Industry News -

Spore Generates Buzz: 500,000+ User CreaturesSpore Generates Buzz: 500,000+ User Creatures

June 20, 2008| schommer| 0 Comment| 4:25 pm

Although I would have thought different, apparently people are clamoring over the “hype generator” tool called Spore Creature Creator. “The best part is that these creatures will be part of the main game, Spore, as user content will populate a lot of the galaxy in each player’s game,” says Falcon at GameStooge.

Will Wright and the team driving the Spore game is right on target to create the hype needed to send this game into the top game seller. If TheSims woke us up to crazy sales figures, Spore might just beat the demand; imagine creating a tool to help create a world for your company and make money while doing it?

The Creature Creator, in my mind is a genius move to get people interested in the main title and drive pre-sales figures through the roof.

(Thanks, GameStooge)

Robbie Bach says: There Will Be Multiple VictorsRobbie Bach says: There Will Be Multiple Victors

June 20, 2008| schommer| 0 Comment| 4:07 pm

It’s amazing to think we’re in our third year of “next generation” console bliss. Three years have passed since the first Xbox 360 shipped, for good or bad, and it’s time to start thinking about the future.

Or is it?

Bobbie Bach, Microsoft Entertainment and Devices president, seems to believe this generation of consoles will expand out further than the typical four-year release cycle. Perhaps because the console developers have invested so much money in defeating each other in the market and making their console “number one” in the eyes of their investors.

Bach does not believe we’re cresting on the current generation, that is for certain, and we’ve yet to hear any hype over a new next-generation console from Microsoft. They were the first to market so, theoretically, they should be the first in the next-generation as well, right?

Their move to be number one was really a strategic attack which has paid out well, leading them above the past domination of Sony and Nintendo before it. However, they are holding strong with the Xbox 360 and there might be cause to sit tight and let this generation playout before bringing in another piece of hardware.

Bach stated that he believes consoles today are competing at different levels than ten years ago. There isn’t one clear winner, there isn’t one dominating console. There will be victors in different areas of the industry; casual consoles, top game sellers, best graphics and others. It’s not about sheer “units sold” it’s more about being profitable and building a community around your hardware, see Xbox Live as a great example.

Next generation will be full of fantastic new features, ways to connect and crazy hardware specifications, no doubt, but… for many of us, it will take years before we forget the pain and suffering we paid shipping our dead Xbox 360’s back to Microsoft for repairs. Would you be willing to buy into their next generation as their first customer?

(Thanks, 1up)

ESRB Plugs The LeaksESRB Plugs The Leaks

June 20, 2008| schommer| 0 Comment| 1:39 pm

One of the great places to find news on upcoming games is the ESRB‘s website. They typically rate their games and post the ratings on their site to be helpful to concerned citizens looking to purchase upcoming titles.

Of course, the ESRB gets their titles prior to the game release so posting the rating on their website gives away the names and potential timing for soon-to-be game releases. Dates aren’t required for blogs and news sites to glean an idea of a release and the official title name.

Now, the ESRB might be under the same embargo restrictions game review/preview sites are held to, by not posting game ratings until 30 days after it has been rated, says 1up.com.

What’s this mean for bloggers? You’ll need to look harder for dark corners of the Internet to get your rumors and “official” statements.