New pics of upcoming Silent Hill V

Swedish videogame magazine Gamereactor have published some new screens from upcoming horror title Silent Hill V today. The latest game in the series isn’t developed by Konami Japan anymore. Instead western studio “the Collective” is working their asses off to deliver us teh horrorz. The fact that it isn’t the original developers who’s working on the latest game might sound a little alarming to longtime fans, but at least the new game looks to be just as dark and gloomy as previous titles.

Oh well, it might turn out OK anyway. I wouldn’t know, since I didn’t even have the courage to get more than halfways through Silent Hill II before chicken out on it. Gah, I hate these kinds of games. >_<

(the game is going to be released for the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360. release date: tba)

Activision business model allowing us to continue to be Bizarre, studio rep says

Yesterday, the Gaming Elitist wrote a piece about Activions buyout of popular UK-based studio Bizarre Creations (Project Gotham Racing). Since then, GamesIndustry.biz has got hold of Sarah Chudley, commercial director at Bizarre, who shared her point of view of the deal. In short, it seems Bizarre have thought about the now-accepted offer for a while before they decided it was the best course of action:

“All we want to concentrate on is making great games, rather than the pressures of running a pretty large development studio, searching out deals, spending months and months on legal and due diligence procedures that are the norm for signing up a game nowadays.

“We want to be doing what we love, in the way that we enjoy, without having to think about being big business people. It was a long and hard path coming to this decision, but we were driven by our desire to continue being able to deliver great games, and to enjoy doing it,” Sarah says to GamesIndustry.biz.

Also, the deciding factor for choosing Activision (from what I’ve heard, unofficially, a couple of other offers from other publishers were rejected rather quick) seems to be their rather relaxed company policy that still allows their developers a good amount of freedom in their work:

“They have a hands-off approach to game development, meaning we’re left to do what we’re good at, and can ask for support from their strong development network should we need it. One of the most important reasons from our point of view is that Activision has an independent studio model, meaning that we can continue to be Bizarre,” she continues.

In other news, this interview also gives us some new information regarding the studios popular Project Gotham Racing series. It seems that Bizarre will leave the PGR franchise rights to Microsoft, and instead focus on working on two new IPs to be released in 2009. While no more information about these new projects were discussed (PROTIP: they’re racing games…), we’re no doubt going to hear more about them as they’re getting closer to completion.

Xbox 360-exclusive Project Gotham Racing 4 (to be released next month) will likely be the last PGR game developed by Bizarre, and it will be interesting to see in which direction they will go in the future.

Quick note about Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura

Finally, after searching for a looong time for a copy, I stumbled across Arcanum yesterday. It’s made by now-defunct developer Troika Games and takes place in a world somewhat resembling our own late 19th century. The industrial revolution have changed the world of Arcanum forever, with recent discoveries of airships (more particularly zeppelins) and, of course, guns. However, this new industrial society meets hard competition from the followers of the magic arts, which is the key point that makes the game’s setting so unique and interesting; it’s a world where magic and technology co-exists.

I’ve just started the game, playing as a retarded half-ogre, but I can already see that it got potential. If you’re into computer RPG’s, then this should be right up your alley! Even though it looks veeery dated compared to newer releases, of course. Anyway, playing as a half-ogre with less intelligence than a door, at least makes for some funny conversations.

I might be writing something more about this game later on, if I have the time and motivation to finish it.

Activision buying Bizarre Creations

Today, Activision announced an acquisition of the UK-based studio Bizarre Creations, known for – among others – the Project Gotham Racing franchise and Xbox Live-favourite Geometry Wars. Acclaim is of course very pleased with the situation, and made an official comment about the deal:

“Activision continues to grow and drive greater value for our shareholders by broadening our portfolio and entering new gaming categories with strong global appeal. Bizarre Creations is the leading independent developer with a proven track record in developing highly successful and influential original properties, especially in the racing field. They are one of the most innovative and creative studios in the industry, and we are very excited to welcome this talented creative team to Activision.”

