Xbox console ban is 'permanent'

 

The ban may have been timed for the release of Modern Warfare 2

Thousands of Xbox 360 owners who have been cut off from Microsoft's Xbox Live service will have to buy a new console if they want to play online again.

Microsoft told BBC News that banned machines will be permanently barred and "unable to connect to Xbox Live".
A message displayed on affected consoles said there was "no recourse for terms of use violations".
Microsoft has barred as many as 1m gamers from Xbox live for modifying their consoles to play pirated games.
"Users of banned Xbox consoles can recover their profile to another, unmodified Xbox 360 console to resume their Live service," the firm told BBC News.
"The banned console will be unable to connect to Xbox Live."
However, modified consoles will still work offline.

'No recourse':
Microsoft said barring gamers was part of an ongoing drive to curb piracy.
But a statement from them suggests this latest wave was timed to prevent people from playing pirated versions of the widely-anticipated Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
"We can assure you that if an Xbox Live member follows the Xbox Live terms of use, purchased a retail copy of Modern Warfare 2 and played the game on an unmodified Xbox 360, no action will be taken," the firm said.
Microsoft said that it had banned a "small percentage" of the 20 million Xbox Live users worldwide.
Many gamers modify their consoles by installing new chips or software that allows them to run unofficial - but not always illegal - programs and games.
Some BBC News website readers claimed that they had "modded" their consoles to allow them to make back-ups of games that they had already bought.
"Discs are very fragile things and some users like to have their games backed up," said Donald Glass of Aberdeen.
"After all you will have paid £40 for a new disc. It is my opinion that once you buy a disc you should be allowed to do whatever you want with the media as long as you do not break copyright laws."
Microsoft has not said how it was able to determine which gamers to disconnect.
"We do not reveal specifics, but can say that all consoles have been verified to have violated the terms of use," the firm said in a statement.
It said that gamers who had been barred were using their modified consoles to "play illegally pirated games".
"We believe that even one modified console on the system is one too many".
Industry figures suggest that piracy may cost the video game industry as much as £750m a year.
Reports have speculated that new "mods" could soon be on the market that allow gamers to get round the blocks.

`Call of Duty' game shoots to make history

 

`Call of Duty' game shoots to make history

Forget the buzz over the next "Twilight" film or James Cameron's "Avatar." The biggest entertainment hit of the holiday season may come on Tuesday, when "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2" hits stores.

The video game published by Activision Blizzard Inc is the most highly anticipated of the year, winning accolades from gaming blogs and Wall Street analysts alike. But it also arrives at a time when the weak economy is punishing sales across the video game industry.
Activision has plenty riding on the launch, and much to lose if the game falls short of expectations. Shares of the company have risen around 30 percent this year, outperforming chief rival Electronic Arts Inc's 18 percent gain.
"This is the one game that could buck the economic trend for the holiday season," said MKM Partners analyst Eric Handler. He estimates the title will account for 16 cents of Activision's earnings per share in the December quarter, and more than one-third of the publisher's bottom line.
Analysts say "Call of Duty's" audience of hard-core gamers, generally young men, are likely to hit stores in droves to pick up the $60 game. Activision is partnering with 12 retailers including GameStop Corp and Best Buy Co for more than 10,000 midnight store openings in North America.
Sales estimates range from 11 million-13 million units by end-2009, which would put the game in rarefied company.
Activision said preorders set a record. The shooter game is likely to be "one of the largest entertainment launches of any media of all time," CEO Robert Kotick said this week.
MKM's Handler expects "Call of Duty" to sell close to 5 million units on the first day, and 7 million-8 million in the first week. That would beat last year's blockbuster "Grand Theft Auto IV" from Take-Two Interactive Software Inc, which sold 3.6 million units on the first day, and 6 million in its first week or more than $500 million in sales.

MILITARY GAME:
The new game is the sixth installment in the "Call of Duty" franchise, which was launched in 2003.
It boasts stunning cinematography, with gamers portraying elite soldiers hunting down targets in South America, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Afghanistan.
Players navigate through modern scenarios, ranging from shooting while racing on life-like snow mobiles, or stealthily moving through arid locales, hunting down enemy snipers and avoiding helicopters overhead.
"Call of Duty" carries a rating of "M," meaning the content is suitable for those age 17 and older.
Some critics point fingers at the video game industry for often graphic depictions of bloodshed -- especially after sensational acts of public violence. But while the "Grand Theft Auto" series has been criticized by some for glorifying crime, "Call of Duty" has not been similarly condemned.
Next week's release comes at an awkward time. On Thursday, 13 people were killed and 30 wounded in a mass shooting at Fort Hood in Texas, the biggest military facility in the world. An army psychiatrist trained to treat war wounded is suspected as the gunman.
When asked if the shooting would affect the launch, Activision said it was still moving forward and there was nothing to suggest a connection between the Fort Hood incident and video games.

