How widespread is it?
We've heard numerous reports from users suffering a black screen error on their shiny new 3DS consoles that halts any game mid-flow, causing a hard reset. Nintendo has now released a statement on the matter, though it doesn't go into much more detail than the advice displayed on-screen.If anyone is experiencing any problems with their Nintendo 3DS console, we recommend that in the first instance they download and install the latest system update, now available online.
Secrets under wrap
Sitting two months away from E3 is always an exciting time. In the minds of gamers anything is possible before the show, with more outlandish fantasies than a Xena convention, and Kinect is no exception. Recently Microsoft's developer network (MSDN) sat down with three of the most important people on the Kinect project — Alex Kipman, Kuno Tsunoda and Darren Bennett — about what the future holds for the sensor, and while their lips were sealed on the most part, we can expect big news at E3.
Today I passed 10,000 emails in my inbox. I should really do something about that.
The Xbox has always been aimed at the heavy user: it was the first console to feature a hard drive and the first to make a decent fist of online play (sorry, Dreamcast.) Its most successful first-party franchises are geared towards the hardcore gamer, and after years of failed attempts to draw in the family gamer (sorry, *Viva Piñata) the console is finally growing its audience thanks to Kinect.
Reel deal?
Acting and singing have a lot in common: plenty of people believe they do them brilliantly, and the speed with which celebrities flit between both disciplines would have you believe they’re easy. As anyone who’s listened to a loved one murder a beloved song at karaoke will tell you, singing is best left to the professionals, yet games such as Lips and SingStar sell millions. Could a game based around acting do the same?
An offer you can refuse
Acting and singing have a lot in common: plenty of people believe they do them brilliantly, and the speed with which celebrities flit between both disciplines would have you believe they’re easy. As anyone who’s listened to a loved one murder a beloved song at karaoke will tell you, singing is best left to the professionals, yet games such as Lips and SingStar sell millions. Could a game based around acting do the same?
With free demo included
Today Capcom announced that Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D will come with a Resident Evil Revelations demo, but when can UK gamers get their hands on the multiplayer monster mash? As soon as 17th June, according to ratings board BBFC.
Price-cutting continues
Kinect launched in the UK with a recommended retail price of £129.99, but with Christmas long gone the sensor's price has started slowly slipping: in February we saw Tesco selling Kinect for £99.99, with Game not far behind at £104.99. Initial speculation suggested that Microsoft had reduced the price of Kinect to retailers, allowing them to pass on the discount to consumers, but it now appears the price cuts are entirely retailers' decisions.
But who wins?
Love it or loathe it, Metacritic is here to stay. The site collates review scores for thousands of films, TV shows and of course video games, but while the site is the source of plenty of debate it has given rise to an entertaining pastime: Metacritic Top Trumps.
Loves them really
There was something of a storm in a teacup around Reggie Fils-Aime's recent comments that Nintendo isn't interested in garage developers. As long-time fans of WiiWare and DSiWare will know, some of the services' better titles have originated from semi-professional coders or small development teams. Now Nintendo of America's director of PR Marc Franklin has stepped in to explain the company's feelings on the matter.
My name is James Newton, and this is my website - a collection of my writings about
videogames, music and all my other thoughts.