Apparently, the developer will still maintain the ability to make key decisions in-house and not just follow their new owner like a blind dog, reports GamesIndustry.biz:

“Activision’s independent studio model will continue giving us creative freedom to build exciting new brands. Their financial support and marketing prowess will also enable us to build upon the commercial success that we currently enjoy, and take the company – and our games – to an even higher level.”

It’s going to be interesting to see what the next big thing coming out from Bizarre Creations will be… another Project Gotham or more low budget titles for the Playstation Network or the Xbox Live Arcade service, perhaps?

Samba de Amigo on its way… get yourself ready for MADNESS

Following a revealing magazine scan, Sega has now officially confirmed to website 1up
that a new Samba de Amigo game is, in fact, on its way to the Wii. The original Dreamcast game featured motion-sensing maracas but sadly never did get the appreciation it truly deserved.

Still, here’s hoping that a new maraca-swinging game for the Wii will make gamers more aware of one of the best music games ever created. (Nothing will ever beat Ouendan, though).

Codemasters got balls; Germany doesn’t

Germany is certainly a very funny country. As the worlds largest (and only, hopefully) distributor of scatporn, you would think they would set their tolerance standards pretty high. And yes, regarding sexual activities they seem pretty liberal, but there is at least two things you must avoid at all costs, if ever visiting the country.

1. Never deny the Holocaust (doing so will give you a 100+ jail sentence with lots of buttsecks to follow)

2. Never, ever, make games with violent content (the Germans are especially concerned with this since violent games serve as a constant remainder of they having started, and lost, TWO World Wars. That’s pretty impressive.)

So, when publisher Codemasters sent their upcoming PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 game, Jericho, for classification, the German ratings board, USK, declined to give the game a rating in the country. This means, in shortness, that Codemasters is prohibited to do any kind of marketing campaign for the game and that few people (outside the hardcore gaming circles) will ever come to know about the game’s existence.

Codemasters have therefore decided to only release the PC version of the game in the region. This is what they had to say about the USK’s decision (taken from an official statement):

“Codemasters respects Mr Barker’s creative ideas, despite the German distribution and marketing consequences for the title. Therefore Codemasters will release only the PC version of Clive Barker’s Jericho in its original form for adult gamers and Clive Barker fans,” said the company.

That’s right. No”we’re gonna cut out all inappropiate violence” or “green blod” nonsense. The Codies instead opted for the only obvious solution: to release the game uncut, if only for the PC. That’s nice, and shows Codemasters got some balls by not giving in to people who wish to limit the developers right to artistic freedoom. Too bad about all our German friends though that will have to import this game if they wish to play it on the PS3 or Xbox 360. :(

Clive Barker’s Jericho is due for release in the UK on October 26. It might be worth checking out.

“If they see you as a threat, they will take the moves to wipe you out”, Perry says about Nintendo

Yesterday, The Gaming Elitist wrote a silly piece about David Perry and his inability to control his Wii. Today, in the second part of an interview published at GamesIndustry.biz, Perry talks about Nintendo and their major success with the Wii and DS yet again. Among the most important things… this is what he has to say about their policy regarding third party software on their platforms:

“You can’t assume it is going to be like the other platforms, because you are going to have Nintendo taking most of the sales. And if Nintendo really sees you as a threat, they will take the moves to wipe you out. They are not going to let you win.”

While it’s clear to see that, yes, most of the software sales on Nintendo platforms INDEED come from Nintendo developed titles, it’s still pretty weird that he points out Nintendo as a business company with highly unethical business principles. He continues:

“Meaning, if you sell your game and you are charging USD 60 or 50, or whatever price you choose, they will sell their games at USD 39.99 and they will kick your ass. So, the bottom line is, whatever you thought your business plan was, they can shake your world at a moment’s notice and they have a track record of doing that. So I would be very concerned with wanting to bet the farm on a Nintendo platform.”

All this Nintendo-negativism of late coming from David Perry… it really makes you wonder if he has some particular reason to be angry about Nintendo being the top dog in the console race for the first time in, like, an eternity.

