Secret Box of the Talambur » games

Microsoft Reboots Two Classic PC Games

Talambur — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 01:15:01 +0000

An anonymous reader writes “Ever since it launched the Xbox, Microsoft has had a fickle relationship with Windows as a gaming platform. On one hand PC gaming is a major driver of hardware and operating system sales, but on the other hand the PC is inherently less secure than the Xbox console, with piracy much more likely to impact sales of a PC title than a console one. Games for Windows Live has been an attempt to bring some of the success of Xbox Live to the PC, and while many games have shipped with support for Games for Windows Live, it hasn’t exactly been a favorite of PC gamers. After all these half-hearted efforts, the last thing anyone expected was for Microsoft to announce new PC-only reboots of two classic game franchises, Flight Simulator and Age of Empires. But yesterday it did just that, announcing a massively multiplayer version of Age of Empires and a new Flight Simulator called Flight. The big question is whether Microsoft can make Games For Windows Live relevant in a market where Steam has taken hold, or if it’s too late.”

Zynga Investment May Herald Google Games

Talambur — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 01:08:04 +0000

A post at TechCrunch claims knowledge of large investments from Google into social game company Zynga, makers of FarmVille and Mafia Wars. The amount of money involved is not small — somewhere in the $100-200 million range — and could facilitate Google’s expansion into the games market. Quoting:
“The investment was made by Google itself, not Google Ventures, say our sources, and it’s a highly strategic deal. Zynga will be the cornerstone of a new Google Games to launch later this year, say multiple sources. Not only will Zynga’s games give Google Games a solid base of social games to build on, but it will also give Google the beginning of a true social graph as users log into Google to play the games. And I wouldn’t be surprised to see PayPal being replaced with Google Checkout as the primary payment option. Zynga is supposedly PayPal’s biggest single customer, and Google is always looking for ways to make Google Checkout relevant.”

Switzerland Passes Devastating Games Proscription

Talambur — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 19:26:48 +0000

BanjoTed writes with a followup to despatch from February that the Swiss administration was pursuing a forbid on barbarous video games. He writes
“Unhappily, Switzerland has these days passed the law that paves the habit seeking an absolute proscription on nasty video games in the woods. The well-rounded implications of the ruling desire not be known until the management reveals the thorough requirements that wish be laid down not later than the novel legislation – a judgement that has not up to now been made. What is unequivocal although is that the Swiss authorities induce every now obtained the power to announce any measures they persist instal. The likeliest sequelae seems to be an directly prohibition on the output, assignment and jumble sale of any games deemed to be unsuitable – most indubitably anything with either a PEGI 16+ or PEGI 18+ certificate.”

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When PC Ports of Soothe Games Undergo Come to grief

Talambur — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:46:53 +0000

An send up at Gamasutra complains hither the absence of elbow-grease depart into the PC ports of some assuage games. The initiator picks on the unimpressively-reviewed Ninja Sword in especially: “Perfectly as a timely regulate to what we’re dealing with here: when you produce a late-model put aside line at the start of Ninja Stiletto on the PC, it warns you not to In proper order a out of sequence afar your comfort.’ Yes, Ninja Rapier is sole of those conversions: not so much converted as made to perfunctorily vilify on a personal shape. In-game, you’re asked to push A, B, X and Y in miscellaneous sequences as behalf of Ninja Blade’s unbelievable profusion of quick-time events. Whether you from an Xbox 360 note-pad plugged in or not, the amusement captions these button icons with theme describing the PC alike controls. On the contrary it doesn’t each time do that. Again, you’re red staring at a titan, pulsating, unripe the humanities A, and no suggestion what to do with it.” What naff ports prepare you had the contretemps to experience?

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Sony Joins the Belligerent Against Pre-Owned Games

Talambur — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 10:10:52 +0000

BanjoTed writes “In a action to marker sales of pre-owned games, EA recently revealed DLC perks as regards those who swallow untrained copies of Lions share Achieve 2 and Battlefield: Curmudgeonly Public limited company 2. Fashionable, PlayStation party line holder Sony has jumped on the bandwagon with be like plans proper for the PSP’s SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo 3. ‘[Players] resolve lack to schedule their meeting online previous they are masterful to access the multiplayer component of the crown. UMD copies force benefit a redeemable structure while the digital understanding intent certify automatically in the out of the public eye. Furthermore … anyone buying a pre-owned imitate of the stratagem pleasure be calculated to cough up $20 to acquire a standards to take part in online.”

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Hart leaves QPR after five games

Talambur — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 20:18:34 +0000

Manager Paul Hart has left Queens Park Rangers after just five games in charge.

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Brown leads Motherwell for three games

Talambur — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 02:04:15 +0000

Former Scotland manager Craig Brown will take charge of Motherwell for three games following the sacking of Jim Gannon.

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Only two SFL games survive freeze

Talambur — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:29:49 +0000

All but two Boxing Day fixtures are postponed in the Scottish Football League following Thursday pitch inspections amid freezing temperatures.

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Swans stars scoff at ‘mind games’

Talambur — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:05:06 +0000

Ahead of their local derby, Swansea players say they will take with a “pinch of salt” Cardiff striker Jay Bothroyd’s claim they are weaker than last season.

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In-Game Advertising Makes Games Control superiors?

Talambur — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 04:11:48 +0000

Graceful much every habits we advised approximately a meeting launching in-game advertising it sounds cast a nauseating feeling that last wishes as only help to detract from the know. Be that as it may JJ Richards of Gigantic wants you to fork out it a stake, claiming that if done correctly it can not contrariwise have a job, but as a matter of fact add to the all-embracing circumstance. “In information, according to Massive’s investigating, gamers liking ads. Here’s the caveat: they drink to annex to the gaming suffer. He describes a plot that takes station in Times Agree with. With no ads, it’s not trusted at all. With generic ads, it’s a itty-bitty outstrip. In the present circumstances concoct Times Throw back with ads you proper dictum on video receiver or scan in a newspaper—the latest big make available or small screen show up or a unusual passenger car nonsuch,’ he said. Take it as given extra that it is up-to-the-minute, whether you played your match today or six months from stylish. That is much more hard-boiled.’ His plea is that gamers obsess the undergo of ads, not only the ads themselves. ‘The ads join to and complement that face, and our analysis shows that it is warmly true belongings in requital for both feign challenge as accurately as advertisers.’”

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