Microsoft has announced that the Xbox Live Community Games project will launch this Fall. "Community Games" is the name Microsoft has given to a special class of Xbox Live Arcade titles created by independent developers with Microsoft's XNA Game Studio software.
For $99 a year, developers will have access to the XNA development tools and the XNA Creator's Club. After working on a game, the developer uploads to the Creator's Club network where it is critiqued by other XNA community members. When the Creator's Club deems it ready for primetime, the developer can make it available to the Xbox 360 userbase at large at a price of 200 ($1.50), 400 ($5) or 800 ($10) Microsoft Points.
Xbox 360 owners got their first taste of Community Games when Microsoft released demos of a few onto Xbox Live during this year's Game Development Conference. Those games will likely make up the first wave of Community Games. Wired's Game|Life blog has also confirmed that this time demo setup is how Microsoft plans to distribute demos of Community Games on Xbox Live.
One other added benefit of the Community Games project is that it opens up quite an opportunity for "game development clubs" at the library. For the small cost of $99 a year and a computer that's not being used much, a club like this could give kids interested in game design a chance to flex their programming muscles and a chance to put their game on Xbox Live for the whole world to see.
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Thursday, July 24, 2008
Xbox 360 "Community Games" Available This Fall
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
E3 2008 Trailerapalooza
E3 2008 is done and over with, but that doesn't mean it's come to an end. There are hours and hours (probably close to several days worth) of video from gaming's biggest showcase event. And that's where the handy-dandy E3 2008 page at Game Trailers comes in handy. Almost 700 videos have been uploaded, categorized, and sorted for everyone who's not a game journalist and couldn't go to E3.
Hit the "Read Full Post" link for a list of some of the games you'll find on display at Game Trailers and a few of my favorite trailers.
Other games with video from E3 2008 at Game Trailers:
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Gaming + Learning + Society 2008 Presentations Online
The presentations from the 2008 Gaming + Learning + Society Conference are now online for your viewing pleasure. The conference was held on July 10th and the 11th and if you work with games in a school or educational setting, the following topics of discussion might be right up your alley:
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Nintendo Controllers Deemed in Violation of Patents
It seems that Nintendo has lost a patent violation case against Texas-based Anascape. Anascape's patent has to do with analog sticks in controllers. According to the judge in the case, Nintendo's GameCube controller (including the Wavebird) and the Wii's Classic Controller are both in violation of Anascape's patent.
The judge has ruled that Nintendo has to pay Anascape $21 million. However, Nintendo has chosen to appeal the ruling and unless they post a $21 million bond, they will be forced to stop selling GameCube and Classic Controllers until the appeal is over. So if you want either, it might be wise to get them now.
Sony and Microsoft have already dealt with Anascape in the past, as both companies have licensed Anascape's analog stick technology for their own controllers. So there should be no worry they'll disappear in the future too.
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Gaming in the Library: 100 Tips and Resources
Jessica Merritt has recently published an article at the Online Education Database entitled Bringing Gaming (and Gamers) to Your Library: 100 Tips and Resources. The list of tips is a fantastic resource for any librarian looking to add games or gaming programs to their library (and not just because links to The Video Game Librarian are paired with five of the tips).
Here's a small taste of the tips and resources available, and be sure to read the whole article, I highly recommend it.
When libraries offer gaming programs, there's often a very favorable response, but how do you go about getting started? You'll need to know which games are the best, how to attract gamers, and so much more. There are many tips, resources, and tools that will help you figure out everything you need to know, and we've profiled them here.
16. Don't forget adults: Library games and gaming events are often directed at teens, but keep in mind that many adults love to game, too.
29. Let your staff play: Break down resistance to gaming by getting your staff involved and having fun with gaming.
31. Be prepared for opposition: Not everyone understands the appeal of gaming, particularly video games, in the library, so you will find that you'll need to defend your actions with academic discussions and statistics.
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Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Dead Rising Coming to the Wii
Capcom has announced that one of the most underappreciated games on the Xbox 360, Dead Rising, will be coming to the Wii this Winter under the title Dead Rising: Chop Til You Drop (I love this title by the way).
Chop Til You Drop will return to Frank West's adventures in the Wilamette Mall and his battle against the zombies inside. The Wii version will be based on the Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition engine, so the game will no include an over-the-shoulder camera option and Wii Remote aiming of the hundreds of different weapons Frank has at his disposal. The save system (which a lot of gamers complained about) has been revamped to allow more saving opportunities.
