Tag: PS3

NBA Jam Gets Manute Bol and Spud Webb

As if having the legendary Detlef Schrempf wasn’t enough, EA Sports has revealed that the late Manute Bol and the diminutive Spud Webb will be featured in the NBA Jam remake. This downloadable game brings back the old-school gameplay of the original and modernizes it with motion controls. I checked out NBA Jam for Shacknews during E3 2010 and mentioned some of the NBA legends featured in the game:

The game also features NBA legend Detlef Schrempf…as well as Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Larry Bird, Dennis Rodman, James Worthy, Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, and Kevin McHale.

Sorry…just wanted to quote myself. More importantly, creative director Trey Smith told ESPN’s Jon Robinson:

I’m able to confirm are Bird, Magic, Hakeem Olajuwon, Dennis Rodman, James Worthy, Kevin McHale, Detlef Schrempf, Spud Webb and Manute Bol. Manute was such a special guy and did so much humanitarian work. When he died, that really broke our heart. It was important for us to get him in the game, and he’s such a great shot blocker in the game, which is so important in “Jam.” We’re very honored to have him in the game.

That’s cool that the devs put Bol in the game as a tribute. He should have an alternate lion costume as a bonus. Dude did kill a lion after all.

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Sony to Overtake Microsoft in the Near Future?

A good number of my gaming industry colleagues believe that it’s only a matter of time before the global installed based of the Sony PlayStation 3 overtakes that of the Microsoft Xbox 360. I lean that way myself, but don’t want to make any predictions (I’ll leave that to Pachter). With that in mind, I was surprised by the number crunching and gathering done by Industry Gamers. The race is way closer than I thought it was. Check it out:

The respective global installed bases for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 are showing 41.7 million units sold for Microsoft and 38.1 million for Sony. That’s a difference of just 3.6 million units on a worldwide basis, and considering that Microsoft got a full 1-year head start with the Xbox 360, it shows how strong Sony has come on of late.

It shows that Sony is doing something very right, or that Microsoft is doing something wrong and failed to really capitalize on its early jump on the next-gen market. Numerous analysts have said that PS3 could pass Xbox 360 in the years ahead, and if this PS3 sales pace keeps up, and if Microsoft doesn’t jump start its business with Kinect this holiday, then we could easily see it happening. Over the last fiscal year, 10.3 million Xbox 360 consoles were sold, but Sony shifted 14.3 million PS3 units.

Q4 2010 will be extremely interesting. Will Microsoft be able to snag new customers with Kinect? Will Sony be able to do the same with Move? Will Sony be able to maintain its momentum? Under optimum conditions, there’s a chance that Sony will be able to close the gap by the end of the year — something I didn’t think was possible until 2011.

Most importantly, I want to know what you think of these numbers. How do you think things will play out in 2010? Leave your predictions in the comments section (please)! You can even give yourself a two-million unit margin of error like Michael Pachter.

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PlayStation 3 Firmware Update 3.41 Adds Recommendations

The upcoming PlayStation 3 firmware update (3.41.) adds an interesting and potentially useful feature: a recommendation engine. While you’re browsing games in the PlayStation Store, a series of “you may like” titles are shown. Sony Computer Entertainment America vice president of network operations Eric Lempel explained on the PlayStation Blog:

This feature is a great way to discover new games that you may not know about, and it’s another step toward making the shopping experience easier and better for you all — similar to the five-star ratings feature we added in the last firmware update. Please note that while the 3.41 update will be released shortly, the recommendations feature on PlayStation Store is slated to go live by the end of July.

While some people (impulse buyers that can’t control themselves) aren’t digging this feature, I think it’s more useful than not. For example, a certain RPadholic was not aware that Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions was available in the PlayStation Store. Perhaps this recommendation engine can help avoid such travesties.

What do you think of this feature? Useful? Annoying? Meh?

