2011年12月6日星期二
Dead Island dev apologises for 'feminist
Another day, another controversial report with Dead Island at its core. Almost like some sort of marketing stunt. Someone with programming know-how and a really boring life, we imagine, has discovered a line of code hidden in Dead Island that names a 'feminist wh*re' skill for the female character Purna and posted it online. That skill doesn't appear anywhere in the actual gameplay, but has nevertheless sparked outrage. Developer Techland has moved to apologise for the slur, which it says 'a programmer considered a private joke', and promises disciplinary action. "It has come to our attention that one of Dead Island's leftover debug files contains a highly inappropriate internal script name of one of the character skills. This has been inexcusably overlooked and released with the game," it said. "The line in question was something a programmer considered a private joke. The skill naturaly [sic] has a completely different in-game name and the script reference was also changed. What is left is a part of an obscure debug function. This is merely an explanation but by no means an excuse. In the end that code was made a part of the product and signed with our company name."We deeply regret that fact and we apologize to all our customers or anyone who might have been offended by that inappropriate expression. The person responsible for this unfortunate situation will face professional consequences for violating the professional standards and beliefs Techland stands for."A serious matter or a big hoo-ha over nothing? You decide. But this is the second time in one week the folks behind Dead Island have found themselves apologising on behalf of the zombie shooter, after early purchasers through Steam discovered they were accidentally served a disastrously buggy development version of the game.Facepalm. Mike Jackson
EA on $1 billion lawsuit 'meteor hit wou
A California District Court judge has denied EA's motion to dismiss a potentially costly class action lawsuit over player likenesses. The case in question was brought against the publisher and sports association NCAA two years ago by former Nebraska and Arizona State quarterback Sam Keller and ex-UCLA basketball player Ed O'Bannon, who allege EA unlawfully used athletes' likenesses in its games without their consent.According to USA today, based on the potential number of athletes that could be attached to the lawsuit, were EA to lose it would be hit with $334.5 million in damages. However, the Indiana publicity rights statute says the award could be trebled if EA's violation was "knowing, wilful or intentional".EA's not stressing about the case though, with spokesperson Jeff Brown offering the following statement: "We could lose billions more if a giant meteor hits the earth. We're not planning for either outcome."Last year, approximately 6,000 retired NFL players brought a lawsuit against EA over the "unlawful" use of their likenesses in Madden NFL 09's historic teams. Tom Ivan
2011年12月5日星期一
SCE 'not concerned' by 3D TV adoption rat
SCEE senior development manager Simon Benson has said the platform holder isn't concerned by the reportedly slow consumer uptake of 3D TVs. "It's certainly not a concern for us on the game side, the major reason being... when we're adding 3D features to a game, it's not a significant overhead for us," he told Gamesindustry.biz. It's not like we have to justify being able to sell millions more games because of it, it's just another feature of the game."What we're talking about here is, in some cases we've had titles where 3D has been half a percent of overhead," he added. "It can literally be the render programmer spending a couple of weeks manipulating it... So often it's the case of it doesn't even hit the radar of whether we should or shouldn't, it can just be done."Clearly 3D TV sales are important to SCE parent Sony though, which has invested heavily in the technology. Benson said the price of 3D sets is coming down "all the time", suggesting "the margins aren't that different" between 3D and non-3D TVs, which should draw new customers in."We're not asking people to fork out twice as much here, and I think what probably going to happen over time is it'll be the case like now, if you try and go out and buy an standard definition TV you probably just wouldn't be able to," he said.At E3 in June, Sony revealed plans to release a PlayStation-branded 3D monitor designed to be affordable for all later this year.Last week, EA CEO John Riccitiello said 3D gaming hasn't caught on as the company once expected it might, and that the firm plans to refocus investment in other areas. Tom Ivan
