 2. Purchased individually these downloads would all cost $14, but this bundle will only end up setting you back $12.50, or 960 Microsoft Points.

It may not be much of a discount but it is convenient that you can pick up everything all at once without the separate downloads. Some money saved is better than none at all, and if you’ve held out picking up any of new content now seems like as good a time as any. If you’re still on the fence you can always check out our review of Lost in Nightmares. Also, keep an eye out for our review of Desperate Escape coming later this week.

UPDATED: Sony motion controller named

Move

It’s not the Gem, or the Arc. Sony has opted to name their motion control system the Move. That’s right: the Playstation Move.

They announced the device would be available in three configurations. There will be one that includes the PlayStation Eye, the controller itself, and an as-of-now unannounced game. There will be a bundle with a PS3 console, and a stand-alone option for those who already own a PS3 and the camera.

Move

They’re targeting somewhere under $100 for a price, though a price was not revealed. They also mentioned they’re going to market the device hard, though that should go without saying. Is it just us, or is anyone else getting a severe Wii-vibe from the picture to the right?

UPDATE: A plethora of games was shown off at the conference. Sony showed the following games off at the conference: Move Party!, developed by Supermassive Games; Sports Champions; Gladiator Duel; a version of Littlebigplanet; and Motion Fighters.

Also, Sony revealed a list of companies making games for the device, which includes the usual suspects. Among the named were EA, Konami, Ubisoft, Square Enix, Namco Bandai, Activision, Crave, Disney, WB, Sega and Tecmo.

ANOTHER UPDATE: Official pictures have been released, including shots of the unfortunately named nunchuck-esque “Playstation Move Subcontroller.” Enjoy.

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Rumor: EA bringing NHL 11 to the Wii

Pictured: What EA hopes to do to 2K Games

Pictured: What EA hopes to do to 2K Games

When 2K Games recently announced they would be bringing NHL 2K11 to the Wii and the Wii only, it was a move that seemed to make sense. EA had yet to develop a hockey game for Nintendo’s console, and the HD versions of 2K11 were floundering at best. It was a wide open market, and a potentially solid business move. Someone at 2K Games will be tearing their hair out if the following appears to be true. It turns out EA is bringing a version of NHL 11 to the Wii, according to Pasta Padre.

The website uncovered a now-removed blog on Walmart.ca that said the following: “EA is going to be bringing their NHL game to the Wii system this year for the 1st time. They showed us a video last week and it really looks like it could be something special.”

Without being able to actually link to the website there’s no way to verify the story. Without confirmation from EA or some sort of evidence, it’s best to file this one away as a rumor for now. More news is sure to surface on this, so check back for more.