Raymond Padilla

Ubi Soft Likely to Follow EA Online Pass’ “$10 Solution”

It looks like EA’s Online Pass — described by RPadholic smartguy as “Just a money grab” — is a trendsetter. Ubi Soft will likely implement a similar ploy, which strongly discourages used-game sales. During a recent earnings call Ubi CFO Alain Martinez said:

We are looking very carefully at what is being done by EA regarding what we call the “$10 solution,” and we will probably follow that line at sometime in the future.

It’s funny that this morning I was thinking about how games will get more expensive. I can easily see several publishers adopting their own version of EA’s Online Pass. I understand how it benefits developers and I’m all for that. However, it just makes more money for publishers and makes things more expensive for consumers. That last part…just sucks.

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Square Enix CEO Yoichi Wada Says 3D Gaming is “Unstable”

3D stereoscopic gaming has been getting a ton of press attention since CES 2010 (January). I was really skeptical about the tech until I experienced it in person at GDC 2010 (March). That said, I still think it’s unfeasible — at least for a few years — for a variety of reasons. Square Enix CEO Yoichi Wada doesn’t think it’s going to take off either. Translating an article from Impress Watch, Andriasang quoted Wada as saying:

I’d be happy if it would revitalize the market. However, while it will likely become a big topic, I don’t believe it will form a market. Whether naked eye or with glasses, the method is unstable.

I’m excited to see more 3D games at E3 2010, but I still don’t think 3D on consoles will take off in a big way — not for a few years.

What do you think of Wada’s stance? Do you agree or disagree? Back in February you shared your opinions on 3D gaming in Coffee Talk. Has anything changed for you since then?

Source via Andriasang

BlizzCon Tickets Go on Sale June 2 and June 5

Attention Blizzard fanboys and fangirls — tickets for BlizzCon 2010 go on sale starting June 2. Sadly, the event is still in Anaheim (aka Anaslime) and not in Las Vegas. Here’s a snippet from the official announcement.

Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. today announced that tickets for its fifth BlizzCon gaming convention will go on sale in two batches on Wednesday, June 2 and Saturday, June 5, 2010. BlizzCon is a celebration of the global player communities surrounding Blizzard Entertainment’s Warcraft, Diablo, and StarCraft game universes. The event will take place at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California on October 22 and 23. Live coverage of the event will be available as a DirecTV Pay Per View package and as a multi-channel Internet stream, allowing viewers online to switch between coverage of multiple panels and activities during the show.

If you’re thinking about going, please let me know. It would be great to see you there!

Coffee Talk #147: How Will Gaming Get More Expensive?

It used to be that you needed a console, a controller, and cartridge/disc to enjoy a game. While the prices of consoles and games haven’t gone up too much over the years, you have to spend more money than ever to play games. On the hardware side you have accessories, on the software side you have DLC, and on the services side you have Xbox Live Gold. All of that stuff adds up!

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Monday Night Raw rocking Toronto, your American Idol pick, or Nick Johnson lasting an entire month before requiring surgery, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

While I’m surprised that Sony has taken this long to offer a premium version of PlayStation Network (rumored to be debuting at E3 2010), I’m impressed by EA’s ingenuity when it comes to making games more expensive. The EA Online Pass makes used and rented games more expensive by requiring a code to access all online content and features. I understand that company’s issue with the used-game market, but from a consumer’s perspective the company has pissed on two ways gamers can save money.

What’s left? How can publishers, console manufacturers, etc. get more of our money? It looks like all the bases are covered, but I’m sure someone, somewhere (probably Bobby Kotick *snicker*) will find a new way to part gamers with cash. What do you think it will be? How can gaming get more expensive?

PSN Premium Service to be Unveiled at E3 2010?

In addition to the rumors that Sony will announce the PSP2 at E3 2010, VG247 has heard that the company will also unveil a premium PSN service at its press conference. The service is said to include one free PSN title a month (from a limited selection) and a streaming music service similar to Spotify. The site’s sources pegged the pricing at £50. If that’s accurate, I’d expect the American price would be lower since Microsoft’s competing Xbox Live Gold service is $50 a year. (£50 is approximately $61 at the moment.)

