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2006 Archives
Saturday, December 30/06
The FPS that changed everything: First-person shooters (FPS) have become a staple genre in the gaming world. Old school gamers might remember the first incarnations of FPS classics like Wolfenstein and Doom. In elementary school I spent the better half of my days pilling away at Wolfenstein; never actually beat the game though…..sob. There was a time in the past when these two games were the only viable FPS titles on the computer gaming market. That all changed when a company by the name of Valve came along and released the groundbreaking FPS title Half-Life.
PC Gaming: Half-Life
360 Degrees: PlayStation 3 & Nintendo Wii Launch Week
So as things stand right now, Sony has the demand but not the supply to satisfy hungry consumers. While Nintendo has both the demand and supply as limited as it may be. It won’t be until March of next year when the PlayStation 3 gets a worldwide release, that one can make an honest opinion about which of these two consoles will be more successful.
Portable Gaming: Fire Emblem & Fire Emblem: the Sacred Stones
360 Degrees: Can you realistically get a hold of a next-gen console in time for the Holiday season?
Sony Announces Launch Date for the PlayStation 3: Sony finally answers the question that everyone has been asking for months, when is the launch date for the juggernaut (PS3) of the next-gen console war? The question I have been hearing again and again for the last 4 to 5 months is, “When is the PS3 coming?” or “Is there a launch date set yet?” And if there is, “When is it coming out? I want it NOW!”
There has been talk of the system falling short of its initial production goals, so a world wide launch may be taken off the table (sorry Europe). Look for the PS3 to officially hit stores (and most likely sell out) a full 2 days before Nintendo’s Wii on November 17th. Source: GameSpot
Nintendo announces Wii launch date and price point: Nintendo seems calm and collected with a mere month until the next-gen console war erupts! Nintendo recently announced the official launch date and price for their upcoming next-gen console, the Nintendo Wii. As expected, the launch date falls in mid November (November 19), but what did take us by surprise was the decision to bundle Nintendo’s Wii sports with the initial release. This was probably one of the best moves Nintendo could make in regards to its upcoming launch. Mainly because it offers a way for users to experience the revolutionary Wii controller right out of the box.
Nintendo has also announced that it will be surpassing initial production goals of the Wii, with having as many as 6 million Wii consoles shipped by March 2007. With a price point of only $250 US, Nintendo seems strategically positioned for a very good 4th quarter. Source: GameSpot
360 Degrees: Gearing up for Final Fantasy XII!
Wednesday, October 4/06
Portable Gaming: New Super Mario Bros.
360 Degrees: E3 2006
Nintendo announces a North American release date for the DS Lite: When it comes to technology accessory releases, North America is always second at best. Asia is where all the real innovative stuff seems to touch down first. This is especially true for the gaming market. Games and hardware tend to hit the ‘Land of the rising sun’ months and sometimes years before North American gamers get to see the light of day so to speak. Well our wait for the latest must have Japanese item is almost over.
The DS Lite has improved upon every area of the original. The best thing about it though is that the price is the same as the original ($129.99 US). There really is no reason not to get DS Lite if you don’t have one already. Those who do have an old DS may want to trade it in. Nintendo is notorious for redesigning their handhelds. They have changed each version of the Game boy multiple times. This design change could be the most important for Nintendo however. This could be the design change that levels the handheld playing field with Sony, and allows Nintendo another shot at the North American handheld title. Only time will tell. One thing is for sure round two of the console war will begin this summer! Source: GameSpot
Nintendo officially dumps the developmental code name Revolution:
Although it sounds funny (and well lets face it kind of wussy to), the Logo is very aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Nintendo has always been a marketing genius in the videogame world. Before there was candy coloured IMacs there was Game boy. Back in 1995 Nintendo released it’s “play it loud” campaign which had the original Game boy re-released in several different colours. The Wii moniker could be a bad idea for a company that is trying to get away from the kiddy image. On the other hand the name is original, simple, and different. Which are three things that Nintendo seems to do best. Source: Nintendo
Tuesday, May 9/06
Next Gen Gaming: Rumble Roses XX
360 Degrees: The Future Battle of the Big Three
Portable Gaming: MarioKart DS
Wednesday, April 12/06
360 Degrees: PSP and DS Feature
360 Degrees: Seeing Double with my Dual Screen!
Wednesday, February 8/06
360 Degrees: Real Life Need for Speed crash kills cabbie
Online Gaming: World of Warcraft
Wednesday, January 11/06
Portable Gaming: Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
An evolution for the beloved franchise:
Official Website: Japanese
A sad day in gaming:
Source: RPGamer
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Sunday, December 3/06
Madness ensued all over North America when the PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii were released two weeks ago. But at the end of the day, what really dictated the launch dates for both these consoles was supply and demand. Both companies shipped very limited units to retailers around North America, so demand has obvioulsy been very high. Sony had made it clear that their supply would be very limited with the intial release of the PlayStation 3. For those who did not snatch one up on launch day, you will most likely have to wait untill March 2007 for the worldwide release, which Sony promises will see at least a couple of million units shipped. On the other hand, Nintendo has been steadily shiping more Wii consoles to retailers since the launch date two weeks ago.
November 2006 will go down as one the most historical months in video game history. Both Nintendo and Sony are launching their new consoles just a mere two days apart. For hardcore gamers that fact itself is hard to comprehend. Two next generation consoles being released so close together means that gamers will have their hands full for sometime to come. The buzz surrounding the launch of the Nintendo Wii and Sony PlayStation 3 is something that the video game industry has never experienced. With limtited supplies of both consoles at launch, gamers are scarmbling to get their hands on next generation console greatness.
The release of the PS3 has been postponed before. Originally the console was supposed to come out in March of 2006, but the PS3 was held back for obvious reasons (development was nowhere near complete). The time is right now however! With more than its fair share of screen shots available and many PS3 game titles nearing completion, Sony is more than ready for the next-gen console war.
Wii Sports includes 5 different games. Among them are boxing, tennis, golf, bowling and baseball. The games do appear simple graphically and in their design, but each game utilizes the controller differently. Having a pack-in game that is basically a tutorial to get familiar with the new motion sensing technology is brilliant! This makes Wii Sports the ideal candidate to start the Wii revolution.
The Nintendo DS Lite has been pegged for a June 11th release in the North America. This little gem of gaming greatness has destroyed its competition, Sony’s PSP overseas. The DS Lite has improved upon its predecessor. It offers a screen 4 times brighter. This seems to improve the clarity and vibrancy of the graphics and colours. The appearance has been slimmed down. The DS Lite weighs 20% less than the original and has lost about 1/3 of its size dimension-wise. It’s also been given a face lift. The DS Lite comes in an I-book like super glossy white casing, which adds value to its appearance unlike the “happy meal value” look of the original. Battery life has also been improved, with quicker recharge times.
Nintendo announced on the morning of April 27 that it was dropping the developmental code name Revolution for its upcoming next-gen console. Instead it has chosen to go with The Nintendo Wii (Phonetically pronounced as “we”). This isn’t unlike Nintendo. Originally The Nintendo 64 was first known as The Nintendo Dolphin; thank God that didn’t go through! However the change is still surprising because the name Revolution was a good choice since the system seemed to be set to revolutionize the entire gaming world.