MIDNIGHT OPENING:
Despite the economy, U.S. video game software sales are expected to grow to $19.5 billion in 2013 from $14.7 billion in 2008, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers. That makes it a bigger entertainment ticket than Hollywood's $9.6 billion in 2008, according to industry website boxofficemojo.com.
Much like a summer blockbuster movie, shooter games like "Call of Duty" tend to have a massive crush of sales in the first few days as eager gamers flood stores to get their copy.
"By all indicators, we anticipate 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2' will be the biggest entertainment launch of 2009, as well as the biggest video game launch in GameStop's history," said Tony Bartel, executive vice president of merchandising and marketing for GameStop.
The video game retailer will open 4,200 outlets on Monday night, some as early as 9 p.m. Some stores will feature promotional appearances by celebrities and athletes.
Other popular games this year, such as Nintendo Co Ltd's "Wii Fit" or the "The Beatles: Rock Band" from Viacom Inc's MTV, have appealed to more casual gamers and include women and older people in their target demographic.
The new "Call of Duty" has scared off Activision's competition, some analysts say.
"A lot of publishers and developers have pushed their titles up either well before the release or to after the holidays, and what that does is just add to 'Call of Duty's' success," said EEDAR research group analyst Jesse Divnich.

Health games become serious business

Videogames were once blamed for rising obesity rates but are now being championed by the medical industry and for use by government departments for their health benefits.

Games like Electronic Arts' "EA Sports Active" and Nintendo's "Wii Fit" have got players of all ages moving -- and game developers and investors looking for hot new titles to cash in on this booming segment of the market.
Big John Games' upcoming "Butt Kicker" Nintendo DSi game will provide an action-based environment in which players fight against cigarettes and "Karate Bears" for Wii teaches players real karate routines using the Wii's motion-sensor controllers.
With interest in health games rising, the fifth annual Games for Health Conference in Boston expanded to 390 people this year from 100, including developers, investors and medical experts, while numbers at many other conferences are down up to 40 percent.
"Healthcare is 18 percent of the GDP of the United States and so games for health is probably the largest sector of activity in the serious games field long-term," said Ben Sawyer, co-founder of The Games for Health Project.
"If you add up the 18 month sales of "Wii Fit" and the sales of "EA Sports Active," Konami's "Dance Dance Revolution" and other healthy games, the worldwide retail numbers are over $2 billion."
Dr. Michael Levine, executive director of the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop which fosters innovation in children's learning, has just released a report looking at how digital games can play a beneficial and educational role in health care.
"The White House should launch a national initiative to promote research and development of proven games," said Levine.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, whose mission is to improve the health and healthcare of all Americans, has also called for a public engagement campaign supported by the president, Congress and the federal agencies to teach parents, teachers and health providers about the healthy side of gaming.
"States' governors should direct their school technology officers to look at innovations like "Dance Dance Revolution" and "Wii Fit" as a way to extend the reach of physical education and comprehensive health education," said Dr. Debra Lieberman, director of Health Games Research for the foundation.
The Games for Health Conference also showcased how videogames are being used to help doctors and patients alike.
Serious games developer Virtual Heroes is working on a new first-person shooter sequel for Hope Lab's popular "Re-Mission" game, which has been distributed to cancer patients in 81 countries since 2006.
"We're taking their existing concept and trying to raise the fun bar and creating more lifelike and enjoyable environments within the human body," explained Jerry Heneghan, CEO of Virtual Heroes.
"Players will take control of Roxy, the protagonist, and have new weapons to battle cancer with thanks to input from cancer patients."
Virtual Heroes is also updating its HumanSim technology with a new human physiology engine, technology has been used by Duke Medical Center's nursing school to train nurses virtually.
Heneghan said he hopes this software will inspire gamers to turn to careers in healthcare and make people in the medical profession more proficient with more grants and funding flowing into universities for health games.

