Mario Galaxy 2 Passes The 1 Million Sold Mark!

Right, so I still haven’t tried out the Wii2HDMI. I know, there’s really no reason I haven’t except that I’ve been a bit tired. This weekend I should for sure though, so we’ll talk more about it next week. In the meantime, did you know Super Mario Galaxy 2 has sold more than 1 million copies already? No, well it has. When you think about it, that’s an insane amount of games sold in less than two months. But that’s what Nintendo does, sell an ass-ton of games. The Big N is dominating the monthly sales charts, with 6 of the top 10 titles being from Nintendo according to NPD. And if you didn’t know, five of those are Wii titles. Yeah, that shit is crazy!!!
Another thing that’s crazy is the Old Spice guy. Homey blew up on Twitter the other day posting something like 100 video responses to people’s tweets. I’m going to post a couple of my favorites, because I can’t find a Ninty related video worth posting today. Those will be just below, and you can follow the jump after them for the full press release on SMG2 killing the competition. Enjoy, and stay thirsty my friends.

July 15, 2010
Nintendo News
U.S. Sales of Nintendo’s Super Mario Galaxy 2 Cross the 1 Million Mark
In the month of June, U.S. sales of Nintendo’s Super Mario Galaxy™ 2 for the Wii™ system reached 548,000 units, according to the independent NPD Group, bringing the game’s cumulative nationwide sales to more than 1.1 million units. Also in June, Nintendo systems sold a combined 933,000 units, accounting for 50 percent of all gaming hardware units sold in the United States. The Nintendo DS™ family of hand-held systems topped the charts with more than 510,000 units sold, bringing life-to-date unit sales to nearly 42 million. Wii system sales totaled more than 422,000, closing in on a cumulative milestone of 30 million units sold in the United States alone.
“Consumers continue to look to Nintendo for exceptional value and one-of-a-kind gaming experiences,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Between games like Super Mario Galaxy 2, the pioneering motion controls of the Wii system and the portable fun of Nintendo DS systems, Nintendo offers something for everyone. As we prepare to launch a remarkable lineup of new games in the second half of the year, we are grateful that consumers are supporting Nintendo consoles to continue their run as the nation’s most popular game systems.”
Six of the top 10 best-selling games of June play on Nintendo systems. These include Super Mario Galaxy 2 for Wii at No. 2 with more than 548,000 sold, New Super Mario Bros.™ Wii at No. 4 with more than 200,000 sold, Just Dance™ for Wii at No. 5 with nearly 175,000 sold, Toy Story 3: The Video Game for Nintendo DS at No. 6 with more than 164,000 sold, Wii Fit™ Plus with the Wii Balance Board accessory at No. 7 with more than 148,000 sold and LEGO® Harry Potter™: Years 1-4 for Wii at No. 9 with more than 136,000 sold.

 

How About A Little More Lost in Shadow…

You know what really sucks? Realizing that you can’t depend on other people. Don’t worry, I’m not going all emo on you; I’m not in danger of becoming a cutter or doing myself other bodily harm, like befriending a ginger. This isn’t about some childhood friend abandoning me in an hour of need. I’m talking about the sucky realization that, for the most part, you can’t depend on other people to do what they say. Let’s take contractors, for instance. I used to think was that unless you were Tim Taylor or Wilson, and you wanted to get some work done on your home, you had two routes you could take. You could either hire each individual person to do their one specific job, or you could hire a general contractor to deal with all the headaches and hiring for you. Well, when Mrs. Mike and I decided to redo our kitchen, we hired a GenCon; more specifically, we hired one that was recommended to us and that we had met several times before. We trusted that they wouldn’t ruin our shit. We were wrong, it’s been a total pain in the ass. In fact, it’s basically at the point where if I have to talk to them much more it’s going to be all cussing and yelling and shaking and crying, so I’m forcing myself to accept shoddy half-finished work instead. It’s stupid, right? I mean, how hard is it to make sure that the tile guys who took off a backdoor in order to cut it to fit in with the new flooring didn’t somehow mess up so bad that the door won’t even open anymore? And, if you’re the tile guys who cut said door, why would you put it back like that? Did you think I wouldn’t open my back door ever again?? What I’m trying to say is, if you’re in the Atlanta area, don’t use Callaway Homes to do any work you may need done.
Alright, sorry about that. I had to vent as that’s what I’ve been dealing with since the middle of last week. I feel like I’ve aged about 10 years in that time, which means I’m now almost 40. That fact was driven home today when I discovered something called the “Misquito Ringtone”. Apparently, only young’uns can hear certain pitches and my range ends at 14khz, which is for the 49-years-old and younger crowd. I wish I could look on the bright side and say that 29 is there, but I can’t hear past the 39 and younger setting. Yeah, apparently my ears are in their 40’s. Wow, this post actually is kinda emo. If I see a ginger later I’m freaking the eff out…
Before things go full cutter mode around here, let’s have some Wii news. Nothing like 450+ words into a post before the Wii is even mentioned. Maybe I should put the Wii stuff first and ramblings second? It shall be considered… Anyway, yesterday I posted the Japanese trailer for Lost in Shadow, the Wii-exclusive game from the creator of Final Fantasy. Well, today we have more of the game, and it looks freaking beautiful. Our dear friends at IGN have a nice little direct feed gameplay video that they put up, and I’m gonna share it with you guys. Lost in Shadow is set to launch “Q3 2010″; yeah, that means it should be here some time soon. Enjoy, and stay thirsty my friends.

