Gaming Revolution

Be Your Own 'Rock Band'

Ars Technica  |  Nov 19, 07 4:20 PM CST

(Newser) - The immensely popular Guitar Hero "rhythm game" franchise has a new competitor: MTV Games/Harmonix's Rock Band. The game ups the ante on the Guitar Hero concept by moving beyond guitars: a microphone and drumset controllers, along with guitar, are included in the game's $170 pricetag so that in multiplayer, users can put every part of a song together, Ars Technica reports. More »

Sony Halves Developer Fees for Struggling PlayStation 3

Associated Press  |  Nov 19, 07 2:27 PM CST

(Newser) - In its latest effort to revive lagging sales, Sony has halved the price of a software development kit for its PlayStation 3 video game console. Last month, the company slashed the price of the console itself to consumers, in response to fierce competition from the better-selling Nintendo Wii, reports the AP. Sales of Microsoft's Xbox have also outstripped the PS3. More »

PC Gaming World Contracts

CNET  |  Nov 18, 07 3:41 PM CST

(Newser) - The PC gaming industry is on the defensive, with sales of PC games down substantially over the past five years, as less expensive gaming consoles have become more powerful. The Wii, Xbox, and PS3 have lured away casual gamers, leaving the PCs to hardcore gamers playing, first-person shooters and complex role-playing and strategy games, CNET reports. More »

Singapore Lifts Ban on Game With Lesbian Love

Straits Times  |  Nov 16, 07 2:54 PM CST

(Newser) - Gamers in Singapore may now buy Microsoft's Mass Effect despite a female-female love scene. The country has decided to allow the sale of the video game under an M18 rating, reports Singapore's Straits Times , after previously banning it due to a scene showing a human woman and an alien woman kissing. More »

Price Cut Lifts PlayStation Sales

Associated Press  |  Nov 15, 07 9:02 PM CST

(Newser) - Long lagging behind the Nintendo Wii and without a 'Halo 3' to rescue it, Sony's PlayStation 3 is finally seeing sales pick up in the weeks after a $100 price cut and introduction of a lower-end model. Sony said it sold 100,000 consoles last week, compared to sales of 30,000-40,000 a week before the Oct. 18 price cut. More »

Atari 2600 Enters Hall of Fame

Machinist  |  Nov 11, 07 10:45 AM CST

(Newser) - One of Gen X's most notable toys received 21st-century kudos on Thursday, when the Atari 2600 was inducted into the National Toy Hall of fame. The Atari console's initial library of 9 titles changed the face of video games, says Salon's Machinist columnist Farhad Manjoo. "There'd be no 'Halo 3' for XBox 360 if there weren't 'Space Invaders' for Atari." More »

New 'Call of Duty' Offers Players Modern Combat

Reuters  |  Nov 9, 07 5:19 PM CST

(Newser) - "Call of Duty 4: Modern Combat," released this week, takes players on the missions of elite modern fighters like the US Marines or British SAS, a departure for a video game series that previously focused exclusively on WWII. The game is set to be this holiday season's biggest seller, reports Reuters . More »

Gaming Giant to Close Chicago Office

San Jose Mercury News  |  Nov 6, 07 11:43 PM CST

(Newser) - The video game maker Electronic Arts is closing its Chicago office, laying off or relocating nearly 150 employees, the San Jose Mercury News reports. A spokesman for EA says the Chicago studio, which had tripled in size since 2004, wasn't profitable, and likely wouldn’t have been for at least three years. The company announced plans last week to lay off about 350 of its 8,200 employees. More »

Activision Profits Powered by Guitar Hero

Wall Street Journal  |  Nov 5, 07 10:14 PM CST

(Newser) - Activision turned a $24.3 million loss into a slender quarterly profit of $698,000 in just one year—thanks to its blockbuster musical simulation Guitar Hero. The video game is expected to produce revenue in the billions, the Wall Street Journal reports. Guitar Hero III was launched October 28—, and its first week sales were more than $100 million. More »

Battle Axe Gods in Latest Guitar Hero

Ars Technica  |  Oct 31, 07 11:21 AM CDT

(Newser) - The latest game in the Guitar Hero franchise is out and reviewers are shredding to it already. Ars Technica says Guitar Hero III hasn’t suffered from Neversoft’s loss of Harmonix, the original developers. In this release, wireless guitars are standard, more rock songs are included, and the career mode of the game includes a ‘battle” sessions with guitar bosses. More »

Ghosts and Ghouls Invade Virtual Worlds

Wired  |  Oct 30, 07 12:26 PM CDT

(Newser) - Take a break from scarfing candy to join in silly spookiness online. Wired gives you the inside scoop on special events and areas in your favorite virtual worlds dedicated to the holiday: Halo 3: A seasonal addition to the matchmaking playlist should keep players entertained for the 27 hours surrounding Halloween. Lord of the Rings Online:  Until November 11, you can compete in horseraces, bob for apples, pick geodes, or dance the night away at the Harvest Festival. More »

'Sims' Creator's 'Spore' Delayed

GameSpot  |  Oct 25, 07 4:01 PM CDT

(Newser) - "Spore", the much awaited 'life-simulation'/'god game' from SimCity and The Sims creator Will Wright, will finally be released in Spring 2008, GameSpot reports. The game and its all-encompassing concept, wherein a player guides the development of life from multicellular organisms to space-faring civilizations, was first announced two years ago, but its development has been repeatedly delayed. More »

'Pong' Inventor Muses on Gaming

Electronic Design  |  Oct 23, 07 12:49 PM CDT

(Newser) - Nolan Bushnell, often called the father of electronic games, is still masterminding new ways  to mix technology and entertainment, Electronic Design reports. Fusing his experiences as the inventor of Pong and founder of both Atari and Chuck E. Cheese restaurants, Bushnell has created uWink, a family restaurant where the tables have inset touch-screen monitors featuring social, family-based multiplayer games. More »

Game Over! Halo 3