Video games: one’s escape from reality to become a hero and save the land from a dark malevolence, or being the twit that’s camping up on the roof and sniping the twenty-somethings who just signed online.
Let the movement begin! Microsoft has announced the price of Kinect, the motion sensor add-on to the Xbox 360 console. Gamers can expect to pay $149.99 USD for Kinect, which includes a free game – Kinect Adventures, when it hits store shelves.
Don’t have an Xbox 360 yet? Kinect will also be bundled along with an updated Xbox 360 console including Kinect Adventures, for $299.99 USD. This new console will feature 4 GB of internal flash memory as opposed to a hard drive and have built-in W-Fi for easier connectivity.
Kinect is scheduled for release on November 4th, 2010 in North America.
Source: IGN
Link returns to the Wii with Nintendo proclaiming the new title as The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Legendary game designer, Shigeru Miyamoto, took control of the green-clad hero using the Wii remote and Nunchuk to display use of the sword and shield.
To demonstrate the title of the game, Miyamoto pointed the remote skyward as Link imitated the action on-screen with his sword and the weapon charged up so that energy beams could be fired at enemies. It’s a throwback to earlier games in the series when Link’s heart containers were filled up allowing him to launch beams at Armos Knights and the like.
Skyward Sword uses the Wii MotionPlus accessory to enhance the controls used in-game. The game utilizes the A and B buttons for actions, while the Z button locks onto opposing creatures or targets. The Wii MotionPlus allows for a far more realistic approach in combat.
The game bears similarities to The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, though it’s rendered using cel-shading, similar to the style in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Skyward Sword acts and looks differently while offering greater control of Link. Link also is given new weapons and items, as well as a new method of carrying and equipping them.
Nintendo expects to have The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword available in 2011.
Microsoft has announced that the Xbox 360 will be slimming down in both size and price. The redesigned model is much more quiet and comes with a 250 GB hard drive and built in wireless capabilities. Also, the memory unit ports have been removed and replaced with five USB ports (two on the front, three on the back). The console is backwards compatible with most existing 360 accessories, with the exception of the external hard drives and power supplies.
In addition to the sleek glossy black casing, the Xbox 360 is Kinect ready, which is Microsoft’s new add-on feature that provides a controller-free gaming experience. Kinect, is the official name for Project Natal, which was publicized at last year’s E3.
Gamers can expect the new model to be available in stores later on this week.
Source: Kotaku
Legend of Zelda Promo
Wired magazine sat down with Cammie Dunaway, an executive vice president with Nintendo, to discuss game releases, localization and the upcoming DSi XL.
Dunaway was asked if the Japanese company would release a new Mario, Metroid and Zelda in the same year. It seems that Dunaway had dropped a hint that Nintendo would likely push all three games sometime in 2010.
In the past, Nintendo has been known to provide release dates and then push them back continually in order to complete quality testing and fine tune the finished product. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Source: Wired.com
Zelda Promo
Nintendo has rolled up its sleeves and is working on a surprise for the next installation in the Legend of Zelda Series for Wii.
Producer Eiji Aonuma sat down with the Official Nintendo Magazine in the UK to explain. Aonuma said that the Zelda team is “trying something new in terms of the structure of the Wii version” with the un-named adventure.
It’s expected that the Japanese gaming giant will reveal this new direction until E3 2010.
Source: Official Nintendo Magazine
Don't tinker with this toy!
Xbox gamers, be warned! Microsoft is out blocking modified consoles from accessing their Xbox Live online service. Gamers who’ve had their Xbox 360 altered to run pirated games or to use additional hardware will find themselves locked out.
Microsoft’s reasoning behind this crack down is to stem the flow of piracy in preventing downloaded or copied games from going online. With Infinity Ward’s “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2” launched this past Tuesday, a surge in illegally obtained copies of the game was expected.
Gamers who’ve found their consoles banned will find it pretty much impossible to circumvent, aside from purchasing a new Xbox unit and setting up a new Live account. Microsoft blacklists the console and accounts on it, and if a Gold subscription was purchased, it will not be refunded.
An estimated 1 million accounts are expected to be affected by this. Xbox Live hosts over 20 million accounts from gamers around the world.
Source: MSNBC
Square Enix has released a new line of their Play Arts figures from Final Fantasy IX. Even though the Japanese gaming company is expanding their collection of Final Fantasy VII or Kingdom Hearts figures, it’s quite nice to see the under-appreciated Final Fantasy IX given some love.
Fans and collectors alike can pick up the performer-thief Zidane Tribal, stubborn yet adventurous Princess Garnet Til Alexandros and the lovable Black Mage Vivi Ornitier.
Surprisingly, these figures are quite detailed for their price and they come with additional pieces so that their pose or appearance can be adjusted. Each figure is about about 6 inches tall, with Vivi at 5.5 inches. All three can be purchased from Square-Enix’s online store.
Nintendo has announced that on Sunday, September 27th, 2009, the price of the popular Wii will drop to $199 USD. Following the move of Sony and Microsoft who have also tried make their consoles more affordable, Nintendo has shaved $50 off the suggested retail price of $249 USD.
Mario fans can look also look forward to “New Super Mario Bros. Wii” which is scheduled to hit shelves in North America on November 15th, 2009.
Microsoft announced on Thursday that it will be dropping the price of the Xbox 360 Elite console to $299 USD from $399 USD. Since production has stopped on the Xbox 360 Pro model, Microsoft is cutting the price to $249 USD to clear out remaining units. The price for the Xbox 360 Arcade model, which does not include a hard drive, is still set at $199 USD.
The Xbox 360 Elite comes with a 160GB hard drive, wireless controller and headset along with a one month trial of Xbox Live Gold.
