[GameRatty] tag: director

GameTrailers updates

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:26:23 +0000

Fishing Master World Tour - Safari Teaser

Football Director DS - Debut Trailer

Job Island - Japanese Men TV Spot

Job Island - Japanese Making of the TV Spot

Job Island - Japanese Characters Trailer

Job Island - Japanese Job Montage Trailer

Aonuma - Z-targeting inspired by Super Mario 64s problems

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:45:32 +0000

An excerpt from the latest Nintendo Power…

“Everyone has probably experienced how hard it can be to go where you want to go when moving your character around in 3-D space. When an opponent is approaching, in order to attack with your sword, you’ve got to position yourself in such a way as to hit it, and that can be quite difficult.

Another problem in games with a third-person perspective is that the camera must follow around the player character. Opponents with a large range of movement soon fall outside the frame. Losing track of your opponent’s location happens much too often.

That was one obvious problem with Super Mario 64, so when it came to Zelda, which features a lot of swordfights, we introduced ‘Z-targeting,’ by which the player could lock on to an opponent. The opponent would stay in front of the player, all the player’s attacks would converge on the opponent, and the camera would always capture both the opponent and the player onscreen.

This lock-on system was developed by Miyamoto and Yoshiaki Koizumi, our 3-D system director. Together with the programmers, they worked directly on adjusting game operability, camera-rotation speed, and even sound effects.” - Eiji Aonuma

It’s funny…yesterday when I was playing Sonic Unleashed, I really wished the werehog sections had Z-targeting!

Link

What financial crisis?

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:45:56 +0000

Australian game and console hardware sales have already surpassed 2007's figures, with the market recording growth of 48 per cent for the year-to-date.

While there is obvious concern from game publishers, developers and hardware manufacturers that the global financial crisis will have a negative impact on sales, Australians are enjoying games in record numbers.

The most popular game in Australia this year so far according to GfK is the personal fitness trainer Wii Fit, epitomising gaming's changing audience. It outsold more traditional video games like Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros. Brawl and even Grand Theft Auto IV, which worldwide enjoyed over US$500 million in sales in its first week, the biggest opening recorded for any entertainment product.

Other big sellers in Australia this year include Wii Play, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, World of Warcraft expansion Wrath of the Lich King and Dr Kawashima's Brain Training.

Last week Ubisoft's executive director for Europe, the Middle East and Asia, Alain Corre, told Screen Play that game console and software sales were still buoyant despite the grave economic outlook, expressing confidence because gaming offered "relatively cheap" entertainment.

Local PlayStation boss Michael Ephraim expressed a similar sentiment when I chatted to him recently, although expected many people to rein in their entertainment spending.

Are you planning to spend less money on hardware or software because of the global financial crisis?

NYT: Ziff-Davis considering online-only future for EGM

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:00:00 +0000

Filed under: Culture

As we near the end of a year that saw outspoken EGM editor-in-chief Dan "Shoe" Hsu resign his post, The New York Times quotes publisher Ziff-Davis as "considering" a course of action that would take the prominent print mag online only. The news comes in an article about ZD's decision to make a similar move with 27-year-old flagship publication, PC Magazine.

Ziff-Davis chief executive, James Young, revealed to the paper that an online-only future for EGM is a possibility, but that the publisher "would not make a decision before the end of the year." Recent months have seen the departure of staffers from 1UP, EGM's online sister publication, and a frank admission of the decreasing viability of games-related print media by 1UP editorial director, Simon Cox.

NYT: Ziff-Davis considering online-only future for EGM originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PETA just wants to play Cooking Mama, asks for a vegetarian kitchen

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:02:13 +0000

In response to Mama's statement yesterday, Joel Bartlett, assistant director of marketing for PETA, sends Mama a letter of peace and love, even asking Mama to go with Cooking Mama: Vegetarian Kitchen. Even though they made a playable parody of Mama as a bloodthirsty butcher, PETA maintains that they still love Mama.

In the letter, Bartlett was glad to report that thanks to the bloody Cooking Mama parody, tens of thousands of people watched the undercover footage from turkey farms that they have. They understand the game's concept, but they still urge Mama to "Pledge to be veg for 30 days."

Based on your and Majesco's good-natured responses to PETA's game, I think you understand that although we made you into a demonic, knife-wielding maniac in Cooking Mama: Mama Kills Animals, we still love you. While we had a good time roasting you, the real purpose of our game, of course, was to bring to light some of the horrific practices of the turkey industry. And we mean the animals who are actually mistreated not the virtual ones you cook up in your digital kitchen.