PlayStation outsells Wii in Japan

                                                        Celebrate Bengali New Year with HP

Sony's PlayStation 3 has outsold Nintendo's Wii console in Japan for the first time in 16 months.

Last month, Sony shifted 146,948 units of the PS3 compared to 99,335 Wiis, reported publishing firm Enterbrain.
While some suggest it could signal the end of Nintendo's dominance, others think it is unlikely that the PS3 will threaten the Wii's popularity globally.
Meanwhile, Nintendo's revamped DSi console sold 92,000 units in the UK during its first weekend of sales.
It makes it the fourth biggest ever console launch.

Wii success:
Experts see the dominance of the PS3 during March as a temporary blip rather than a sign of Nintendo's decline.
Microsoft however only shifted 43,172 units of its Xbox 360 during the same period.
Games such as Resident Evil 5 and the latest version of action adventure Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 are credited with driving demand for the PS3 in Japan.
But Wii sales remain extremely buoyant.
During March global sales of Nintendo's Wii console passed 50 million, making the Wii the fastest-selling games console in history, surpassing the PlayStation 2.
"PS3 hardware sales picked up due to brisk-selling software. But I don't see any drastic change in the industry landscape," Okasan Securities analyst Masashi Morita told the AFP news agency.

Hordes greet Warcraft expansion

                                                            Hordes greet Warcraft expansion

The second expansion pack for the fantasy role-playing online game the World of Warcraft has gone on sale.

More than 2,000 people waited outside an Oxford Street store in central London, in advance of a special midnight opening.
Similar launch events are being held in North America, Taiwan, and South Korea.
The Wrath of the Lich King includes a bonus continent for high-level players, a plethora of new enemies, extra equipment, spells, and new professions.
The expansion also gives players the chance to take on a new type of character known as a Death Knight.
On the stroke of midnight, players - many of whom had queued for hours - got to pick up a copy of the game signed by the developers.
Scott Hamshere, from Bromley, should have been the first person in the UK with a copy of the game. He had started queuing at 6am and was the first in line. However, as the barriers were lifted, it was all too much, and he collapsed from exhaustion.
Instead it was 23-year-old Ben West, from Greenwich, who became the first person to own the game. Speaking to the BBC he said that it all came as a real shock.
"Up until that point it was a bit of an anti-climax in some respects. I expected to be second in line, and when I was first it was a real surprise," he said.
"I really feel for Scott, he was a real trooper, but in the end I think it just overwhelmed him. But we got chatting in the queue, he rang me afterwards, and we're going to meet up for a drink at some point."
For the vast majority of people, the night was an entertaining one, with many players saying they were going to play Warcraft all night once they got back home.
Developed by Blizzard Entertainment and launched in 2004, World of Warcraft has grown into one of the most popular of all online games, with more than 11m registered players.
"We've been looking forward to this launch event all year," said Blizzard's chief executive Mike Morhaime.
"This is one of the few opportunities we get to meet with players in person."
The main focus of the expansion is the Lich King himself, Arthas Menethil, who many will recognise from Blizzard's real-time PC strategy games set in the Warcraft world.
Much of the content in the add-on game involves battling against the army of undead that Arthas controls.
Alongside the new content, Blizzard is also expected to start updating the graphics engine for WoW, making its cartoon-like imagery more realistic.
The new expansion pack will cost £24.99. However, it also requires a copy of the original game, the Burning Crusade expansion and a monthly subscription of £8.99.
Users also need to be a minimum of level 55, which rules out novice and low level players.

Gaming giants look to mainstream

                                                     LittleBigPlanet is one of Sony's big games

The giants of the video games industry gather in Los Angeles this week for the E3 conference, and all sights are set on the mass market.

Microsoft and Sony are both expected to follow the Nintendo Wii's lead and push into social gaming.
Observers say the recent cut for the Xbox 360 is Microsoft's bid to make the console more appealing.
"There is a strong move to pull in women, young girls and older people," said analyst Piers Harding-Rolls.
"It's not just about the traditional gamer anymore. More casual, lifestyle and family-orientated products are going to appeal to a wider demographic," said the Screen Digest analyst.