Twisted Metal Delayed To 2012
Twisted MetalNews (11)Previews (8)ReviewVideos (18)Screenshots (5)Cheats and Walkthroughs The Last GuardianNews (10)Previews (3)ReviewVideos (9)Screenshots (19)Cheats and Walkthroughs Diablo 3News (75)Previews (19)ReviewVideos (54)Screenshots (235)Cheats and Walkthroughs The PlayStation 3 exclusive Twisted Metal has been delayed to 2012 according to the game's director, David Jaffe. Twisted Metal was originally supposed to ship on October 4, 2011 but according to a post on by Jaffe on the PlayStation Blog, the developers at Eat Sleep Play are "just not ready yet.""It sucks bad when games miss their announced launch dates," said Jaffe. "We’re gamers too and we know how annoying it is. It’s disappointing and frustrating and it really takes the wind out of your sails if you’re a fan that has been looking forward to playing a title for a long time." Jaffe affirms that the Twisted Metal game that ships will be the best Twisted Metal ever made, and they only want to ship the best product. As someone who is used to waiting very, very long for great games to come out (ahem, The Last Guardian and Diablo 3) I think it's a good idea when developers hold on to their titles a little bit longer in order to ship out something that will exceed expectations. What about you?Source: PlayStation Blog
Video interview Insomniac on 'fertile' R
Resistance 3 crash lands into European shops next week, and before it lights up PlayStation 3's across the continent we managed to get Insomniac writer Jon Pacquette in front of a camera."When we started working on story for Resistance 3 we wanted it to be less military - we wanted it to be about real people," Pacquette told CVG of the latest instalment's plot."In that, we also wanted to get a sense of family, especially at the beginning because that's sort of the main motivation for Joe Capelli." Watch in HD No comments yet, be the first! In the same interview Insomniac told CVG Resistance 3 reviews have called the FPS "refreshing" and "the best instalment yet". Fingers crossed. CVG Staff
2011年12月4日星期日
iRacing Pole Position in Every Aspect
By Neil Kewn (Murxidon) – OnRPG journalistMy neck hurts, my palms are sweaty and my feet ache. Having just finished second in a twenty lap race at Lakeville’s Lime Rock Park, I’m filled with both joy and disappointment. What if I had taken the outside line on that first corner? Surely If I stayed in his slipstream for just a few more seconds I could have passed him on the straight? It was an intense race that ended in disaster, as we both span off the track on the first corner of the final lap. I knew whoever recovered first from this last lap twist would come out with the win. Shifting into first I quickly edged back onto the racing line, managing to get ahead of the eventual victor by inches. Yes – despite my fast recovery the damage sustained to my Mazda MX-5 Roadster was too severe, I bowed out of the race just a few corners before the chequered flag with smoke billowing from my engine.Conceding victory was painful, but that’s just a part of racing – and “professional online driving simulator” iRacing.Racing videogames haven’t always been kind to simulation fanatics. Franchises like Need for Speed and DiRT have traditionally featured gameplay that appealed more to the Tom Cruise of gaming, rather than the Michael Schumacher. Arcade handling and blistering speeds capable from indestructible cars with a permanent shine, those who demand realism in every aspect from their virtual driving shun the mass-market yearly entries in favour of more refined titles like Forza Motorsport, Gran Turismo and more increasingly, iRacing. The goal? To provide the most immersive, realistic motorsport experience possible in the comfort of your own home.And boy does it succeed. Starting off with a rookie licence, new subscribers have two racing disciplines to choose from. Traditional road racing on real-world tracks or the NASCAR-like oval competitions, these two distinct styles of racing are fully realized in iRacing. Official licenced series are available for each, including a world championship sanctioned and recognized by NASCAR itself. Naturally you start off at the bottom of the racing ladder, but with good results and safe driving you can advance through the licence tiers unlocking more prestigious series and championships – making a name for yourself in the process. Rookie drivers have four series to compete in, but only two are available with just an initial “bare” subscription.Fans of iRacing tend to avoid labelling