The streaming music service is the most interesting tidbit to me. Since Sony has movie and music divisions, it could include streaming movies/music in a premium PSN package to greatly differentiate itself from Xbox Live Gold. However, Sony’s various divisions have not played well in the past so that’s probably just a pipe dream.

Any thoughts on this PSN premium rumor? What would you want to see in the service?

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UFC Undisputed 2010 Developer Diary: Online Fight Camps

Here’s a cool UFC Undisputed 2010 developer diary on one of the game’s new online features — fight camps. An MMA fighter’s teammates and training partners can play a huge part in his success. This online mode lets gamers replicate the “camp” feeling. In this video, Undisputed Producer Neven Dravinski and MMA Manager Ed Soares discuss the new feature.

I know RPadholic Big Blak is really looking forward to this game. Anyone else planning on picking it up? Want to start an RPad.tv stable? We could rule the MMA world!

And the PSP2 E3 2010 Rumors Keep on Coming!

The PSP2 rumor mill is heating up (I’m not really sure if mills actually heat up, but let’s go with it). The latest info comes from VG247. The site’s sources told it the following:

The PSP2 will have a touchscreen
The system will likely come out in early 2011, not 2010
UK developers are already working on games for the PSP2
The PSP2 uses a “f*cking powerful” quad-core CELL CPU

A quad-core CELL sounds awesome on paper. The games and videos it could run would be impressive, but it also sounds like a huge battery hog. If that rumor pans out, I’d be curious to see what the power solution would be.

The one feature that so many of you want confirmed is whether the PSP2 will have dual analog sticks. There’s no word on that yet, but I would be surprised if it didn’t. It would make cross-development efforts much easier.

Anyway, let me know what you think of the latest PSP2 rumors (please)!

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Google Android TV by Sony Powered with Intel Inside?

Here’s an interesting Google I/O rumor for you — Google will supposedly announce an Android-powered television made by Sony and powered by Intel processors. The television would make using streaming-video services like Hulu, Netflix, and Vudu easier for consumers. Developers could extend the capabilities of a “Google TV” even further and the Android developer community could experience rapid growth thanks to a ubiquitous device like a television. Here’s what Financial Times reported:

Top executives from the Silicon Valley companies are reported to be ready to reveal a deal with Sony, bringing web services to its televisions, during Google’s annual developer conference in San Francisco.

Intel’s Atom microprocessor and Google’s Android operating system are spearheading their assault on set-top boxes and TVs featuring integrated internet services.

I love the potential of a Google TV, but so much of its success and usefulness will be determined by developers. I’m excited to learn more about it at Google I/O. It’s also crazy to think that Google will have people using its search (and other) services on computers, phones, and televisions. I’m pretty sure this a precursor to Terminator’s Skynet.

Source via VentureBeat

Oodles of Disgaea Infinite Screens

I love the Disgaea series. The gameplay and writing are superb. As you can imagine, I’m super psyched for the June release of Disgaea Infinite for Sony PlayStation Portable. It’s going to rock and the replay value will be so excellent that there’s a good chance it will keep me occupied until Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep is released. That sounds like a great plan! Anyway, eat up these screen shots and let me know what you think of them.

Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep Coming September 7

Square Enix has finally announced the released date for the North American version of Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep — September 7, 2010!!! Naturally, Sony will be offering a PSP bundle to commemorate the game’s release (or move old hardware depending on your perspective). Be sure to check out the video above and enjoy this lovely snippet of press release magic:

Players will explore iconic Disney worlds in a unique gaming experience that unfolds through the perspectives of three different main characters: Terra, Ventus and Aqua. Their journeys will take them through Sleeping Beauty’s Enchanted Dominion, the Dwarf Woodlands from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Deep Space from Lilo & Stitch. Additionally, Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep includes four all-new multiplayer modes that allow players to enjoy the action with their friends.

I love the Kingdom Hearts franchise and can’t wait for this game! Button-mashing combat, Disney characters, Final Fantasy characters, and Nomura art — what’s not to love?!? Who else is psyched for this one?