Fairplay campaign for cheaper videogames wusses out UK campaign for cheaper videogames, FairPlay, which was met with critical success in the first week of December last year when they caused UK retailer GAME's shares value to drop by 80% when they asked people to not buy a single title for a week, has decided that "our work here is done" and listed a variety of supposed reasons that their campaign was a major success. While some are questionable, it does indeed seem like it mostly paid off, so here's to seeing them back someday, in some shape or form. We'll miss you. Fairplay
1:10 scale Yuna soon ready for 'consumption', no blow-up dolls planned Square Enix president Yoichi Wada commented on upcoming game development for the company today, stating that new titles will be more "aware" of the networking capabilities (i.e. online) of PlayOnline. Additionally, developers from both Square and Enix have remained with the new company and will be meeting later this week to discuss new, original Squenix titles, of which we can expect to see on in around one year from now. Oh yes, and they also plan to release a 1:10 scale Yuna doll from Final Fantasy X-2.
Panzer Dragoon Orta action figures "What the hell is that?" "It looks like saliva moulded into the head of a dra-- oh, wait, it's the Panzer Dragoon Orta model series!" Click!
Square Enix developing sim RPG The Square Enix homepage now sports a request for another programmer to join the development team for an upcoming simulation RPG. Details concerning the title were not revealed, but perhaps something like Animal Crossing or Giftpia could be hoped for?
Capcom to withdraw Gamecube support in favor of PS2, Xbox According to Nikkei Business Daily, Capcom is planning on reducing software support for Gamecube in favor of PS2 and Xbox. The reason cited was "poor sales" of Gamecube hardware world-wide. In addition, the exclusivity of the Resident Evil series on the Gamecube will come to an end after Resident Evil 4. Gamers.com
Metroid Prime 2 not an FPS? A poll currently running at Nintendo.com asks players about the upcoming sequel to Metroid Prime - whether they would they like to see it returning to a side-scrolling view, as a multiplayer title, with more GBA/GC connectivity, or merely a longer and tougher game. Considering Nintendo's love for industry 180s (the original Metroid Prime and Zelda: Wind Waker are excellent examples of this), it's not likely that the sequel will actually be an FPS title again.
DOA movie developing "nicely" Reuters reports that the upcoming Dead or Alive movie will be a "mix between Charlie's Angels and Enter the Dragon" and will feature at least one (1) volleyball scene including the girls in skimpy outfits. The story apparently involves a..fighting tournament of dodgy origin on an island in the middle of nowhere. Reuters
Seamus Blackley Rahul's new personal hero PlanetGamecube.com recently got a chance to sit down with Seamus Blackley, former Chief Xbox Technical Officer and now the guy behind the first gaming production company, and talk about producing games and several other interesting things, like why DOAXBV rocks. It's a highly intelligent, deep interview and certainly a recommended listen (23.6mb).
Impossible happens; Street Fighter 2 the Movie sequel under production; humans everywhere seen screaming in agony "Obviously hoping to save his dying career, action-man Jean Claude Van Damme has struck a deal to star in a sequel to his 1994 flick "Streetfighter", based on the video game of the same name. Australian singer, Holly Valance, has been in talks with Van Damme this week about co-starring in the movie. She would replace fellow singer, Kylie Minogue, who starred in the original. Van Damme is said to have been impressed by Valance - who can apparently kickbox - but according to The Herald Sun the filmmmakers will still be auditioning other actors up until the last minute." Moviehole.net
Xbox prices down in Europe; Nintendo blames MS fear for Wind Waker Yasuhiro Minagawa today proved Nintendo's continuing lack of ability to "get it", stating that the Xbox pricedrop to $200 in Europe (to be brought over to the US soon after) was "for fear of the upcoming Legend of Zelda release". He went on to say that Nintendo was convinced that good games are more effective at selling consoles than price drops. But if that's the case, what about the recent gigantic sales increase when Dixons and Argos dropped prices as low as $130 in the UK? Gamingredients
Nintendo will cut royalty fees but still appear to be cheap douschebags According to Gamers.com, "Nintendo has confirmed a reduction in its royalty rates for third-party games on its hardware... The cost of releasing games for Gamecube is now roughly equal to that of any other console." Nintendo, however, will not follow an X-box price cut if it were to happen and considers Zelda to be enough of a holy blessing that they were so considerate to bestow unto us lowly peons.
Final Fantasy XI goes beta Public testing for PlayOnline services in North America has begun at Square Enix USA's site, where users can sign up for either the PS2 or PC version of the network and get a chance to play Tetra Master, Final Fantasy XI and make use of PlayOnline stuff. Get on it, but don't forget - US/Canada only! Square Enix USA
Hanjuku Hero vs 3d release date & limited edition Square Enix has set the release date for upcoming quirky PS2 Strategy RPG Hanjuku Hero vs 3d to June 26th in Japan. The title features a battle between 2d sprites and 3d polygons using cel-shaded graphics and features some of the weirdest character designs seen yet. A $73 Limited Edition release of the game will also be initially available, although no details have been mentioned.
Paid to promote? Pop-rap-metal band Linkin Park doesn't "play videogames", they "play Xbox" "We're not doing this to be stars," says lead rapper Shinoda. "We're just normal people behind all those lights." New album Meteora is selling well, but the band doesn't seem too involved. "People wouldn't be too excited to come backstage and hang out with us. We don't party or anything, we just play Xbox and we're pretty mellow." mtv.com