Splinter Cell franchise Xbox exclusive for the time being

Splinter Cell has always been a franchise that has seen the life of most consoles ranging from the Nintendo Gamecube to the PC, but now it seems that PlayStation owners are going to get angry..

Yannis Mallat, the CEO of Ubisoft's Toronto and Montreal studios said at the recent GameON: Finance conference that until further notice, the Splinter Cell franchise from Conviction and onward will only be available on the Xbox 360. However, he also stated that, "I'm only the one making the games, you should talk to the people in Paris [for a final answer]."

This seems to just be another blow to Sony's stomach. With the Metal Gear and Final Fantasy series moving onto the Xbox, I wouldn't be surprised if God of War 3 was ported over as well in due time.

Source

10/31/09 Colton West

Epic Boss: Next Gears of War will have Natal Support

Mark Rein is the head honcho of Epic Games, so when the man speaks people listen. The studio is home to titles like the Gears of War franchise and Unreal Tournament, two of the biggest names in the industry. According to Mark, even those titles will have Natal functionality, Speaking to XOM, mark said:

We're just sitting down with [Natal] in the next two weeks, I think, to bring our studio guys in to have a look," Rein said.

On Gears of War, his answer was rather intriguing:

"I have no idea where we're going from a game standpoint, but from an engine standpoint, it's definitely cool stuff and we will support it. I think any future Xbox games we make will have some Natal support," he said. "We always want to have something that exploits the unique capabilities of a platform."

"I think everyone will do something that exploits Natal once it's out there and everyone has," Rein voiced. "So will people be able to benefit from it? Yes. And then if they want to make that 'oh my god' really cool Natal experience, well, we've got the engine for that. I'm pretty psyched about it."

Thanks OXM

10/09/09 Ernice Gilbert

Forza 3 Product Manager: We beat GT5 on a lot of features

Think Gran Turismo 5 will be the definitive racing simulator of this generation? Not according to Forza devs it won't. Recently the guys at turn 10 have had choice words for GT5 when compared to their own sim, and most of what was uttered being unpleasant to say the least. Well they're at it again, this time it's Forza 3 product manager Amritz Lay, speaking to EGTV he went on confidently talking up the specs of Forza 3 (which any product manager would do) but what caught me off guard was his direct answer to a question most would dance around.

EGTV: How do you reckon Forza 3 stacks up against GT5?

"We've seen it on the floor, it's a good looking game, in terms of the content feature by feature, you know, I believe we beat them on a lot of the features as well our 400 hundred cars, they're fully built cars, full interiors, uh, fully damageable and deliveries just to mention that user created - user generated content really takes our game to the next level."

The guy's pretty confident in speech and according to him GT5 has nothing on Forza Motor Sport 3, which will be out exclusively for the Xbox 360 on October 23rd 2009. You know what's strange? I have this feeling GT5 fans are laughing their heads off, why? I have no clue, just a feeling. There's nothing to scoff at though, because so far the game's looking sweet. See the full interview now.

10/05/09 Ernice Gilbert

Opinion: Xbox 360 will last as long as the PS3

Some say they don't think Microsoft's Xbox 360 will last two more years. They claim, it has reached its limit; therefore continuing to use the console will only stifle innovation. Well, we here at Gamesthirst beg to defer, in fact, we will dispel this myth once and for all. Follow me.

Before I delve into the factors that will surely sustain the Xbox 360 through this generation, I must voice that, although some may not like the way The Redmond company does business, there's no hiding the fact that they brought much needed competition to the gaming industry. Competition is great for consumers, and so, I hope Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft grow their brands stronger with each passing year. With that being said, I will list four reasons why Microsoft isn't going anywhere, anytime soon. Or why they won't be releasing another console until the next 3-4 years.

Exclusives: It's a long standing fact, price cuts will help for a while, marketing can only get you so far, but what really sell consoles at the end of the day are the exclusives. Some would try and convince you saying the Xbox 360 has no exclusives. That's a cold lie. Here's a list of just some of the most outstanding titles:

1. The Halo Franchise

2. Mass Effect 2

3. The Gears of War Franchise

4. Alan wake

5. Splinter Cell: Conviction

6. Forza 3

These are Just some of the exclusives that make the Xbox 360's value greater than some would have you believe.