 

To gamify is not to game

DICE 2011: Jesse Schell of Schell games and Zynga's Brian Reynolds discuss what the catchphrase "gamification" means to the gaming industry.
Who was there: The DICE 2011 "Hot Topics" panel continued on Wednesday afternoon with a discussion between Jesse Schell of Schell Games and Zynga's Brian Reynolds, with G4's Adam Sessler serving as moderator. The two sparred over the idea of "Gamification vs. Gameplay."


Games like Zynga's FrontierVille have people pondering just how many activities can be made enjoyable with a little bit of game design.
What they talked about: "Gamification" is the new buzz word, the moderator began, before asking Schell and Reynolds to offer their definitions for it. According to Schell, it involves taking something that isn't a game and making it a game. Reynolds added that gamification is when companies use game elements to try to get people to do something they don't want to do.

So is something gamified actually a game? Schell said that it's important to understand the definition of a game. His definition is "a problem solver situation that you enter into" and that "you want to enter into." Reynolds then offered his own definition, saying that a game is defined by a situation where a person enters into an activity where decisions are made, and edification arises from these decisions, and that fun is had in the process.

Schell went on to note that there are games that people play that aren't fun, and there are things that aren't games that people do that are fun. He then said that the rise in popularity of the term gamification stems from a fundamental design shift, in that companies are moving away from a model of designing things to be efficient and toward design based on enjoyment. All games are designed so that players like them, he said. As such, this is why people are turning to game designers, because this is their specialty.

Reynolds said that gamification largely involves getting people to do something they wouldn't necessarily want to do, such as fly one airline over another. As such, it has a pernicious quality to it. However, Reynolds said his job at Zynga is to make something fun and social and then have other people monetize it.

Schell noted that the thing about human pleasure is that it's very complicated. People find many things interesting and pleasurable. Out of that, he said that people may do something initially for one reason, but once they are in that activity, they may continue doing it for a completely different reason. Massively multiplayer online games are a perfect example of this, he said, because people start to play for the game's sake but many continue to play for the social relationships.

Responding to that social peer pressure, Reynolds said that the negative sides of social games are a fallacy. He said that there is a reason people like social games, which is that we're social animals. People like playing games with people they are actually friends with, though he did condition that by saying Facebook friends don't have to be particularly close.

As for what impact gamification is having on games, Schell said that he believes the more people play games, the more they become connoisseurs of gaming. The casino audience, he said, has changed because of games; people are more comfortable playing more complicated games. Schell also said that he thinks gamification will fuel novelty and result in more complicated experiences in casual gaming and that games will become more integral to people's lives.

Schell also said that not everything is susceptible to gamification. In fact, he often draws a comparison between gamification and chocolate. While chocolate is enjoyed by nearly everybody, not everything is made better with a coat of it--cottage cheese, for example. Companies have to find the right way to gamify there products, he said.

The question begs to be asked, then, if everything is made fun, are people still enjoying it? Schell said that it is possible to have too much of a good thing. Ultimately, if things are well designed, fun can be maximized with a rich variety.

Quote: "Chocolate is great…but does that mean we should throw chocolate on cottage cheese? No!"--Jesse Schell, on the importance of gamifying with care.