Huge success:
Nintendo has had huge success with its Wii console, dominating rivals Sony and Microsoft by focusing on casual and lifestyle titles.
"They have created a new category of gaming - lifestyle and training games and this social software genre is doing fantastically well," said Mr Harding-Rolls.
"Nintendo is riding a wave and other platforms are seeking to try and get into those channels as well."
He added: "There is definitely a demand for more of that product that Nintendo has championed."
Screen Digest predicts that the market for current generation consoles will hit 80 million by the end of the year.
Publishers and developers are beginning to exploit new forms of content, new types of gaming, as well as delivery through online sales, said Mr Harding-Rolls.

Marketing campaign:
Microsoft is expected to unveil a massive marketing campaign aimed at repositioning the Xbox 360.
One of the first elements of that is to cut the price of the 20GB Xbox 360 in North American to $299 (£150) - closer to the price of the Wii.
Additionally, in August a 60GB Xbox will debut that will cost $349 (£175).
The campaign is intended to show a stronger emphasis on social gaming though the console's traditional strength in action and adventure titles will also be well represented.
Highly-anticipated sequel Gears of War 2 will be on show, as will role playing game Fable 2, from British developer Peter Molyneux's firm Lionhead.
In an E3 diary written for the BBC News website, he said: "It's the adrenaline rush of pushing your chest out and showing who you are and what you stand for.
"And this year Lionhead stands for Fable 2, which amazingly is finally done."
Sony will be showing PlayStation 3 exclusive titles Resistance 2, Killzone 2 and LittleBigPlanet.
The company is also expected to give more details of its online virtual world, called Home, and there are reports that a third God of War title might also be shown.

Lifestyle peripherals:
"I think that you'll have some exciting lifestyle peripherals on the PlayStation Portable alongside the PlayStation 3," predicted games consultant Nick Parker.
Nintendo is expected to announce a number of deals with third-party developers, who are hoping to capitalise on the success of the Wii, as well as lift the lid of what its own internal studios are currently working on.
"Wii is dominated by Nintendo's own software. Can third parties make substantial returns on the Wii?" asked Mr Harding-Rolls.
He added: "Behind closed doors Nintendo will be looking to reassure publishers about the potential of the platform and its longevity."
One of the other key themes of E3 will be the continued growth in online content, he predicted.
He said: "We'll see more downloadable titles. It will be interesting to see if there any more premium titles delivered via digital distribution.
"Online gaming is becoming increasingly popular across the whole of Europe. Europe is not a small online gaming market anymore."
The success of games based around peripherals, such as Rock Band, Guitar Hero and Singstar, is also likely to spur more developers to create add-on friendly titles, especially as their increased sales prices boost revenues.

Games consoles 'not green enough'

                                                          Games consoles 'not green enough'

Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo are not doing enough to eliminate potentially harmful chemicals and metals from their games consoles, Greenpeace has said.

