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will wright’s
the man!
The Producers Guild of America announced that the
2007 Vanguard Award for outstanding achievement
in new media and technology will be presented to
game designer Will Wright, known for Sim City and
The Sims. His creative vision has inspired some of the
most critically acclaimed and popular video games
in the short history of the medium. This is the first
time in the Producers Guild
history that the prestigious
award has been given to a
game designer. Wright and
his team at EA Maxis are
currently developing Spore,
one of the most anticipated
games of 2007. Spore will
take players on an epic
journey from the origin
and evolution of life
through the development
of civilization and
technology, and eventually
lead all the way into
the deepest reaches of
outer space.
next-gen
lawsuits
There’s no question
that Nintendo’s newest
Wii console is popular,
mainly due to its
innovative controllers.
Soon after its launch,
reports started
surfacing about flying
Wiimotes, a result of
overzealous gamers
wildly swinging the
remotes and causing
the wrist straps to snap. Unfortunately, what goes up must come
down, and windows, furniture, and brand-new HDTVs were often on
the receiving end of a flying Wiimote.
On December 6th, three law firms filed a nationwide class-action
lawsuit in federal district court in Seattle, Washington, against
Nintendo of America. The litigation requests that the defective parts
be replaced, stating that a faulty remote is in breach of Nintendo’s
own product warranty. In mid-December, Nintendo started offering
an exchange for a sturdier version of the wrist strap.
Microsoft also had its share of unhappy users when a recent system
update made a user’s Xbox 360 system inoperable. Said user filed a
class-action lawsuit against Microsoft and is demanding a jury trial,
citing breach of contract, a violation of consumer protection act,
and negligence.
CONTENT BY
get ready
to be immersed
with ambx
A blend of a scripting language, software engine and
architecture, amBX has been designed to deliver all-new player experiences
through enabled devices such as LED color-controlled lights, active furniture,
fans, heaters, audio, and video, all placed strategically around a player’s
room. The scripted effects delivered through the Philips amBX Peripherals
will make the experience of playing a video game even more immersive.
When racing, wind will blow through your hair and in your face, explosions
will cause vibrations, and surround sound and lights will mimic the in-game
world to further enhance the feeling of being part of the game.
Currently, Codemasters will implement amBX in its racing titles, and
Introversion will adapt its recent DEFCON and Darwinia products, while THQ
and Gas Powered Games will deliver realistic land, sea and air effects into
the gamer’s room, from the shell-shocking flash, bang and whoosh of artillery
explosions to the helmetrattling
rumble of fearsome
tank tracks. Even titles that
are not specifically tailored
to the amBX technology will
benefit, as the scripting
automatically detects what
occurs on the screen and
reacts accordingly, although
in a lesser fashion.
sega hatches
“alien” games
Sega has signed an agreement with 20th
Century Fox to develop some next-gen
and PC titles set in the Alien universe,
including an RPG and a first-person
shooter, with the first product to be
released in 2009. Sega is in talks with the
film actors, including Sigourney Weaver
and Lance Henriksen, to provide their
likenesses and voices for the games. Alien
vs. Predator is not part of the deal.
Sega has confirmed
that the Alien RPG will be developed
by Obsidian, known for the recent
Neverwinter Nights 2 and Star Wars:
Knights of the Old Republic II: Sith Lords,
while the FPS title is in the hands of
Gearbox Software, which is currently
putting the finishing touches on Brothers
in Arms 3 for Ubisoft.
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