it as a “video game”. I can see why, it’s more like a virtual motorsport organization with rules and sanctions and directors and penalties. A 39 page Sporting Code is enforced at all times, and you are expected to read it. To be accepted into the community, you need to be a clean, safe, cautious and respectful competitor. A safety record is assigned to every subscriber - a score printed on their licence representing just how well they avoid incidents out on track. A higher safety record, the more experienced (or careful) a driver is.This is clear out on the track.Safety is paramount and risks taken are always calculated. Slower backmarkers will pull off the racing line and let you pass – it’s all very clean and courteous, the kind of driving you would only ever see on television.The driving itself in iRacing is faultless. It’s a true to life simulation of real world racing and as such, twenty three of the world’s most recognizable licenced vehicles are available. Perfectly remodelled in both design and performance, iRacing is the closest most people are ever going to get to driving a Williams FW31 Formula 1 car. Out on the track cars have weight and handle as you would expect them to in the real world. You won’t be blistering around tracks using barriers as a secondary brake, nor will you be ramming your opponents into the gravel (not unless you want to spin out). Driving is a test of mental skill and accuracy. Find that turn in point on a corner, hit the apex and get the most speed on the out.It goes without saying, but you need a steering wheel and pedal set to experience iRacing in any capacity. Controllers are supported, but nothing beats a solid steering set to give you the edge out on the laser-scanned real-world tracks. My Thrustmaster Ferrari GT wheel was detected straight away, and the in-built calibration system insured it was accurate to the last degree.This all comes at a price though. In addition to a $12 monthly subscription extra tracks and vehicles need to be purchased. With only six cars and ten tracks included with your rookie licence, getting extra content is an investment that a lot of players won’t be able to justify. New tracks can cost as much as $15, additional cars an extra $12 on top of your monthly sub. Content purchased is not lost if you choose not to re-subscribe, but the cost of acquiring new tracks and vehicles can run into hundreds of dollars. As you progress through the licence brackets it’s likely that you will have to purchase new tracks just to compete in an official race. Disappointing.It’s a difficult price to justify if you aren’t a serious motorsport fan. iRacing caters towards the hardcore, the ruthless and the devoted. As a result, it is truly peerless in its detail and execution. The game is completely involved and unquestionably serious about what it stands for, so much so that there are even live television streams of races with professional commentary.iRacing is the pinnacle of multiplayer motorsport, a franchise with a loyal community and competition that is as wide as it is intense. It’s an expensive indulgence. Casual fans need not apply, nor should the faint of heart, but for those with a passion for motorsports, iRacing is a true-to-life realization of modern racing - a premier multiplayer competition experience that they will never forget. Graphics - 3 Controls - 5 Features - 5 Customization - 5 Community - 5
Need For Speed The Run Limited Edition D
Need For Speed: The RunNews (4)Previews (3)ReviewVideos (9)Screenshots (19)Cheats and WalkthroughsNeed For Speed: The RunNews (4)Previews (3)ReviewVideos (10)Screenshots (19)Cheats and WalkthroughsNeed For Speed: The RunNews (4)Previews (1)ReviewVideos (9)Screenshots (19)Cheats and WalkthroughsNeed For Speed: The RunNews (4)Previews (3)ReviewVideos (7)Screenshots (5)Cheats and Walkthroughs Need For Speed: The Run will have everything connoisseurs of racing games demand. That is, unless you demand the world's most elite cars, you're going to have to splurge and buy Need For Speed: The Run Limited Edition for those. Need For Speed: The Run Limited Edition Trailer » NFS: The Run Limited Edition will come with the finest advancements in automobile technology with cars like the Lamborghini Aventador, Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and the Porsche 911 Carrera S. Your sweet new rides will be exactly what you need to race from San Fransisco to New York. $25 million dollars are at stake after all.Need For Speed: The Run, both standard and Limited Edition, are available now for pre-order. NFS: The Run will be released on November 15, 2011.