LG's on again / off again combo HD DVD + Blu-ray player is -- at least for this week -- on again. To recap: After showing the BD199 Blu-ray player at last year's CES, the company abruptly shelved it and promised a combo player to end the high definition format war. Then this fall the company backed off those plans, reaffirmed its status in the Blu-ray camp and even showed off the BD100 Blu-ray player in London as recently as November.
Now, LG promises that not only is the dual format player coming, we'll be able to see it next week at CES. No word on if it contains any of the hybrid hardware we've heard so much about in recent months, but the company has promised details on pricing and availability in Las Vegas. With neither format projected to make a large dent in declining DVD sales this year, perhaps an end to the format war is just what they need to get things rolling... or cause more confusion and hesitation amongst potential customers.
Former Rockstar executive Gary Dale has rejoined the company as chief operating officer, having left his post as European MD of Capcom.
Dale became president of BMG's interactive and software and video division in 1994 and remained there until Take-Two aquired the company in March 1998. During his time with Take-Two he oversaw the release of more than 30 titles including the original Grand Theft Auto.
Dale moved to Capcom Europe in 2003 but is now returning to the Rockstar fold, effective from today.
HD movies via console more popular than e-tailer's Unbox service.
The Xbox 360 is driving the concept of digital movie downloads far better than consumer competitor Amazon, as audience's favour ease of use over the amount of content on offer from the world's biggest online retailer.
Microsoft's high definition download service has been more successful than Amazon.com's Unbox effort, with US consumers preferring to watch content directly accessed from the console's hard drive rather than struggle with burning content to discs, according to a report on Variety.com
It's even suggested that box office flops are performing well as downloads over Xbox Live, appealing to consumers eager to access high definition content.
Gamers are invited to join the fight when the beta goes live this spring with Xbox Live and “Crackdown” providing the final two paths.
Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie Studios are ringing in the year with a proverbial bang, as they announced today two new ways for gamers to receive an invitation to participate in the “Halo® 3” multiplayer beta program coming this spring through Xbox Live® Marketplace.
Specifically, gamers will be able to receive an invitation by doing one of the following:
- Qualifying over Xbox Live and then being one of the first 13,333 “Halo 2” gamers to register for the “Rule of Three” program at http://www.halo3.com in early February
- Purchasing the upcoming game “Crackdown™,” which hits store shelves in the U.S. on Feb. 20
The “Halo 3” multiplayer beta, which is a pre-release version of the multiplayer experience of “Halo 3,” is scheduled for availability in spring 2007 exclusively on Xbox 360™. The beta also represents an opportunity for gamers to participate in the testing and refinement of the multiplayer gameplay of “Halo 3,” the most anticipated game of 2007. Through the resulting feedback, Bungie Studios will be able to further hone the end result of “Halo 3.”
Beginning Thursday, Feb. 1, 2007, at 12:01 a.m. EST, all gamers need to do is participate in at least three hours of “Halo 2” multiplayer sessions, via Xbox Live, before Feb. 3, 2007, at 11:59 p.m. EST and then be among the first 13,333 to register at http://www.halo3.com. The “Rule of Three” program is currently planned for gamers in the 50 United States (includes District of Columbia) age 17 years and older who have access to an Xbox 360 Pro console or an Xbox 360 Core console with hard drive, a valid Xbox Live Gold subscription and the “Halo 2” game. Gamers around the world are encouraged to visit http://www.halo3.com in the coming weeks for more information on the “Rule of Three” program in their region.
As well, when “Crackdown” hits store shelves, gamers eager to take home a copy of the highly anticipated exclusive action title for Xbox 360 will find marked boxes of “Crackdown” that include an invite to participate in the coveted “Halo 3” multiplayer beta program when it becomes available. When the “Halo 3” multiplayer beta surfaces in spring 2007, owners of “Crackdown” with access to an Xbox 360 Pro console or an Xbox 360 Core console with hard drive and a valid Xbox Live Gold subscription simply need to load their copy of “Crackdown” into Xbox 360 and use the disc as a key to download the beta from Xbox Live Marketplace and join the battle in “Halo 3” multiplayer. “Crackdown” will be available in the U.S. on Feb. 20, Asian territories on Feb. 22 and European markets on Feb. 23.