The body examined materials used inside the Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3), Microsoft Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii.
Greenpeace said that while all three machines complied with European laws, the consoles still contained harmful materials that "needed to be replaced".
Nintendo's environment policies were "non-existent", Greenpeace added.
"Nintendo doesn't have any environmental policies, " said Zeina Al-Hajj, Greenpeace's International Toxic Campaign co-ordinator.
"We were shocked with Nintendo; it was our biggest surprise."
Nintendo is ranked at the bottom of Greenpeace's global assessment of "green" technology companies.
"Recently they added a list of certain commitments they have, which purely comply with legislation," said Ms Al-Hajj.
The organisation has called on all technology firms to take immediate action to eliminate toxic chemicals from products.
The report found that the PS3 and 360 both contained "very high" levels of chemicals, called phthalates, which are used to "soften" flexible materials like wires and cable coatings.
They are not permitted in toys sold in Europe but under EU regulations games consoles are not classed as toys.
Ms Al-Hajj said: "We see a gap there. For us this is still a toy.
"And whether or not it's a toy, we do not want these chemicals in our products."
The report found that all three consoles contained varying levels of the toxic element bromine, which is used as a flame retardant.
The presence of beryllium was found in both the PS3 and Xbox 360. The element is not banned under EU law but it has been linked to lung cancer when dust and fumes are created through some recycling processes.
A Nintendo spokesman told BBC News: "We fully comply with all the necessary EU Directives on the Restriction of Hazardous Substances aimed at environmental protection and consumer health and safety.
"Furthermore, in order to ensure our products are safe for use by young children we also take into consideration the standards applicable to toys."
According to the United Nations Environment Programme 50 tonnes of hazardous e-waste is generated every year.
Greenpeace said it was concerned that there was no "safe way" to dispose of old consoles and called on games console makers to introduce return and recycle policies.
A spokesman for Sony said the firm had joined with other companies, Braun, HP and Electrolux, to establish the European Recycling Platform.
Microsoft has committed to eliminating the use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which includes phthalates, and brominated flame retardants (BFR) by 2010.
Nintendo has also committed to removing PVC from future products, but has not given a specific timeframe.
The Nintendo spokesman said: "We have endeavoured to eliminate the use of PVC by replacing it with other materials and other methods.
"However, we continue to use PVC in certain products such as AC adaptors, within the scope of regulations from the viewpoint of ensuring safety."
Greenpeace criticised Sony for failing to agree to eliminate PVC and BFR from its games consoles, while at the same time pledging their removal from its mobile products.
Ms Al-Hajj said: "Sony has a very good record in our ranking guide. They have committed to eliminating these chemicals from mobile devices.
"But why are we finding them in such high percentages in a console? This is a tool used by children in our homes.
"None of these chemicals exist in Sony's Vaio laptop. So if they can do it for a laptop, why can't they push this for the console also?"
A spokesman for Sony told BBC News that the company would eliminate PVC and BFR from all of its products "as and when we are satisfied that we can produce products of equal Sony quality in all regards using new alternative materials".
Ms Al-Hajj said the electronics industry needed take more responsibility.
"This is one of the most innovative industries we have on the planet.
"This is an industry that is changing our way of life and if it does not take these challenges upon themselves to be more green, we are going to be in deep trouble very, very soon.
"It is not enough just to comply with the law for such an industry."
She said the European Union's Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive was not strong enough.
"RoHS is not enough now to control the electronics industry.
"If they are pushed to putting the environment as the priority the electronics industries will come up with alternatives because they are technically capable."
No-one from Microsoft was available for comment on the findings of the Greenpeace report.

Manhunt 2 wins battle for release

                                                                              Manhunt 2

The ban on controversial video game Manhunt 2 in the UK has been lifted and the game will now go on sale.

The Video Appeals Committee upheld an earlier decision that the game could be sold, following a nine-month battle between makers Rockstar and UK censors.
The British Board of Film Classification had taken the fight to ban the game to the High Court, saying the game "went too far".
An edited version of the title will be released with an 18 certificate.
The game was first banned in June 2007 and an edited version of the game was later rejected by the BBFC.
David Cooke, director of the BBFC said: "As I have said previously, we never take rejection decisions lightly, and they always involve a complex balance of considerations.
"We twice rejected Manhunt 2, and then pursued a judicial review challenge, because we considered, after exceptionally thorough examination, that it posed a real potential harm risk.
"However, the Video Appeals Committee has again exercised its independent scrutiny. It is now clear, in the light of this decision, and our legal advice, that we have no alternative but to issue an 18 certificate to the game."
Developers Rockstar Games has always maintained that the content of Manhunt 2 is no different from other 18-rated entertainment products, such as the film series Saw.
In a statement, the company said: "We are pleased that the VAC has reaffirmed its decision recognizing that Manhunt 2 is well within the bounds established by other 18+ rated entertainment.
"Rockstar Games is committed to making great interactive entertainment, while also marketing our products responsibly and supporting an effective rating system."

Video games make history in 2007

                                                      Mario is many people's game of the year

The last 12 months have been one of the best years in video game history, both critically and commercially.

Gamers have been able to revel in some of the most exhilarating interactive experiences ever designed.
Sales in the UK are at an all-time high, with more than £1.52bn taken in the last 12 months.
Some video games crossed over into blockbuster entertainment territory. Halo 3, for example, earned £84m in its first 24 hours on sale.
Many people will be joining the gaming revolution this Christmas - but what were the games which had people talking in the past year?
The stand out moments for many gamers include Master Chief delivering his "Wake me when you need me" line in Halo 3, to the nuclear bomb blast in Call of Duty 4, the arrival in Rapture in Bioshock, and the innovative gaming of Super Mario Galaxy.
But what did our expert judges pick out as their game of the year?

