Sony patent hints at some controller attachment craziness

If arecent patent filingis any indication, Sony’s not stopping with a simple motion control “wand.” Thepatent for“Expandable Control Device Via Hardware Attachment” points to various control schemes, including the option to join two devices together. The ability to add a second controller — joining the DualShock with the motion controller, for instance — is specifically hinted at. Microphone attachments, as well as the ability to customize the controller with faceplates, are mentioned....

May 16, 2025 · 1 min · 154 words · Katie Reyes

Sony’s Harrison keeps it real at D.I.C.E.

Over at D.I.C.E. inLas Vegas, Phil Harrison took some hard questions from Newsweek’sN’Gai Croalon the PlayStation 3 and came clean on a few things. Here are some highlights from theconversation: Q: “Perhaps Sony’s third-party relations have been less effective than when you were the point person. How much intel do you have on developer support, and how does Sony plan to improve this?” Harrison started by admitting: “There’s no point in me being defensive....

May 16, 2025 · 4 min · 837 words · Elizabeth Williams

Square Enix and Eidos restructure to make Square Enix Europe

It seemed like only a few months ago when,after being bought out by Square Enix, Eidos boss Phil Rogerswas making remarksabout how excited he was that the Eidos brand name would remain intact through the merger. Well, that’s still kind of true, but not quite as true as it could be. According to Gamesindustry.biz, Square Enix is restructuring its publishing duties, creating a new company tentatively named “Square Enix Europe.” Moving forward, all Square Enix and Eidos games in Europe will be published by the new company, led by Rogers....

May 16, 2025 · 2 min · 235 words · Samantha Valdez

Stacking DLC to find ‘The Lost Hobo King’

Achievements for Double Fine’sStackinghave revealed details on the game’s upcoming and unannounced downloadable content. Spotted on Xbox.com were Achievements referencing something called “The Lost Hobo King.” The content will feature “hi-jinx,” unique dolls, and new challenges. No word on release date or price, but when publisher THQ and the developer are ready to talk (which will probably be soon, considering the cat’s out of the bag), we’ll let you know....

May 16, 2025 · 1 min · 92 words · Tonya Martinez

StarCraft II: Starter Edition replaces official demo

Blizzard Entertainment announced today they have retired their demo ofStarCraft II: Wings Of Libertyand replaced it with theStarter Edition. Players will get access to the first four missions ofStarCraft IIup to the point you either hit Tychus’s first mission or Dr. Hansen’s first mission. There will also be two challenges (Tactical Command, Covert Ops) and access to four custom maps (Xel’Naga Caverns, Shattered Temple, Discord IV, High Orbit.) However unlike the original demo,StarCraft II: Starter Editionwill require a Battle....

May 16, 2025 · 1 min · 129 words · Timothy Price

Subliminal audio to treat gaming addicts, subliminal audio addiction on the rise

TheKorea Times, by way ofBoing Boing, has an article about a company called Xtive that claims to have developed a system of subliminal audio cues designed to combat video game addiction. They claim that the messages are played 10,000 – 20,000 times per second, and that while gamers can not consciously hear the sounds, their subconscious can pick up, and be influenced enough to dissuade people from playing games. The eventual goal of the company is to have game developers integrate their system into gaming machines, to curb the rampant, deadly scourge of video game addiction....

May 16, 2025 · 1 min · 212 words · Jennifer Henson

Super Mario Galaxy replaces Ocarina of Time as highest ranked

According toGame Rankings,Super Mario Galaxyis the highest rated game of all time, overcoming long-time title holderThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The recently released Nintendo Wii game has racked up eithervery high and even perfect numbersfrom the media outlets (we loved it!) that reviewed it, and Game Rankings gives it an overall average of 97.8%, barely beatingOcarina’s97.6%. Don’t feel bad:Ocarina of Timeis an amazing game, butNext-Gen points outthat the title has held that top spot for nine years....

May 16, 2025 · 1 min · 102 words · Roberto Hartman

Super Street Fighter IV Fight Club in L.A.

Super Street Fighter IVis coming. To celebrate, Sony is teaming up with Capcom to throw a party. At this party there will be giveaways and gaming — things that you like. Attendees will get to get their paws on the game, of course. As for the goodies, gift bags will be given at the door, and prizes like shirts, art and the game itself (for PS3, of course) will be given away....

May 16, 2025 · 1 min · 171 words · Jacqueline Smith

Surfer Girl promises BioShock 2: New team to work on it, people sick of Levine

Surfer Girl, the mysterious prophet who has become the gamer’s Oracle of choice, todayshares with us gossipfrom 2K Boston concerning the development ofBioShock 2. After pointing to aGamasutrajob posting that stated theBioShockcreators were setting up a new studio in the Bay area, the Surfing woman of mystery delved deeper into the story behind this relocation: 2K Boston is still recovering – a good chunk of theBioShockteam did not want to work with Ken ever again, and 2K definitely understood the sentiment and let them set up a new studio so that they can makeBioshock 2, leaving Ken withProject X....

May 16, 2025 · 1 min · 209 words · Courtney Fleming

Symbiote Studios announces the Sam & Max statue

I’ve kept an eye onSymbiote Studiosever since they took the commendable step of transformingDr. Traninto a collectible I could actually buy and decorate my desk with, and it seems that they are aiming to please even more gamers with the announcement of their latest creation, the Sam & Max statue! You may recognize the characters from the award-winningTelltaleSam & Max games in this handsome 17-inch statue, sculpted by Joe Simon and limited to 1000 pieces....

May 16, 2025 · 1 min · 116 words · Daniel Alexander

Take-Two messing around with Natal, PS Motion Controller

“Natal motion-sensors – yes we have dev kits, yes we’re working on them.” Take-Two said that they have installed both Project Natal and PlayStation Motion Controller development kits in most of their studios during their investors call today. Their CEO, Ben Feder, says that “everybody’s working with them to try to figure out new ways in which we can innovate and create the kind of content that this company is famous for....

May 16, 2025 · 1 min · 130 words · Richard Allen

Team Fortress 2 sticky bombs go all soft

When I think cute and fuzzy I think something that could explode. Why is that? Because Valvehas releasedtwo newTeam Fortress 2plushies and they’re modeled after the Demoman’s sticky bombs. The come inRedandBlu, so you don’t have to betray your favorite team, and they’re fuzzy! Sadly, they don’t actually stick so you won’t be able to start a sticky bomb war with your friends unless you all have velcro suits that you stole from one of those velcro wall things they have at amusement parks....

May 16, 2025 · 1 min · 119 words · Christopher Smith

Tekken 6: Hori stick, art book, new campaign mode

Take a look at what comes with theTekken 6bundle in Japan, releasing with the now official date of October 29th. There’s a standard version, priced at 8,379 yen ($88), but a collectors box comes with a wireless Hori fighting stick, a Fist 6 art book, and the game itself, all for 17,289 yen ($181). Both the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions will get a bundle — the Xbox 360 version comes with a white stick, while the PS3 gets black....

May 16, 2025 · 2 min · 214 words · Stephanie Wright