Xbox Live: It was introduced with the original Xbox, and has gone on to revolutionize online play forever. And today, the XBL market place is booming, with no signs of slowing. Microsoft is, and will continue to innovate and lead the online arena, integrating great features, which will add even more value to its already value packed platform.

Natal: First demoed at E3 09', Microsoft's motion technology made waves in the gaming media. It's not only promising, but believe it or not, Natal is definitely a new step forward in the evolution of gaming. How it'll play out is anybody's guess, but Microsoft is planning an all out media onslaught when it's released in late 2010. In fact, they claim, it will be like a standalone console launch. Heaping even more hype to the already over-hyped motion device, is the announcement recently made at TGS by Major Nelson. He says, some of the biggest names in the gaming business, have signed on to support Natal, including the San, Hideo Kojima. Enough said.

Money: We all know Microsoft has enough money to feed the world. So much so that they lost 7 billion dollars on the original Xbox, and billions on the 360 caused by the dreaded RROD. Yet, they press on; I guarantee you, if it was another company, they'd be out of business. The software giant is rich mainly because of its Windows OS, which powers most PCs around the world. But investors are weary, so instead of going full throttle with a brand new console, they'd rather Microsoft spend less cash and push the 360 beyond its limits.

And there you have it, if you're Xbox 360 owner, be confident in your purchase, because it will be supported for years to come.

09/24/09 Ernice Gilbert

Netflix: We want to be on all game consoles

The Xbox 360 has been the only game Console this generation, to stream on-demand movies from the Xbox 360, directly unto your TV screen and into your living room using the leading provider Netflix. This is because, for now Microsoft has an exclusive deal with the Company that prohibits them from being on any other gaming platform. But thanks to Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, the good folks who own other consoles like the PS3, and Nintendo Wii, the wait will soon be over.

Speaking with Reuters, Mr. Hastings confidently relayed his vision for the Company, here's what he said:

"Eventually we want to be on all the games consoles, all the blu-ray players, all the internet TVs. So we are working in parallel with all those efforts. Currently our Xbox deal is exclusive and we haven't characterized it more than that," Reed stated.

So, if you've been wanting to get the latest movies on-demand, and you don't own a Xbox 360, your wait it seems, will soon be over. Breathe easy.

09/23/09 Ernice Gilbert

Xbox 360 Japan exclusives: Less than 1million sold combined

From its debut in Japan, Microsoft has stretched her muscles, taking risk, spending serious cash, buying "timed exclusives" all in an effort to make the Xbox 360 ubiquitous in the land of the rising sun. Question is, has the strategy worked out? Earlier this year, the software giant reported that it finally past the 1million mark of consoles sold in Japan, a goal they thought would be achieved a year earlier. The Japanese have reacted very lukewarm to the Xbox 360; and that's to say the least. Numbers don't lie, so, we've compiled a list of the top 4 "exclusive" Xbox 360 games and sales data in Japan. Life-to-date sales are as follows:

1. Star Ocean 4 (life-to-date: 208,521)

2. Blue Dragon (life-to-date: 203,740)

3. Tales of Vesperia (life-to-date: 194,714)

4. Last Remnant (life-to-date: 154,493)

Total life-to-date sales combined: 761,468. You may know that Tales of Vesperia recently launched on the PS3, selling over 140,000 copies on the first day. Star Ocean is also coming to the Sony's console, and so is the Last Remnant. Obviously Microsoft has invested heavily in timed exclusives, however, it seems that strategy has failed, (at least in Japan). Little good resulted from the investment, and what's even more glaring is the success those games are expected to have on the PS3. On top of all that, the PS3 versions will add new features. Some with new characters, new maps, upscaled graphics and even refined gameplay.

Gamers have argued saying, Microsoft should give up on the Orient, and use that same money building first party studios to help bolster their exclusive lineup in America. I disagree. Although the Xbox 360 is not performing as desired, giving up on Japan would look too bad; an image of perseverance and stability must be portrayed by Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo, and any other company, who, wish to keep their customers happy and confident. Sometimes even at a loss. There's no doubt the Redmond company needs to invest in building first party studios, but it should not come at the cost of one of the mainstays in the console war. No matter how much its market share has shrunk.

[UPDATE] Even after adding Lost Odyssey at users request, the total only amounts to 865,885 combined sales. Lost Odyssey sold 40,000 copies on its first day at retail in Japan and lifetime sales of 104,417.