Takeaway: According to Schell, gamification represents a shift in design away from efficiency and toward enjoyment. However, both he and Reynolds believe that gamification is a far cry from real gameplay, but these experiences can still be enjoyable if done correctly.
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"To gamify is not to game" was posted by Tom Magrino on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 16:59:32 -0800

Dungeon Siege III launching May 31

Obsidian-developed action RPG arriving on 360, PS3, PC later this year; preorder incentives include free games on Steam, in-game items at retailers.  
Obsidian Entertainment has been on a game-release bender over the past half year, having teamed with Sega on Alpha Protocol in June and Bethesda Softworks on Fallout: New Vegas in October. Now, the studio's next project has been given its marching orders, as Square Enix announced today that Dungeon Siege III will be released for the xbox 360, playstation 3, and PC on May 31. The game will be available in Europe on May 27.



Big sword? Check. Spaulders? Check. Cod piece? Check.

Along with announcing a release date, Square Enix also offered first word on preorder incentives for Dungeon Siege III. For PC gamers who pick up the game through Steam, Valve will include single-player versions of Dungeon Siege I and II free of charge. Best Buy, Amazon, and GameStop's preorder incentives grant customers in-game items, ranging from amulets to rings. Meanwhile, Wal-Mart prepurchasers will be offered a Dungeon Siege mini-comic and a Prima Games strategy guide.

The latest incarnation in the long-running Dungeon Siege franchise will again be set in the kingdom of Ehb, where the balance of power between rival factions has fallen apart. Players will take on the role of a member of the disgraced protectors of the land, known as the 10th Legion. With the kingdom tearing itself apart, the Legion is tasked with rebuilding its numbers and restoring peace.

Gamers will be able to experience the aforementioned story through either single-player action or drop-in, drop-out cooperative multiplayer for up to four. Dungeon Siege III also features four customizable player classes, and players will be able to recruit personality-rich companions to aid them on their journey.

Although Obsidian is lead developer on the game, the studio is receiving an assist from Gas Powered Games, which created the franchise. Square Enix went on to note that Gas Powered head Chris Taylor is serving in an advisory role on the project.

For more on Dungeon Siege III, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

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"Dungeon Siege III launching May 31" was posted by Tom Magrino on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 11:58:19 -0800

 

ESRB doesn't play the games they rate; know why

It certainly defies logic and common comprehension how a ratings board could give out their summary and judgment on how a video game should be rated when they don't, in fact, actually play the games they're rating.

 

Pac-Man, Galaga tag-team 3DS

Namco Bandai bundling up 2D platformer spin-off of famed pellet-muncher, 3D shooter take on classic space-invasion shooter later this year.
Namco Bandai will be bringing two of its most established properties to one of the newest gaming platforms. Today, the publisher announced that it will be bundling Pac-Man Tilt and Galaga 3D Impact for release as one package on the 3DS. Titled Pac-Man & Galaga Dimensions, the game will be available later this year.



Pac-Man Tilt sees the spherical chomper sprouting arms and legs.

A spin-off from the original maze-navigating, pellet-munching adventure, Pac-Man Tilt is a 2D platformer that will make use of the 3DS's accelerometer. Players will be able to tilt the world as a way to solve environmental puzzles and evade roaming enemies. Namco Bandai will also be playing off Pac-Man's spherical shape, as he is able to roll into a ball to speed through levels, bouncing off pinball flippers and springboards along the way.

Galaga 3D Impact will also be a riff on the tried-and-true arcade shooter formula and sees the spaceship-versus-aliens contest shift to the first-person shooter realm. The 3DS's gyroscopic and 3D tech will factor into Galaga 3D Impact, as players will be able to physically move the system to take aim and fire at enemies before those enemies can destroy human civilization.

Namco Bandai has thus far supported the 3DS with a handful of titles that will be released in North America. These include an installment in its Ridge Racer series as well as Dual Pen Sports.
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"Pac-Man, Galaga tag-team 3DS" was posted by Tom Magrino on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 15:23:19 -0800

 

Virginia pilot program halves electricity bill for charging EVs overnight

Regardless of whether the internal combustion engine gets snuffed out this century, EV chargers aren't going to replace gas pumps at the rate they're presently rolling out, so it's quite likely new Leaf and Prius PHEV owners will need to charge at home. How might that affect one's electricity bill? It'll probably go up, but a Virginia utility says that a full tank of juice might not cost all that much. Dominion Virginia Power is volunteering to cut its rates by more than half for off-peak charging as part of a proposed pilot program, whereby 750 lucky EV owners will get enough electricity for a 40-mile commute for just 35 cents so long as they charge overnight. The utility's not talking kilowatt-hours here, but it says it typically gets $0.86 for the same amount. The deal requires the installation of a specially-approved charging station, but Virginia's looking at a second scheme too -- if those 750 agree to pay a flexible off-peak rate of between $0.33 and $0.41 per 40-mile dose, they can power the rest of their house using the budget volts as well. PR after the break.Continue reading Virginia pilot program halves electricity bill for charging EVs overnightVirginia pilot program halves electricity bill for charging EVs overnight originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 07:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink All Cars Electric  |   | Email this | Comments