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This Week’s Videogame Releases

In case you’ve been living under a rock for the last several years, Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty is coming out this week. This will be the biggest PC game release of 2010 and one of the world’s most important games. I’m pretty sure the release is a national holiday in South Korea. On consoles, hardcore fighters have a treat in BlazBlue: Continuum Shift. Last but not least is Arc Rise Fantasia for Wii. These are the only three releases that I thought would interest you. I was going to include Clash of the Titans as a joke…but it’s not that funny.

Any of you picking up new games this week? Are you attending any midnight StarCraft launches?

DC Universe Online Trailer is a Fanboys Dream

This excellent trailer (via GameTrailers) of DC Universe Online is a comic-book fanboys dream! In addition to explaining the game’s story, the video features tons of DC’s “big three”: Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. Lots of other heroes show up, but my mark-out moments were when villains Black Adam and Deathstroke were featured.

Check out the clip and let me know what your highlights were (please)!

20 Street Fighter X Tekken Screens

As promised, here are some screens from the upcoming Street Fighter X Tekken. There’s lots of Kazuya and Ryu, with a little bit of Chun-Li and Nina thrown in to up the sexy girl factor. As you can see, the game pretty much looks like Super Street Fighter IV, with some Tekken characters and a tag mode thrown in.

Check out the screens and let me know what you think (please)!

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Street Fighter X Tekken Unveiled at Comic-Con 2010

In arguably the biggest videogame surprise at Comic-Con 2010, Capcom and Namco announced Street Fighter X Tekken during a panel. The setup was brilliant — the Capcom panel featuring producer Yoshinori Ono was “crashed” by the Tekken team headed up by project leader Katsuhiro Harada. Capcom will be handling the 2D Street Fighter X Tekken, while Namco Bandai will be working on Tekken X Street Fighter (presumably 3D). Here a clip from the Capcom press release:

Utilizing the same technology that powered Street Fighter IV & Super Street Fighter IV, Tekken characters such as Kazuya Mishima and Nina Williams will make the transition into the Street Fighter universe having been re-imagined using the much-loved art style of these seminal titles; while retaining their unique characteristics and signature moves as they go head-to-head with classic brawlers from the Street Fighter franchise in what promises to be the ultimate match up.

As in Street Fighter IV, 2D gameplay will feature fully realized 3D character models battling for domination in both new and familiar highly detailed environments that are brought to life with engaging animations. In addition to modes such as Versus and Training that will feature new enhancements to make the fighting experience more in-depth and enjoyable, Street Fighter X Tekken will include Tag Team combat where players select two fighters to deliver knockout assist attacks and special combos.

I’m uploading a bunch of screens from the game, so stay tuned for those. For now, let me know your Street Fighter vs. Tekken dream fight.

Power Gig: Rise of the Six String Developer Diary

Seven45 Studios has released a developer diary on its upcoming game, Power Gig: Rise of the SixString. This music game uses a real guitar as its controller. Design director Jack Davis goes over the story and world in this dev diary.

With its unique controls and story mode, will Power Gig be able to take a slice of the pie that’s dominated by Guitar Hero and Rock Band? I’d love hear your thoughts on the matter.

NPD Console Sales Figures Top 10 Games of June 2010

Here are NPD Group’s console software sales figures for June 2010. There are a lot of repeats on June’s list, with Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption leading the way. There’s also one omission that annoyed me. And the the top ten are….

  1. Red Dead Redemption (Xbox 360): 582,900
  2. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii): 548,400
  3. Red Dead Redemption (PS3): 380,300
  4. New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii): 200,900
  5. Just Dance (Wii): 174,800
  6. Wii Fit Plus (Wii)
  7. Toy Story 3 (Nintendo DS)
  8. UFC 2010: Undisputed (Xbox 360)
  9. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (Wii)
  10. UFC 2010: Undisputed (PS3)

Ugh. Just Dance is back on the list and Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver didn’t make it?!? Come on people!!! Oh well, as a Harry Potter nerd at least I can be happy about the number nine spot. Expelliarmus bitches!

What did you think of June’s top ten? You surprised that Red Dead is still dominating? Wasn’t it interesting that the only version of Toy Story 3 that made it on the list was the handheld one?