GameStop has soft launched its PowerUp Rewards affinity program in select areas. The full launch will take place in Fall 2010. It’s not terribly different from the current Edge program. Here’s a link to PowerUp Rewards’ details or you can scan this nifty graphic below.
Are you currently a GameStop Edge member? Any of you planning on signing up for PowerUp Rewards? Do you feel it’s worth paying for?
Sony has officially announced Killzone 3 for PlayStation 3 and confirmed that it will be playable in stereoscopic 3D. While it’s important for Sony’s first-party games to push new technologies and Sony as a whole to offer games that encourage consumers to buy its stereoscopic 3D televisions, I was wondering how much it matters to you. Do you care that Killzone 3 is in 3D? Does it make you want a 3D television? Or will it take more than that? If so, how much more?
Electronic Arts sent waves throughout the gaming industry with its announcement of EA Online Pass. Essentially a deterrent to used-game sales, Online Pass charges $10 to gamers that buy used titles and want to access all their purchase’s online features. Ubi Soft has stated that it will likely use a similar solution and it’s looking like this will become the norm. I’ve gotten into several Twitter arguments about the matter, since it’s unclear how “the $10 solution” directly benefits developers. I see publishers getting richer, while decreasing gamers’ choices and screwing retailers.
With all of that in mind, I loved this video by Chett Muzzalupo, owner of Level One Games, an independent game store in Dublin, Ohio. Muzzalupo shares his (justifiably angry) perspective on EA Online Pass. Just in case you’re checking this on a mobile browser or can’t watch the video at work, here are some select quotes:
I’m appalled. I’m completely appalled.
This is about destroying the buy-sell-trade business. This is about stopping the sale of used games.
This doesn’t help you. This doesn’t help me. This helps EA and no one else.
If this becomes the standard of all games, potentially it can kill every store like mine.
Again, it’s a fantastic rant and I encourage you to watch it. Naturally, I want to hear your thoughts on the matter. Do you think EA Online Pass if bad for the business? Do you think it will indirectly benefit developers by forcing gamers to buy new games? Or do you think it’s mostly a way for publishers to make more money?
I’m going to interview Muzzalupo tomorrow morning. If you have any questions you’d like me to ask, please leave them in the comments section.
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Any of you guys and dolls picking up any of this week’s new games?
I’ve been thinking a lot about how Google TV, the Chrome Store, and HTML5 can change gaming. Seeing a version of LEGO: Star Wars running on HTML5 and delivered through the Chrome Store made a lot of lights go off in my head (What? You don’t have lights in your head?!?). The next day, Google announced Google TV along with its launch partners. “A-ha!” I said to myself, “There’s the final piece of the puzzle!”
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, Lost vs. Sopranos finale, 24 ending tonight, or Cleveland firing Mike Brown, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
I’ve been thinking a lot about how Google TV, the Chrome Store, and HTML5 can change gaming. Seeing a version of LEGO: Star Wars running on HTML5 and delivered through the Chrome Store made a lot of lights go off in my head (What? You don’t have lights in your head?!?). The next day, Google announced Google TV along with its launch partners. “A-ha!” I said to myself, “There’s the final piece of the puzzle!”
Picture this: playing complex HTML5 games on a Sony television with Google TV built in — no console required! Sure, a web game will never be as impressive as one running on a proper console, but for most people LEGO: Star Wars graphics are completely acceptable. You know the millions of people that are fiending on casual and social games? I can easily see them “graduating” to a more involved experience in HTML5 games. If Google want it, the company could become a big player in the home gaming space.
What do you guys and gals think? Do you see a future playing games without a box and with a service like Google TV? Do you think I’m giving Google too much credit here? I know several of you are still weeping over the Lost finale, but give the matter some thought and leave a comment. I’d love to chat about this with you!
This weekend is going to be tough for my “hardcore” games. I really want to play Alan Wake, but it will probably have to wait a few days. Most of my attention will be going to my HTC Evo 4G — it’s needy like that. I also need two more victories in Scrabble for Hasbro Family Game Night to get another Achievement. So yeah! That’s what I’ll be doing this weekend — enjoying my new phone and winning Scrabble games.
How about you? What’s on your weekend playlist?
This outstanding photo of a cosplayer dressed as Final Fantasy VII’s Cloud Strife was tweeted by several of my friends. It stands out for eschewing realism and being true to FFVII’s primitive graphics. I’ve seen lots of great cosplay costumes (mostly from Japanese cosplayers) over the years, but this is one of the best, most original, and funniest I can recall. Check it out! I know you’ll love it.
People raised their eyebrows at Nintendo when it announced that it was going with a dual-screen handheld for its next portable system. Even more people laughed at the notion of an underpowered console that relied on a “gimmicky” motion-control scheme. In both cases, the company sold millions of units of hardware. With that in mind, do you think the company will sell millions of Wii Vitality Sensor accessories?
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, Lost spoilers (please), Bryan Danielson going off on Michael Cole, or Hanley Ramirez phoning it in, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
People raised their eyebrows at Nintendo when it announced that it was going with a dual-screen handheld for its next portable system. Even more people laughed at the notion of an underpowered console that relied on a “gimmicky” motion-control scheme. In both cases, the company sold millions of units of hardware. With that in mind, do you think the company will sell millions of Wii Vitality Sensor accessories?
On paper, it sounds boring…maybe a little stupid. It’s a frickin’ heart rate monitor! While I had my doubts about dual screens and motion controls, I knew they had the potential for fun. There’s nothing fun about a heart rate monitor.
Having said that, I know I’m not smart enough to doubt Nintendo. I’ve done it too many times in the past…but I can’t help questioning the company on this one. Shigeru Miyamoto is undoubtedly a game design genius, but can he make the Wii Vitality Sensor fun? I’m not so sure. Yet Nintendo has proven its doubters wrong so many times that I’m doubting my doubts.
All this second guessing is giving me a migraine. I know that quite a few of you have this anti-Nintendo thing going (rather unreasonably, in my opinion), but forget about whether you’ll like it or not. Do you think the Wii Vitality Sensor will sell? Do you see a way that it can be fun? What do you think a Miyamoto game featuring the Wii Vitality Sensor would be like? Make sure your heart isn’t beating too fast as you answer these question. I am not responsible for what happens to you as you type.
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.
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