09/21/09 Ernice Gilbert

Editorial: Why we play

Video games have been around for decades upon decades, and with the 21st century in full throttle, the evolution of gaming has propelled with speeds never thought attainable just a few years ago. Do you remember the days when all you had was a GameBoy and all you saw were green graphics? I get a good kick reversing into memory lane, and yet I never thought we would see such strides in my lifetime; oh how knowledge has increased! Who ever thought that we would be swinging at air and seeing the motions reproduced on the Nintendo Wii? Did it ever cross your mind that Microsoft's Prject Natal would essentially eliminate any involvement of the game controller? How about Sony’s “magical wand” (that’s what I call the thing) which I think is just amazing in it’s capability to potentially get gamers more involved both physically and emotionally in gaming. Was there ever a thought that in a few years, instead of just seating down and playing your favorite game on your favorite console you would be losing weight doing so? Maybe some of you have, good forward thinking on your part but we need to remind ourselves, the console makers and the Devs why we play.

This topic is not thoroughly discussed most of the times because it seems as if we the gamers just take what we get. No questions asked. The argument could be made that there’re a lot of options and you choose what content you want. While this may be true, I still do think gamers should guide the industry's direction, not vice versa. We want great games, excellent content, and replay-ability. Not more graphics and no story; sometimes I feel like the console makers just stuff down our throats what ever they want and we in turn just eat or drink without any objections. I mean, do you really want to stand for hours swinging your legs and arms at your TV? Well do you? Innovation is good, I’m not twisting facts here, but seriously, do you want facebook and myspace on your xbox? Sony recently partnered with vidzone to bring content exclusively to the PS3. Music videos on the PS3? I love games, If I wanted to watch music videos there are other mediums available. Netflix is great yes, but do you really want to listen to radio on your Xbox 360? Great games sell consoles, example: Metal Gear Solid - Sons Of Liberty raked up much needed sales for Sony by the hundreds of thousands. Halo, well we all know about Halo, the original xbox would not have made it without Halo. Anytime you hear Wii Sports, you know it equals sales to Nintendo and the list goes on.

Console makers should continue pushing the envelope and try new things in order to bring fourth a better experience for gamers. But it seems as if they’re losing their way as they move forward in the name of Competition and exclusivity. We should take a stand; let our voices be heard. We love games, and that’s it. Games entertain us in ways nothing else can, just mention Final Fantasy XII and everyone in the room becomes nostalgic. It has been the best selling PS1 game on PSN not because the graphics were superior; Final Fantasy XIII was light years ahead in graphics and storyline yet still Final Fantasy XII will go down in the history books as the best ever made. Remember Killer Instinct on the Super Nintendo? Wow, I’m back in the 90s just thinking about those great experiences. We love when games connect with us emotionally, we love when the controls work excellent, we love when the graphics are great, we love when a game is not rushed, we love great voice acting, excellent soundtracks and yes we enjoy having our friends over to join in on the fun.

Really, we don’t care about Natal or Sony’s Magic Wand that much, if they give good experiences then we might approve. We don’t want radio on our systems, no music videos, we really are not asking for all the add-ons. We want great games and that’s it. So the next time you come across a console executive or some Dev who thinks he knows exactly what you want, remind him of the games that started the revolution in the industry, remind him of: Super Mario 3, Rocket Knight Adventures, Metal Gear Solid, Donkey Kong, Contra, CastleVenia, Street fighter, Crash Bandicot, Grand Turismo, Kingdom Hearts, Zelda, Mortal Kombat, Virtua Fighter, time and space would fail me if I attempted to list all the greats, I don’t have so much time to spare, I’m already way too busy; but Don’t fail to let him know the reason we play. It’s because we love games.

08/10/09 Ernice Gilbert

GamesThirst Reviews Wii Sports Resort: Hand me the Sword please

Publisher: Nintendo

Developer: Nintendo

Player (s): Multi-Player

Genre: Sports

Release Date: July 26th 2009

Score: 8.9

With twelve new family-friendly mini-games and Nintendo’s new MotionPlus add-on, should you run to the store and spend your cash, or should you be content and get your game on with Wii Sports? In Wii sports Resort, not only do you get Nintendo’s new Technology, but also a chance to test your luck at Archery, Power Cruising, Bowling, Basketball, Golf, Canoeing, Frisbee, Wakeboarding, Table Tennis, Cycling and Swordplay.