DAVID AMOR, RELENTLESS GAMES:
1. Ratchet and Clank - PlayStation 3
This was the first time I have looked at the visuals of a video game and thought I was playing a Pixar movie.
There was just no difference between the interactive and non-interactive sequences in the game.
2. Super Mario Galaxy - Nintendo Wii
Mario games are always fun and it's always interesting to see what gameplay dynamics are introduced.
There was a lot of pressure for it to succeed - and it does.
3. Command and Conquer - PC
I played the demo and got drawn in. The online aspect of the game is now so established and so mature. The game shows just how far online experiences have come in a short space of time.

DAVID BRABEN, FRONTIER GAMES:
1. The Darkness - Xbox 360
It may be very cliched and did not really offer an open experience, it felt like it did. It was a very interesting world to play in and having seen so many games over so many years, something interesting always surprises.
2. Bioshock - PC and Xbox 360
This was a really beautiful game. The architecture, 1950s-style production design and graphics were first rate.
The gameplay felt like something we had seen before but the world was so beautifully realised.
3. Halo 3 - Xbox 360
The game had not really moved on from previous Halo titles, other than in its online play.
There's something very immersive about playing it on a big screen. And for many developers this is the game, the standard they are aiming for.

MARGARET ROBERTSON, GAMES CONSULTANT:
1. Super Mario Galaxy
It has more ideas in it than any other game I can remember playing for years. It's so innovative and so bold and technically very good.
And because it is so much fun and so good to play you forget how technically proficient it actually is.
2. Final Fantasy XII - PlayStation 2
It's astoundingly accomplished. It may be an old game series but its still innovative - and with all Final Fantasy games it is beautiful and technically excellent.
3. Planet Puzzle League - Nintendo DS
It's a simple idea, beautifully produced and one of my favourite puzzle games ever.

TONY MOTT, EDGE EDITOR:
1. Super Mario Galaxy
It is a video game in the truest sense of the term. Colourful, fun-filled with lots of play around with.
2. The Orange Box - PC, PS3, Xbox 360
I really enjoyed Portal because was something different and innovative. I have always enjoyed the Half Life series and to get the two episodic games with Half Life 2 itself is great value.
3. Uncharted: Drake's Fortune - PlayStation 3
This has finally given people a reason to play PlayStation 3. It is not a very long game but it is unashamed fun.

Halo 3 Downloadable Map Packs Available Now

                                                                 Halo3 game’s screenshot

Today, everything Halo 3 is new again.

Bungie has released a downloadable pack of new multiplayer maps for the blockbuster Xbox 360 shooter. For $10, Xbox Live members can download three brand-new areas called Standoff, Rat's Nest and Foundry.
If you don't want to put down the $10, just wait -- Microsoft says the maps will become free whenever the next Halo 3 map pack is released, which should be sometime this spring.
To go along with the new maps, Bungie will add a "New Maps Only" option to its matchmaking service, which ensures that you are partnered up with other Halo players who just want to experience the new.
In a FAQ explaining the new maps, Bungie paid particular attention to the Foundry, which it says is "designed from the outset to be the most customizable Halo 3 Forge map ever created."
Foundry takes the form of a large warehouse filled with crates, ramps and even the legendary "man-cannons" that rocket Master Chief through the air.
"Stuff you never had access to before and objects that can be used to create fully functioning level designs, rather than simply altering our existing map," writes Bungie's Luke Smith.
The team of wacky machinima experts at Red vs. Blue have put together a video preview explaining the new maps.
We have to applaud Bungie's decision to eventually make these maps free. Sure, $10 isn't a bad deal for those who will play these maps hundreds of times, but for those of us who have to buy gifts and meat products for large Italian families around this time of year, $10 is the difference between holiday cheer and starving to death in the snow.

Video game giants in $18bn merger

                                     World of Warcraft is played by more than nine million people

The companies behind Call of Duty and World of Warcraft are merging in a deal which could shake up the global video games industry.

Activision and Blizzard have said they will form "the world's most profitable games business" in a deal worth $18.8bn (£9.15bn).
US-based Activision also makes hit console games such as the Tony Hawk series and Guitar Hero.
Nine million people pay a monthly subscription to play World of Warcraft.

