Most of the gaming community has already lost interest in the traditional media such as TV and radio. ESPN, one of the most important TV channels that are dedicated to sports, has been long trying to keep youngsters hooked to their TV screens. Much of the competition arises from the video games and the virtual reality they provide. ESPN thus has teamed up with Electronic Arts to reveal a new technology that would allow ESPN commentators to interact with virtual players and also manipulate past sporting situations to discuss what might have happened if, for example, a player turned to the right at a certain an angle instead of the other way.

The technology uses specialized digital camera and makes use of both real and virtual people to help commentators discuss various situations. Called the Virtual Playbook, the technology brings video games to TV and so far, it has been the other way. Meanwhile, EA has already teamed up with ESPN to produce more sports themed games and the contract would last for 15 years. It is mighty possible that Virtual Playbook is part of the deal. This could help bring back the gamer audience back in front of the screens.

Via: NYTimes

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Many adventurers in Turbine's Lord of the Rings Online likely know this lovely cold area. Speaking with Gloin will land you a quest to go speak to the scouts outside of Helegrod, where even more fun and adventure ensues as players follow the quest arc. Today's snowy One Shot was sent in to us by Velen, who snagged this screenshot just as he was preparing to ascend the Bitter Stair and find the scouts.

If you've been questing along a great storyline, why not grab some screenshots and send those along to us? We love fighting scenes, flying scenes, landscapes, you name it. So if you've got screenshots from your favorite MMOs, send those in to us here at oneshots AT massively.com! Your screens could be next.

Gallery: One Shots

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Codemasters has released the first batch of screen shots for the highly anticipated title FUEL. The game is still under development but is set to be one of their biggest projects ever. Asobo, the developers, have created a racing game which features 14,000 square miles of open racing environment. It also features dynamic weather, destructable environments and much more. Some of us may know this game as “Grand Raid Offroad” which was renamed about a year ago.

The storyline is set in a futuristic North America, where resources are low and the earth is ravaged by global warming. There are a band of adrenaline racing junkies who live for speed and take part in any racing events in the free roaming environment, even through the most devastating weather conditions. Races are multi-part and feature a variety of vehicles such as Quads, SUVs, motorbikes, muscle cars and much more, each of which is packed with lots of power. The game is also fun because raging weather conditions force riders to find alternative routes to reach their destination.

There are many environments as well such as beaches, canyons, moutains and valleys, salt flats and more. There is also the day/night cycle so drivers will have lots to do in just exploring the environment. The damage system is also said to be very realistic, and considering the level put into games such as GRID, there is a good chance that the damage system here would be very good as well. Another small feature includes character customization. Single player takes the form of a career mode while multiplayer allows for 16 players to match up.

The game is set for release in the 2nd quarter of 2009 on the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 simultaneously. There are also promises of updated post-release content. Stay tuned for more. Check out the screen shots below.

Via: Hide and Geek

Codemasters has released the first batch of screen shots for the highly anticipated title FUEL. The game is still under development but is set to be one of their biggest projects ever. Asobo, the developers, have created a racing game which features 14,000 square miles of open racing environment. It also features dynamic weather, destructable environments and much more. Some of us may know this game as “Grand Raid Offroad” which was renamed about a year ago.

The storyline is set in a futuristic North America, where resources are low and the earth is ravaged by global warming. There are a band of adrenaline racing junkies who live for speed and take part in any racing events in the free roaming environment, even through the most devastating weather conditions. Races are multi-part and feature a variety of vehicles such as Quads, SUVs, motorbikes, muscle cars and much more, each of which is packed with lots of power. The game is also fun because raging weather conditions force riders to find alternative routes to reach their destination.

There are many environments as well such as beaches, canyons, moutains and valleys, salt flats and more. There is also the day/night cycle so drivers will have lots to do in just exploring the environment. The damage system is also said to be very realistic, and considering the level put into games such as GRID, there is a good chance that the damage system here would be very good as well. Another small feature includes character customization. Single player takes the form of a career mode while multiplayer allows for 16 players to match up.

The game is set for release in the 2nd quarter of 2009 on the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 simultaneously. There are also promises of updated post-release content. Stay tuned for more. Check out the screen shots below.

Via: Hide and Geek

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We've seen plenty of gorgeous looking PS3 and Xbox 360 screens for Sonic Unleashed, but how is the Wii version looking? Worry not, the millions of you who are frantically pacing around the room, worrying about this tense subject, for we have a gallery of screens to set your nervous minds at rest.

The graphics are how you'd expect them to be -- they mimic the style of previous screens, and are just as colorful, but are a Hell of a lot more jaggy. The 360/PS3 screens look rather gorgeous -- these ones, not so much. 

Ah well, most people have doomed this game to failure before it's even come out anyway, so I don't suppose it matters much. I still don't think the Werehog stuff is all that bad, you know. Since Sonic's 3D games have never handled the speed thing too well, I have a feeling that the action/platform elements of the Werehog stuff will probably prove to Unleashed's most successful element.

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I tried writing this article in Google Chrome, and it was less than pleasant. I thoroughly enjoy the browser for its speed, but the lack of plugins (namely Speed Dial and Rikaichan for me) make it nearly impossible to quickly translate Japanese articles. Ah well, sticking to Firefox for now. So, here's tonight's Japanese stories:

A new teaser site has opened for the latest Atelier game. The new title, Atelier Annie, is set to be on the DS and come out sometime in 2009 for 5,040 yen. I love how the Degenki article tells us that "both of the DS screens will be utilized" in this title. Really? Thank God. I was worried that no one was going to find a use for that second screen, nearly four years into the system's life.

We've also got some information on the vaguely-talked-about game The Sky Crawlers. Originally a five-book alternate history novel series in Japan, it was adapted into an anime film by Mamoru Oshii and Production I.G. just recently -- it hit theatres at the beginning of August. The title will be following the anime's plot and is coming from the Crimson Skies developers. The article continues on and goes into depth with some of the missions, but nothing too special. That's the t

A new online game, Operation7, has launched from M Game Japan. The realistic FPS game is free to play, but they make their money via micropayments for itmes and such. To promote the game's launch, they're running a special "Bounty Hound" campaign from now until the 19th, where you can get a dogtag from a downed enemy's bag. For the "winners" (they don't specify how to win), they'll get toy replica guns sent to them as a prize. Sound pretty awesome to me.

While you're here, go ahead and check out some sample character art for Knights in the Nightmare. If that doesn't tickle your fancy, then how about Angel Love Online? There's really nothing special about this online RPG from Q Entertainment and the announcement of a limited edition starter pack -- I just enjoyed the name.

Here's another interesting one: the novel Saga no Gabai Bachan is getting a game adaptation. A subsidary of Yuke's is going to be developing the game along with Try First, another developer. Thus far not much has been announced, but the story of the book/film iterations is a memoir from a Japanese comedian about growing up under the care of his grandmother. I'll be curious to see how this turns into a game, unless it's just going to be a cheap DS point and click story.

That's it for tonight, all!