So what’s my take on Nintendo’s latest effort you ask? Well after spending some long hours on this one, the verdict is in. For the most part it’s a very fun experience, one that’ll keep you coming back for more. You’ll also want to get your family and friends so they can play with you, since it’s way more fun with company. But I had issues with the some of the mini-games and also the fact that I had to cough up more cash to get another Motionplus for the extended family. Here’s my verdict.

What Quenched my Thirst

First off, Motionplus works marvelously. Wii Sports Resort is a respectable example of that, hence paving the way for third party developers to take full advantage of the Wii, (finally something to work with!). Let’s talk sports shall we?

Cycling: When I was a teen (that’s a long time back), my first good gift was a bike. Cycling is one of my favorite things to do, so experiencing it in my living from, albeit virtual, was fun. Nintendo made sure of that. Here’s how it works: you hold the remote and nunchuk like they were the handles of a bike, then take turns swinging them down and up as if they were pedals. Steering is simple, just tilt both controllers back and forth. I love the simplicity of the game, it includes one or two player road races, where you test your skills against a gang of Mii and a head-to-head two player race.

Air Sports: Hold the remote like a paper airplay, lead it around to control a Plane or a Skydiving Mii. There are three modes in Air Sports: Dog Fight, Island Flyover, and Skydiving. What I enjoyed most about this one was the Dog Fighting mode, where you essentially fly around the Island with a friend, all while balloons follow. You win by trying to burst each other’s balloons. It’s loads of fun.

Frisbee: To play Frisbee, you hold the remote like a Frisbee, then snap it, just like you’d throw the disc, only you’re not throwing anything. The dog then runs and catch it. Your objective is to get as close as possible to the glowing circle. It’ll take a good bit of practice to master Frisbee, but once you have, the rewards are satisfying. You can also unlock Frisbee Golf once you’ve played Frisbee Dog.

I also enjoyed playing, Table Tennis, Basketball, and Bowling, but my favorite was:

Swordplay and Archery: Maybe it’s because I love karate movies, or maybe it’s just the feel of fighting without being hurt by your enemy. I believe it’s the latter. In Swordplay, you simply swing the remote like a sword, holding the B button to block in four directions. To attack you swing in the same directions. You could play two-player duels, a speed slicing contest and the mode which pits a player against an armada of enemy Mii as you find your way along the map. Swordplay is definitely the best game I played on the resort. The game comes with ten maps and can be played in reverse. Archery on the other hand has three different settings of difficulty. To play hold the remote in your left hand and the nunchuk in the right, pull back the nunchuk and release the Z button to fire. The controls are ultra sensitive which balances out the game, giving a more rewarding experience.

What left a Bitter Taste

Wii Sports Resort comes with only one Motionplus which makes it almost impossible not to spend cash on and extra one, two or more if you want to enjoy with you friends and family.

Also why are there so many calibration breaks? The game tells you to put down the controller for a few seconds on a flat surface so it can recalibrate, but this becomes very frustrating because of how often it demands breaks.

Golf was not much fun either, you’ll feel like you were playing Wii Sports over again because of how unchanged it is. No extra modes, nothing to make your ears peak. It almost feels like they slapped Golf on for more variety.

And as for the Water Sports, it felt more like work than fun. There’s Wake Boarding, Power Crusing, and Canoeing. Canoeing is also very mundane, i never got attached.

The graphics were almost identical to Wii Sports, although the visuals look brighter.

So should you go down to your favorite retail joint and pick up Wii Sports Resort? My confident answer is yes. From the very moment you land on the Resort, you’ll be hooked and won’t want to leave. Ignore the faults in this one, because the good overshadows the bad.

08/03/09 Ernice Gilbert

Rumor: God of War Movie script surfaces

The good news is, (if this rumor winds up being legit) the movie script is stuck on the game’s original story like crazy glue; that’s only good if you love the God of War story in the games. The only twist is that the end is different. It literally leaves an opening for a brand new sequel to spring up that’s not in line with God of War 2. Huh? Yeah, that was my original expression.

CC2K claims to have read the entire script of the movie written by David Self. Again, take all of this will a generous spoon of salt, cause as long as nothing is confirmed by Sony, this piece will remain under the “rumor” shelter.

07/16/09 Ernice Gilbert