To be fair, he actually continues later on in the interview to praise Nintendo for their innovation and great thinking — but positive stuff doesn’t make for entertaining reading, no?

David Perry hates teh waggle

David Perry, a 40-ish year old chap from Ireland, says he’s not too fond of the Wii’s controlling mechanics. Perry (of Earthworm Jim fame), claims the Wii remote itself is inaccurate:

“Games are all about accuracy. If you request something it better happen. The Wii controller adds some slop to the system, and that in turn goes against the golden rule that controls should be tight and perfect, something that Nintendo has lived off for years. I’m surprised how unimportant these things seem to be to people, that a slight inaccuracy is acceptable,” he said to UK online lifestyle magazine Disposable Media.

Aside from whining about the Wii’s waggle controls, he also continued to complain about all “new” games only being sequels to sequels despite (if I recall correctly) he himself have actually made his fair bit of sequels too…

Oh well, I guess he’s still just bitter since Enter the Matrix turned out so shitty. And the fact that he hasn’t contributed anything noteworthy to the games industry since… what, Messiah, perhaps?

Microsoft to replace scratched Halo 3 discs

Easily the most anticipated game in the history of the Xbox 360 — Halo 3 was released earlier today, along with insanely long queues of fans to follow. Those who had pre-ordered the Limited Edition package were perhaps a little worried too, since recent rumours surfaced about a serious design flaw that could very well end up making your game disc unplayable.

In short, Microsoft (for some retarded reason — probably the $$$) decided to go with a shitty tin case with a plastic nub that won’t keep the disc in place. Microsoft has now acknowledged the problem and says they will replace eventual scratched games through their Disc Replacement Program at no extra charge.

Well, that’s nice. But how about doing an expensive limited edition thingy that’s actually not WORSE than the regular edition next time? Thank you.

No £299 PS3, says Sony Computer Entertainment Europe

According to GamesIndustry.biz, the recent information spreading across the intarwebs about a cheaper 40GB PAL PS3 is nothing more than “rumours and speculation”. Right now, the RRP in the UK is £425 for the system including an extra controller and two games.

That Sony has no plans whatsoever to lower the price of the expensive machine, is of course a letdown to all European gamers, but shouldn’t come as a surprise considering Sony JP boss Kaz Hirai’s TGS keynote speech earlier this month, where he stated there’s currently no plans for a EU price reduction similar to what Sony have done in the US and Japan.

Instead, the vision is that SCEE should focus on “delivering quality software titles” that will justify us Euros paying a helluva lot more than our American friends. Phaah. Such nonsense.

Sega planning to expand IP portfolio, says Sega of America president

In a recent interview (september 21) published by leading UK trade magazine MCV, Sega of America president Simon Jeffrey, talks about their publishing plans for the future. Since the disaster that is most commonly known as “The Apocalypse” (i.e. the fall of the mighty Dreamcast), Sega has re-focused from making their own hardware to specialize in software instead. The last years have also seen the company starting to publish a lot of games instead of just making their own.

Acquisitions such as as the 2005 purchase of UK-based Creative Assembly along with powerful IP’s such as the Total War series have helped the company penetrate markets who would otherwise fall outside their target group. In this particular interview, Jeffrey talks about how the company “is not satisfied”, and are “still on the lookout” for potentional buyouts of US and UK based studios to further the company’s aim to reach into new markets.

All this while another japanese giant, Square Enix, also talks about their ambition to get a breakthrough in the west. This is important to point out because it shows the power of the games industry is now slowly, bur surely, shifting from Japan to the US and Europe. While the japanese gaming industry is declining, the US market has gone up, up and beyond and is now by far the single most important video games market in the world. It’s therefore only natural that publishers like Sega and Square Enix, who develops games to cater mainly to the japanese market, is now on the lookout for new acquisitions or partnering deals with western developers in order to not miss out too much.

It’s going to be interesting to see if Sega will announce any new buyouts in the close future. With upcoming titles like Nights, Mario & Sonic, new Sonic games among others, the japanese market is all secured. But will these games also be enough to satisfy more FPS-oriented regions like the US?