'High-growth industry':
Blizzard is the biggest player in online gaming and World of Warcraft is the global market leader of what are known as massively multi-player online role-playing games, or MMORPGs.
It is currently owned by the French media group Vivendi.
As part of the merger plan, Blizzard will invest $2bn in the new company, while Activision is putting up $1bn.
The merged business will be called Activision Blizzard and its chief executive will be Activision's current CEO Bobby Kotick. Vivendi will be the biggest shareholder in the group.
Jean-Bernard Levy, Vivendi chief executive, said: "This alliance is a major strategic step for Vivendi and is another illustration of our drive to extend our presence in the entertainment sector.
"By combining Vivendi's games business with Activision, we are creating a worldwide leader in a high-growth industry."
Different strengths
The two firms are hoping that their different strengths will combine to form a business which is powerful on every gaming platform and in every territory.
Blizzard is strong in Asia, where its Starcraft series has proved hugely popular.
Starcraft, a strategy game first released in 1998, is played by millions of South Koreans in gaming cyber-cafes, and by professional gamers on television.
Activision has developed a presence on all three new generation game consoles - Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3 and the Nintendo Wii - with franchises such as Spider-Man and X-Men.
The games software industry has been through turbulent years, with companies changing ownership and going in and out of business in rapid succession.
Activision was formed in 1979 and went through bankruptcy and a series of alliances and mergers before becoming successful.
Blizzard had been through a number of owners before ending up in the hands of Vivendi in 1998.

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 Preview

All the fun of beating someone up, minus the bloody knuckles and injured groin.

Wii Sports lets you beat people at baseball, tennis and bowling. WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008, on the other hand, allows you to pummel them into oblivion, thanks to devastating pro wrestling moves that you physically execute with the remote and nunchuk. We don't know if it packs all of the features found in the upcoming Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions, but considering the game's arcade feel, we'll give up some extras in exchange for beating people up.
SmackDown's biggest draw lies in its motion sensitive controls. Instead of pressing buttons and tilting analog sticks to kick someone's ass, use the remote. To punch, for example, swing the controller forwards. To hit someone in the face with a dropkick, swing the remote up, and to grapple, press and hold B, then move the controller in the desired direction. From there, you can lift your opponent up by moving the remote upwards, hold them in position (in a suplex, for instance) and then drop them on their backs by bringing the controller down. Conversely, your opponent can break free by furiously shaking their controllers, so taking the time to gloat may cost you.
Like most wrestling games, you control your superstar using an analog stick; in this case, the nunchuk's, and THQ streamlined the process so that you use as few buttons as possible; so to leave the ring, you simply move your wrestler to the ropes and he or she exits. You can even perform a dive onto a hapless opponent by simply flicking the remote near the ropes.
Wrestler taunts make the game even more interesting. When the opportunity arises, you can taunt your opponent by pressing and holding C, then mimicking your chosen character's move. To do John Cena's "You can't see me", wave the remote back and forth across your face. This definitely adds personality to the game, and it also makes people look ridiculous, but in a good way.
THQ hasn't announced all of the features, but it did reveal a create-a-wrestler mode, a staple of wrestling games over the past ten years, so that's no big surprise. Whether or not we'll see General Manager or Create-a-Pay-Per-View modes, however, remains to be seen.
We also don't know the number of wrestlers that will be exhibited. The company announced Cena, Triple H, Randy Orton, Jeff Hardy, Bobby Lashley and the Undertaker (WWE's biggest stars), but no lesser known guys (Shelton Benjamin, Carlito, Mr. Kennedy).
The graphics look less impressive than the Xbox 360 SmackDown, yet only because of the Wii's limitations, but it does it appears that THQ will squeeze as much as possible out of Nintendo's machine. To that end, expect to see motion captured ring entrances with plenty of pyrotechnics and animated fans.
For $49.99, expect a fully loaded wrestling smorgasbord, filled with 50 plus superstars and enough modes to keep us busy for weeks, but considering THQ's emphasis on arcade style wrestling, we suspect it may cut back on features. As soon as we know more on this exciting game, we'll let you know all of the info. Till then, get your body in shape and prepare to hit the ring November 13.

Wii Sports dominates Bafta awards

Nintendo's Wii Sports has swept the board at the 2007 British Academy Video Games Awards in London.

The energetic title took home awards in categories such as gameplay, strategy and simulation, innovation and sports.

The game allows players to compete in onscreen sporting events using the Wii's controller as a tennis racquet, golf club or even bowling ball.

However, the title did not manage to take the coveted best game award which went to Xbox title Bioshock.

The first-person shooter, released in August, is set in an underwater world populated by mutants and mechanical drones. It received acclaim from gamers and the Bafta judges.