 

Homefront delayed by a week

Nightmare-scenario North Korean-invasion actioner now launching in North America on March 15.  
Gamers itching to fight off North Korean invaders will have to stand fast for a few more days. Today following THQ's holiday quarter earnings report, company executives revealed in a call with analysts that it is delaying Homefront by one week until March 15. No European release dates were mentioned, but presumably they will be similarly delayed until March 18.



Homefront's offensive on gamers' pocketbooks has been pushed back one week.

Due out for the PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360, Homefront is a story-driven shooter set after North Korea invades and overruns the continental United States. The single-player component sees the player as a member of the American resistance fighting the Korean People's Army in an attempt to regain control of the ruined nation. The multiplayer modes are set earlier, letting players engage in military scenarios from the invasion itself.

Homefront is being developed by Kaos Studios, whose only previous full title was Frontlines: Fuel of War. The studio was formed in 2006 from the remnants of Trauma Studios, which was best known for the Battlefield 1942 mod Desert Combat and for helping DICE in the development of Battlefield 2 before being liquidated.

For more on Homefront, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

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"Homefront delayed by a week" was posted by Tor Thorsen on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 15:36:54 -0800

BlackBerry App World 2.1 gets in-app payments, too

Well, isn't that just an adorable quirk of corporate timing? RIM just announced that BlackBerry App World 2.1 is now live with support for in-app payments using the BlackBerry Payment Service, matching Google's similar Android Market announcement earlier today. Users should see the 2.1 update rolling out over the course of the day, and devs have had the appropriate SDK since January 5, so progs that use the service should be arriving shortly. Ah, commerce -- ain't it grand?BlackBerry App World 2.1 gets in-app payments, too originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 16:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

RECOMMENDATIONS: A Trio of Staples

Three major franchises are up for evaluation in this edition of Virtual Console Recommendations.
If there's one thing that's as universal as death and taxes, it's that video games will iterate over the years. Today in Virtual Console Recommendations, we look at games from three major gaming franchises.First up, Matt Blundon takes a look at Super Mario Kart, the game that started the Kart Racing genre and pioneered a major franchise for Nintendo.  Secondly, Andy Goergen checks out a major turning point in the Castlevania franchise in Rondo of Blood, a game which could be considered a "season finale" for the storied brand in that it was the last game in the series that featured traditional stages.
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Twisted Pixel unholsters Gunstringer for Kinect

Splosion Man developer reveals Xbox 360-exclusive game about an undead marionette cowboy.
When the lead designer of Rock Band 3 Dan Teasdale left Harmonix to go to Austin-based Twisted Pixel Games, he teased that the new project he was going to work on was "ridiculously cool." Today, Teasdale took the wraps off that project, an Xbox 360 Kinect game featuring an undead marionette cowboy called The Gunstringer.


String 'em up.
In a post on the official Gunstringer site, Teasdale explained the game follows the titular character on a quest for revenge, with levels and in-game objects all designed as though they were an elaborate puppet show. For example, the Gunstringer's steed is a pencil shoved through an empty spool, with a felt-and-string horse head bouncing at the end of a coiled spring stuck in the pencil's eraser.

As for gameplay, Teasdale suggested it would feature a mix of styles, including on-rails shooter sections and side-scrolling platformer bits. He also emphasized that The Gunstringer would control differently from the standard Kinect game.

"There are no minigames, forced gestures, or end of level photos of you in your underwear here," Teasdale said. "You can play it sitting down, which is great if you just want to play and relax rather than burn crazy calories. Most importantly, you can aim and move with precision not seen in any of the Kinect launch titles and with a speed and feel that’s just not possible with a traditional controller."

For more on Twisted Pixel's most recent effort, check out GameSpot's review of Comic Jumper.
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"Twisted Pixel unholsters Gunstringer for Kinect" was posted by Brendan Sinclair on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 11:37:20 -0800