Obscure Gamer – (Real)time has run out

by Merman in Obscure Gamer | 1 Comment »

So Scottish developer Realtime Worlds has gone into administration, following the poor response to its online game APB, leaving ambitious future project MyWorld hanging in the balance. What has gone wrong for founder David Jones, and what impact will it have on the British software industry?

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Obscure Gamer – Into the third dimension

by Merman in Article, Obscure Gamer | 1 Comment »

Avatar has been hyped from here to outer space, but it does represent an important trend. Both the movie and the tie-in game are best viewed in 3D, and Hollywood’s appetite for the third dimension is apparent. Can the same be said for viewers at home and in the world of games?

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Obscure Gamer – Tax Break

by Merman in Article, Obscure Gamer | No Comments »

In April 2010 the Labour Chancellor Alistair Darling announced a review of tax rules for companies producing computer games, with the promise of tax breaks for games with a British cultural flavour – in line with a similar French system. After the General Election, June’s Emergency Budget by Conservative Chancellor George Osbourne announced that there would be no tax breaks. Why the sudden change? And why is it such an important issue?

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Obscure Gamer – False Start

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The race to the next generation of consoles may have already started, but how certain are the predictions? First it was David Reeves of Capcom with his suggestion of two to three years. Now Murray Pannel, head of marketing for Ubisoft has predicted a similar time scale.

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Obscure Gamer – Exploring Expo Expectations

by Merman in Obscure Gamer | No Comments »

The E3 Expo is a lot like a roller-coaster. There’s the anticipation of that first hill (the build-up to the show with hints of what’s coming), the sudden drop into the exciting parts (the actual announcements and reveals) and the slowing down as the ride comes into the station (wading through discarded goodie bags and leaflets to the exit).

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Obscure Gamer – Anyone For Tennis?

by Merman in Article, Obscure Gamer | 1 Comment »

It’s that time of year again, when strawberries increase in price, barley water is consumed in vast quantities and yellow balls are bouncing on usually empty courts. It’s Wimbledon fortnight, and a nation’s thoughts turn to how soon the British hopefuls will lose. Of course, tennis in video game form has a long and impressive history.

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Obscure Gamer – a Prince among men

by Merman in Article, Obscure Gamer | 1 Comment »

Sitting near my computer is a pile of unwatched films on DVD, each of them based on a computer game. They all have a bad reputation, both as films and as adaptations. But the other day I did pay my money and take a chance on visiting the cinema to check out Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, the movie adaptation of the successful series. I was pleasantly surprised to find a summer blockbuster worth my time.

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Obscure Gamer – the E is for Evil

by Merman in Article, Obscure Gamer | No Comments »

Electronic Arts is in the headlines again, for its new Online Pass system. Many of its new sports titles will require a registration code for online play. This code will be included with new retail copies of the game, or can be purchased for a fee (set at $10 initially, under their Project Ten Dollar initiative).

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Obscure Gamer – The Next Generation Game

by Merman in Article, Obscure Gamer | No Comments »

With the annual E3 show less than a month away, it seems certain that there will be no announcements on the next generation of hardware. Indeed, the focus will be on upgrades and add-ons for the current generation of hardware, expanding its lifespan. But who will play the next generation game successfully?

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Obscure Gamer – Ebert and Art

by Merman in Article, Obscure Gamer | No Comments »

Film critic Roger Ebert has once again caused controversy by stating that videogames can never be art and the gaming community has responded. From a Penny Arcade comic to long forum debates, there are many different views. Here’s mine.

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Obscure Gamer – Maverick or villain?

by Merman in Article, Obscure Gamer | No Comments »

Bobby Kotick of Activision has become a figure of hate. There is a great deal of Internet anger about the departure of the founders of Infinity Ward, the developers of Modern Warfare 2.

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Obscure Gamer – Top Ten Platforming Cliches

by Merman in Obscure Gamer | 1 Comment »

It’s no joke being the hero in a platform game. Once you’ve died a few thousand times you know there are still so many clichés standing between you and success. Here then are the top ten…

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Obscure Gamer – Not So Jolly Roger

by Merman in Obscure Gamer | 1 Comment »

Piracy is once again back in the headlines, for several reasons. The latest DRM for PC games from Ubi Soft has been heavily satirised by the web cartoonists. The industry has also released figures showing losses accumulated due to game piracy. Then there was the million-dollar fine for the Australian accused of illegally uploading a Wii game.

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Obscure Gamer – Reprinted

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Gamers recently heard rumours that Nintendo’s Metroid Prime Trilogy for the Wii was being discontinued, in that no new copies would be printed. The rumour was soon strongly denied, but it did highlight a good issue – what happens to rare games that go out of print?

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Obscure Gamer – Refinement

by Merman in Obscure Gamer | No Comments »

Hollywood does it all the time – take an old movie from one or two generations ago, cast young actors, hype the remake and put out something that is vaguely satisfying. Unfortunately the video game industry appears to be heading down this track too.

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