The New World Assembly (TNWA) Group has released its proprietary anti-cheat platform, X-ray, to anybody that wants to use it for regulation of online games - for free.
The software, which cost over USD 1 million to develop, is currently used by the company's own tournament site Enemydown.
X-ray works by monitoring an individual's PC during play, and if it detects any irregularities it then sends a report and screenshot - anybody caught cheating will then be held in a database and prevented from taking part in future games using the software.
TNWA CEO Paul Sulyok explained the decision to GamesIndustry.biz.
"The reason why this came about is because we had a number of smaller leagues and tournaments in the UK, the States and in Australia who approached us asking to borrow the anti-cheat software that we had.
"We're not in the game of saying 'no, you can't have it, everyone's got to play in our tournaments,' so we sat down and tried to come up with a solution whereby people could use the anti-cheat technology that we built, and are updating an improving on an ongoing basis.
"It's about community, it's about nurturing and helping the community - and the community helps each other. We've had a number of companies help us out in the past, and there's absolutely no reason why we shouldn't feed that back in to help other communities grow as well."
Sensible World Of Soccer was first announced for XBLA back in September of 2006 for a release date in the first quarter of 2007.
We all know how that one turned out.
However, there are strong indications that the title will finally surface on Wednesday. Codemasters Online Gaming's Jim Brown said the following earlier this month: "We are currently targeting a release at the end of November. Of course this is all subject to passing the usual internal and Microsoft submissions."
Well, CVG noticed that there's only one more Wednesday before December rolls around, so it's do or die time for a November release for Sensible World Of Soccer.
Naturally, after months and months of being burned, we're excited for the title -- but we're not going to hold our breath
According to Double Fusion, the dynamic networks used by in-game advertising companies to monitor player behavior data can be used to aid processes such as level design.
Frank Sagnier, the European MD of in-game advertising specialist Double Fusion, told Develop that advertising placed in game environments can be used to monitor the popularity of in-game areas, which in turn can aid designers’ creation of new locations.
“Developers are starting to realize that there is a benefit to having this tool running underneath their game,” he said.
“For massively multiplayer games and virtual worlds we have developers asking us to look into where players are going and what they see. We can track the ads to see that players are going to certain spots.
“It’s difficult to know what environments work when you’re designing a game in a vacuum, but when it comes to MMOs you can update the game based on player behavior. Really, consumers can control the design of a game. Because we can track the data on what they are looking at and doing, we can help developers design their games better.
Double Fusion recently released a new technology which separates in-game advertising from the development process, enabling advertisers to implement new ads in already completed games and back catalog titles. Already being utilized by Ubisoft, NCsoft and casual game publisher Oberon Media, the technology, dubbed fusion.runtime, aims to offer companies much more flexibility in their approach to advertising strategies, and ensure that the implementation of adverts doesn't hamper the development process.
Microsoft is now working hard on getting owners of the original Xbox gaming console to the Xbox 360.
The company is now offering a new deal this holiday season specifically for the owners of the Xbox console who are also members of the Xbox Live service.
They are going to offer a copy of the hugely popular Halo 3 gaming title to gamers who wants to buy an Xbox 360 as long they have a paid-up Xbox Live membership and the original Xbox console.
This offer is valid between 21 November and 21 December. They would also have to move their existing Xbox Live account to an Xbox Live Gold subscription.
Halo 3 was just recently launched and it became a smashing hit for the company breaking several records for videogame titles in the market.
The game, which Ubisoft said is planned for "next-generation consoles and PC," is scheduled for release in March 2008 to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the Rainbow Six gaming franchise.
In an announcement today, Ubisoft didn't reveal much about the upcoming game but promised improved graphics, new gameplay features and new Vegas settings. The tactical solo campaign will return, and the sequel will build on its predecessor's popular multiplayer modes.
What happens in Vegas happens again in Vegas.
Co-op and adversarial multiplayer will return, and Vegas 2 will provide "unprecedented interaction between the solo and multiplayer modes," Ubisoft said.
"Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas took the gaming world by storm in 2006 thanks to its technological advances and gameplay innovations," said Yves Guillemot, president and chief executive officer at Ubisoft. "We are convinced that Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2 will remain a pioneer in the highly competitive first person shooter genre, bringing more of what Rainbow Six fans love to the table."
Three all new multiplayer maps are set for release on December 11 as part of the Heroic Map Pack, the first in a series of downloadable content from Bungie Studios to come via Xbox LIVE®.
Available for 800 Microsoft Points exclusively on Xbox LIVE Marketplace, each map presents a totally different play style.
The symmetrical valley of Standoff, with its entrenched bases and fields of boulders is ideal for mid-sized objective and Slayer game types.
The vast, labyrinthine passages of the Rat's Nest bring something completely new to the multiplayer experience: an indoor vehicle paradise. Strongly influenced by the Campaign mode, this map is ideal for big team battles.
Foundry is the ultimate Forge map. Players can edit every single object in this voluminous industrial warehouse, placing stairways, walls, bridges, and tunnels to create an entirely new play space and build almost any kind of map imaginable.
All three maps will become available for free download via Xbox LIVE Marketplace in Spring 2008, just prior to the next wave of new Halo 3 multiplayer maps.