In December, Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie Studios completed the first of three ways for North American gamers to participate in the “Halo 3” multiplayer beta, by registering at http://www.halo3.com. Gamers who were selected from this initial opportunity will be contacted in January.
From Realtime Worlds, “Crackdown” pushes the action-driving hybrid genre into the next generation with a rich and immersive 3-D playground. Gamers level up their Agent’s strength, agility, firearms, explosives and driving skills while scaling the fully vertical world of “Crackdown.” This M-rated game incorporates revolutionary co-op gameplay throughout the entire free-form campaign. Creating a volatile *****tail of judicial oppression, players will clean up the streets of a truly interactive world when “Crackdown” hits store shelves at an estimated retail price of $59.99.
Over at Ars Technica there is an interesting write up covering an interview between Ben Kuchera of Ars Tech and Aaron Greenburg, the Group Marketing Manager for Xbox Live, and Scott Henson, product unit manager for Microsoft's game technology group.
Below are a couple of quotes from the article.
There is a lot of money to be made by selling things online, and a few companies are already on board with selling new cars, game levels, and even new guns and upgrades to your vehicles in games. But there is a limit, and EA has recently angered a lot of gamers with their new habit of putting up what amounts to cheat codes online for pay, and "tutorial videos" for Madden that also cost money. EA knows how to cash in wherever there is money to be made and gamers to annoy. I bring up these things and get the expected answers.
"Vote with your wallet!" I'm told. Fair point, but the fact that these things are being sold at all makes the microtransaction system itself look pretty bad. It's hard to be the classy online system when you're charging for what amounts to a video showing you how to hit buttons, or a shortcut to more money and a bigger gun.
and
I was more intrigued with the HD DVD drive as a piece of hardware. I asked if we would ever see games use the drive. A firm "no." I asked if we would ever see a 360 with an HD DVD drive built-in. Another firm "no." No hesitation.
"We don't want to charge customers $200 extra for something that may be the next Betamax," Henson told me (whoops).
Helsinki, Finland, January 3rd 2007 – FlatOut 2, the sequel to the million selling, acclaimed destruction racer FlatOut, crashes thru the 500,000 worldwide sales mark on the back of three months of sales in 2006. At the same time, FlatOut 2 pickups top accolades for racing games as IGN.com awards the game as “Best PS2 Racing Game of 2006” and G4 TV channel’s X-Play show chooses the game as the “Best Racing Game of 2006”.
Developed by Bugbear Entertainment and published by Empire Interactive, the FlatOut series were created to be most action-packed destruction racing experience on the PS2, Xbox and PC. With the sales of the FlatOut franchise now topping over 1.5 million units both the fans and the critics agree, FlatOut has smashed thru to the top!
“Being chosen as the best racing game of 2006 by two of the most popular game medias was a truly outstanding moment for everybody at Bugbear. We didn’t expect the accolades as we were going against a number of really great driving games. When the results were published, it felt exceptional. It felt like a real victory!” says Jussi Laakkonen, business development director at Bugbear Entertainment.
FlatOut 2’s appeal builds upon peerless destruction driven by Bugbear’s proprietary physics engine capable of delivering over 5,000 fully destructible objects on every track as well as 40 deformable parts on each of the 8 vehicles running and crashing side by side. Topped off by manic destruction derbies and the ever-popular Ragdoll punishing party games, FlatOut 2 delivers pure, unadulterated gaming fun.
Bugbear is currently developing FlatOut Ultimate Carnage for Xbox 360. FlatOut fans can expect a crash heavy year 2007!
Dune: Awakening Shows Off Stunning Unreal Engine 5 Gameplay & More Funcom (@Funcom) revealed a stunning new gameplay trailer and featurette for Dune: Awakening, the first episode of the new Dune: Awakening Direct series. Embark on a breathtaking journey across Arraki..
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Now, LG promises that not only is the dual format player coming, we'll be able to see it next week at CES. No word on if it contains any of the 