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1942 on XBLA Tomorrow
Microsoft has announced the two games that will appear on the Xbox Live Arcade tomorrow, and as expected, 1942: Joint Strike is one of them. The high definition remake of the arcade and NES classic will be joined by Go! Go! Break Steady, a rhythm game built on top of a "Match 3"-style puzzle game.
Here's some details from Microsoft on both games:
Go! Go! Break Steady features an original style combining rhythmic beat-matching with match-3 style puzzle game play. Choose your character and then make them dance to the beat while solving increasingly challenging puzzles. This addictive game features a unique visual style, multiplayer versus and cooperative local and multiplayer action via Xbox Live, and 20 different songs in a variety of genres for your character to break dance to.
Developed by Little Boy Games, Inc. and published by Microsoft, "Go! Go! Break Steady" will be available worldwide for 800 Microsoft Points ($10) and is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB.
1942: Joint Strike imagines a parallel world reminiscent of our own WWII era, where pilots take to the skies with stylized aircraft carriers and devastating weaponry! Inspired by the popular 80's arcade series, “1942: Joint Strike” combines classic top-down vertical shooting with updated 3D HD graphics. Take on massive waves of incoming enemies while dodging explosions and missiles! Face off with huge enemy bosses in death-defying dogfights. Recruit a wing man locally or online to pull off new “Joint Strike” attacks, combining the powers of both aircraft in one explosive barrage. With new weapons and power-ups in your arsenal, prepare to rejoin the battle!
Developed by Backbone Entertainment and published by Capcom, “1942: Joint Strike” will be available worldwide for 800 Microsoft Points ($10) and is rated E10+ for Everyone 10+ by the ESRB.
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Goosebumps Rise From the Grave With a New Game
Scholastic has announced that will be moving into video game publishing this October (under the Elastic publishing label) with a Goosebumps game.
Goosebumps: HorrorLand will be released on the DS, PlayStation 2 and Wii. It will offer a variety of different play modes including 30 amusement park-styled minigames, light gun shooting sections and some platforming. Here's what Scholastic had to say about the game:
Marking the brand's first foray into gaming consoles and handhelds, Goosebumps HorrorLand is an adventure game set in a fright-themed amusement park filled with over thirty thrilling rides and bone-chilling attractions. Sounds like fun - until players discover the scares are all too real and find themselves vanquishing vampires, hanging on for life on the Roller Ghoster and battling Certain Death. As players fiendishly try to escape the park, they will unravel a mystery, encounter a host of creepy horrors, monsters and mummies plus trademark Goosebumps twists and cliffhangers. Goosebumps HorrorLand will offer the suspense, pulse-pounding action, tension and humor that defines the franchise. Goosebumps HorrorLand, the video game, is set to make nightmares come to life on Wii (SRP $39.99), Nintendo DS (SRP $29.99), and Playstation 2 system (SRP $29.99) in October 2008.The trailer can be found at the official website, GoosebumpsVideoGame.com
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Gaming Libraries in the News: July 2008
The always reliable ALA News About Games and Gaming blog has posted another batch of news bits about libraries and gaming.
The post includes ten news articles about libraries and gaming including a library that recently completed a two-day Monopoly tournament and another library that keeps their Rock Band instruments and game console set up at all times. Very cool.
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Monday, July 21, 2008
Del Ray Publishing a Trilogy of Gears of War Novels
After the success of the Halo series of novels, it was only a matter of time before Microsoft's Gears of War series got the same treatment. And get it, it will. The first novel in a planned Gears of War trilogy will be released on October 28 (just ahead of Gears of War 2's November 7 release date). It will be a prequel to the game series titled Gears of War: The Battle of Aspho Fields and will be written by Karen Traviss (who previously brought the Star Wars: Republic Commando world to life in a series of novels).
Here's what Del Ray had to say about the novel's plot:
In Gears of War: The Battle of Aspho Fields, the last human stronghold on Sera braces itself for another onslaught from the Locust Horde, as ghosts come back to haunt Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago. For Marcus — decorated war hero, convicted traitor — the return of an old comrade threatens to dredge up an agonizing secret he's sworn to keep. As the beleaguered soldiers of the Coalition of Ordered Governments take a last stand to save humankind from extermination, the harrowing decisions made at Aspho Fields have to be relived and made again. Marcus and Dom can take anything the Locust Horde throws at them — but will their friendship survive the truth about Dom’s brother Carlos?
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