This week’s episode covers a wide variety of topics, with no set news list save talking about Nintendo Direct’s oddly uninspiring conference. There’s no news list, so feel free to discuss what you found interesting or frustrating about Nintendo’s stream or anything else mentioned in the podcast.
Episode 602: Nintendo Directionless
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VGRT Gaming Podcast 217: Pre-E3 ShowVGRT Gaming Podcast 217: Pre-E3 Show
The TD Gaming Podcast and Videogame Roundtable merge, as Jonah Falcon introduces VGRT regular Jordan Lund to his new listeners, as the VGRT Gaming Podcast is born.
The podcast is a little rushed, however, as E3 approaches, giving the duo only some time to discuss the eventful past week, which includes the following news:
- The NGP to be called the PlayStation Vita
- PS4 in development .. oops, no it’s not
- DC Comics 1st day distribution
- Dungeon Empires out of beta
- Dead or Alive 3DS = child porn?
- Gears of War: Exile and Halo HD leaked
- Bungie showing new game on 7/7
- Gamestop honoring Duke Nukem Forever preorders
- Sales of Trials HD hit 2M
- Call of Duty: Elite announced
For this podcast, this Question of the Week is, “What game do you want to learn about the most at E3” Of course, by the time the next podcast is launched, that question will probably be satisfied. As for Reader Feedback, we didn’t have time to answer it, but we will respond to it next week!
Guitar Hero: On Tour Experience WebsiteGuitar Hero: On Tour Experience Website
Guitar Hero: On Tour has launched a newly designed website dedicated to the On Tour experience. You can listne to the songs from the game, download new skins for your “controller” grip and learn a bit about the game.
The site is the landing point for the On Tour game, is very flashy and pays tribute to the typical guitar hero series websites with crazy animations and moving pictures. Of course you’ll find downloadable features for your computer such as wallpapers, icons and avatars.
Overall, it brings a bit more presence to the Guitar Hero experience for DS gamers around the world.
Microsoft Shoots for Number Two In Console WarMicrosoft Shoots for Number Two In Console War
Microsoft recently announced their price cuts on the Xbox 360, effective today, but what is motivating them? Microsoft’s not going to make much additional money by passing off the savings to the customer but they will, more than likely, sell a bunch of great new Xbox 360‘s to a new crowd of gamer.
Motivation? Sony.
“I’m not at a point where I can say we’re going to beat Nintendo,” says Don Mattrick, senior vice-president of Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment Business. Indeed, Nintendo is likely to run away with the lead in the current generation of console gaming, leaving Microsoft and Sony to battle for second place. (businessweek)
Who would have thought Sony and Microsoft would be battling out this generation for second place while Nintendo breezes through with their Wii console and a handful of games with mediocre game reviews? Don’t answer that, it’s a rhetorical question. If you saw this coming and you’re not on the marketing or project planning for one of these console makers you better prep your resume!
The battle isn’t cooling, Microsoft drops their price to compete with their big competitor Sony which also brings it closer to the price tag on the Wii getting two bird with one stone. The reason Wii is winning is clearly due to its broad demographic of grandpa and grandma non-gamers along with hardcore gamers who have to collect all the consoles and younger gamers that want to fit the trend.
Microsoft’s clearly shooting for second place by installing more units into the consumers home as possible. They’ve got a great library of first person shooter titles, a few RPG’s and RTS titles and the typical contraversial titles like GTA and Saints Row with more hot blockbusters (read: Gears of War 2) arriving soon.
I see this as a great opportunity for casual game developers to get into the Xbox Live Arcade market and start making themselves (and Microsoft) some money off the new gamers that will buy their first Xbox 360 for $199 and up. Microsoft’s getting closer to the low-budget gamer crowd with their price cuts so it would be great if they can take advantage of that market with lower cost titles as well.
If you’re a game developer looking for console stick time and you want to grab the attention of a large pool of gamers, the Xbox 360 isn’t a bad start!
While Microsoft isn’t aiming at Nintendo just yet, there is no doubt Nintendo will be in their sights if they can smoke the pants off Sony in the near future (by this holiday).