Bartlett then points out that Mama could still have her wide variety of dishes with Indian, Thai, Japanese, and Middle Eastern cuisines, which have a lot of vegetarian and vegan options.

After all that in-game butchering, PETA just wants to play Cooking Mama (DS, Wii)! But they can't, so they're asking Majesco to cook up a vegetarian kitchen for them. They'll even help promote the would-be game to over 2 million members and supporters.

What say you, Mama?

PSN IDs on PlayStation.com, 'Underground' closes

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:22:00 +0000

Filed under: Culture, Mac, PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Online

Synergy. Can you dig it? Sony does, finally noticing those 14 million accounts stranded on the console-side of PlayStation Network. We imagine the meeting went a little something like this:

Exec One: You see, we've got 14 million people over here [*motions to his right*]. But what if we could take them [*lifts his hands up*] and stick 'em over here, too? [*motions back to his left*]
Exec Two: So are you gonna eat that last Mint Milano or what?
Exec One: No -- well ... let's split it.
Exec Two: Deal.

The result? PSN IDs are being incorporated into PlayStation.com and, at a later date, PlayStation.Blog. Doing so will make your friends list and other features accessible through a web browser -- oh my! On a solemn note, these changes bring PlayStation Underground to its inevitable end, but members can hold on to some of the good times by merging their Underground accounts with their PSN IDs. And this is only the beginning, promises PSN senior director Susan Panico: "before this year is over we'll have more enhancements for your gamer profile." Dare we say, a New PlayStation Experience?

PSN IDs on PlayStation.com, 'Underground' closes originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rosenblatt returns to EA from Ubi

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:15:43 +0000

MCV’s reporting that Ubi UK marketing boss Jon Rosenblatt’s returning to EA after three-and-a-half years at Ubisoft. His new role at EA will be senior European marketing director for the publisher’s Sports label. More through there.

Champions Online Meet the Team Introduces Bill Roper

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:05:11 +0000

Cryptic Studios has put up a new Meet the Team, a regular feature for Champions Online. This article exposes design director Bill Roper.He’s played Champions long before Cryptic took on the challenge of transforming the pen and paper RPG to MMORPG.

Roper comes to Cryptic with 14 years of experience working with Blizzard on Diablo and running his own company Flagship Studios. He says he’s contributing the experience of his successes and failures to make Champions Online great.

Roper’s secret super power is finding the longest line.

“I can always choose the line that will take the longest to complete. Never stand behind me at a store, airport or bathroom queue at the ballpark.”

Part of Meet the Team is seasoned developers giving gamers considering the games industry as career some sage advice. Here’s what Bill Roper recommends for interested parties.

“If you want to be a designer, you have to intrinsically love games and constantly be thinking in terms of mechanics. When you’re playing a game – any game – you’re thinking about why they made the choices they did and why the game is or isn’t fun. The best advice I can give someone that wants to get into game design is to just do it. Design your own games with pieces and parts from other games, make up your own cards, or use an editor from another project to get your ideas represented. There is no substitute for trying out your ideas in any way you can and then iterating on that design. And play. Play a lot.”

Often gamers overlook developers as gamers themselves. Many of them are and I would hope so. I imagine that someone who loves their job and understands what’s fun will develop better videogames. Get the full picture of Bill Roper on Champions Online.

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ELSPA: Government close to a decision concering PEGI ratings system

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:12:27 +0000

After weeks of heated exchanges between the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA) and the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), the Byron Review consultation period ended today (November 20) , with the former submitting a 30 page report detailing their side of the argument.

Besides espousing the merits of the PEGI cassification system, the document claims that an extension of the BBFC s role into game ratings (as the Byron Report originally suggests) would create a heavy burden to the industry, including logistical and compliance issues plus more operational costs.

ELSPA MD Micheal Rawlinson expressed confidence that that government would see things his way, saying, "We ve had a strong dialogue with the Government and it understands that the games industry wants to sell its products in a sensible and appropriate manner."

Of course, director David Cooke of the BBFC is confident too saying, The issues have been fully aired over the last 18 months. The BBFC is confident that the Government fully understands them, and is able to distinguish good from bad arguments.

For the Government's part, they'll just be working as fast as they can to make up their minds. A formal response is expected by early next year.

If things go the ELSPA's way, PEGI will be the UK's legal standard videogame classification system by 2010.

ELSPA: Government close to a decision concering PEGI ratings system

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:12:27 +0000