The evening ended with Will Wright, creator of The Sims, being awarded a Bafta fellowship in recognition of more than 20 years' work in the industry.

Mr Wright is currently working on the hugely-anticipated life simulation game Spore.

Previous generation

The other eight awards presented throughout the evening were shared by a handful of titles across most of the gaming platforms.
However, games for Sony's latest console, the PlayStation 3 (PS3), did not manage to bag an award. Instead, titles for the powerful next generation console were upstaged by games for its predecessor.

The PS2 game Okami won in the categories of artistic achievement and original score.

The game weaves several Japanese myths and folk stories into an action-adventure.

It features a "celestial brush" that allows gamers to pause the game and draw on the screen using the game controller. Players can add to the scenery, control effects such as the wind or create objects such as bridges to allow them to cross a river.

The PS2 combat title God of War 2 also took home two awards for best story and character as well as technical achievement.

People's award

Other awards, voted for by the expert jury, included best use of audio and action and adventure. Both awards went to Xbox 360 title Crackdown.
The jury also highlighted a game created by a team of five students from the University of Abertay in Dundee, as the one to watch.

Ragnarawk allows gamers to fight evil using a magical guitar.

The game had previously won two prizes at the university's Dare to be Digital design competition.

Although most of the awards are voted for by the Bafta jury, one prize is voted for by the public.

The gamers award allows people to vote from a shortlist made up from the top-selling games on each platform over the previous year. It was won by Football Manager 2007 for the PC.

The Bafta video games awards are now in their second year, joining the better known television and film awards.

Chairman of the academy, Hilary Bevan Jones said "The academy believes video games have limitless potential to enlighten as well as entertain and our role is to encourage creative excellence in the field, for the benefit of a rapidly growing audience".

                                         Bioshock players assume the role of a plane crash survivor

Metal Gear Solid 4: Hands on

Is Hideo Kojima's ambition matched by solid gameplay? We find out...!

Solid Snake’s always been a badass, but as recent outings for oldies like Bruce Willis and Sylvester Stallone have showed, all that muscle can get a little… droopy. Snake’s back, but he’s ‘back’ from the retirement home, trading in his khaki bus pass for a few new guns, a camo suit and that bloody irritating codec once more. Can he still cut it with the young bucks, or is this one fight too many for the old ticker?

First, the history. From Metal Gear Solid 2 on the MSX, the series has relied on stealth as its central mechanic. While it was certainly possible to go in with all guns blazing and a cigarette clamped in the lower lip, it would more often than not see you smoking from a few new bullet holes in your attractive bodysuit, and wishing you’d been a bit craftier.

As well as the emphasis on stealth, the games (at least since Metal Gear Solid on the venerable PSone) have all been full of director Hideo Kojima’s own brand of cod-philosophy, something that's occasionally quite funny but, more often than not, just irritating. Especially when he indulges himself for half an hour about the ethics of using monkey DNA for human research or somesuch.

So MGS has always been a mix of sublime, tense gaming, punctuated by mad bosses, great set pieces, and tedious, long winded exposition of themes that no-one really cares about. Very, very long exposition. The hope for Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is that it can cut down the boring parts, while giving us a lot more action, married to a graphical splendour only the PS3 can muster. At TGS, we got our first opportunity for a hands on. Is is a success? Read on, soldier.

EA wants 'open gaming platform'

                                      Games are exploiting the increasing power of games consoles

Rival gaming systems should make way for a single open platform, a senior executive at Electronic Arts has said.

Gerhard Florin said incompatible consoles made life harder for developers and consumers.
"We want an open, standard platform which is much easier than having five which are not compatible," said EA's head of international publishing.
He said the web and set-top boxes would grow in importance to the industry.
"We're platform agnostic and we definitely don't want to have one platform which is a walled garden," said Mr Florin.
EA currently produces games for more than 14 different gaming systems, including consoles, portable devices and PCs.
"I am not sure how long we will have dedicated consoles - but we could be talking up to 15 years," Mr Florin added.
He predicted that server-based games streamed to PCs or set-top boxes, would become increasingly important.
"You don't need an Xbox 360, PS3 or Wii - the consumer won't even realise the platform it is being played on."
Set-top boxes are becoming increasingly more powerful as they include technology to deal with High Definition TV streams and access to the internet.