GamersVue

Wait.. WTF? No.. really.. WTF?! Tell me if you are not thinking the same thing…
    Wiggle, Wiggle, Wiggle!

Square-Enix has annouced that Dragon Quest 4 (Current US release date of September 16, 200 , 5, and 6 (Coming Soon) will be heading to the Nintendo DS!.    Check out the [offical Site]

When it comes to mobile gaming, I always reach for my Nintendo DS. There are plenty of reasons which make me choose it over Sony’s PSP. I’m not one to start console wars, so I won’t go into detail about why I prefer one over the other. I will however tell you that after CES, there’s going to be a really good reason to consider the PSP.

Someone should tell Sony if they want to make a huge announcement during CES, they shouldn’t put it on their CES page. If you look over the part of the site dedicated to the PSP, you might notice that there is something odd listed under the PSP System Features. Apparently you’ll be able to “Call friends, talk trash to fellow gamers or catch up with acquaintances via Skype for PSP system.”

This is actually a pretty cool feature, which has been predicted for some time by gaming enthusiasts. I sure hope that Sony has something else up their sleeve for the gaming crowd, because this cat’s out of the bag. In case you were wondering, that picture above is from the video on the PSP site. It’s only up for a single frame, which makes me wonder why it’s in there at all.

[Source: Ubergizmo]

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[05/12/08 update]
Well only like 5 months after I posted this.. it’s FINALY coming!   According to [PSP FanBoy] SCEA finally confirmed the availability of Skype-compatible PSP headsets at retailers today.. for $30 bucks, not $20. =)

Well as some of you might already know the Nintendo DS is to get their OWN version of the Guitar Hero game series. Actvision has confirmed 15 of the 25 songs to be included and let us know that the game WILL have a wireless co-op mode.

As you can see the fret board pops into the cartridge slot and you strum with the stylus.  I’m not sure this will be the most comfortable way to play the game, but time will tell.

as for the set list, here’s what you can look forward to:

Do What You Want - OK Go
All The Small Things - Blink 182
Spiderwebs - No Doubt
Are You Gona Be My Girl - Jet
We’re Not Gonna Take It - Twisted Sister
All Star - Smash Mouth
Breed - Nirvana
Jessie’s Girl - Rick Springfield
Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benatar
This Love” - Maroon 5
Heaven - Los Lonely Boys
Helicopter - Bloc Party
China Grove - The Doobie Brothers
Rock and Roll All Nite - KISS (cover by Line 6)
What I Want - Daughtry

at least it’s a better track list then the Guitar Hero: Aerosmith edition..=/

Quake 3 Arena has been ported to the iPhone and iPod touch and looks to be excellent. Unfortunately, not too many details are available just yet, but from the looks of the video demonstration (shown after the jump) it looks like everyone is in for a nice treat! The controls look very simple as it uses the iPhone’s and Touch built in accelerometers to control the direction you are going, and then you simply tap the screen to shoot. Multi player battles are possible too as the video demonstrates below.

If the game runs as it shows on the video this will be one excellent app to install on your iPhone or Touch.

[Via CoolestGadgets]

Story by Farid - Friday 22nd February 2008, 07:07:30 AM

ARM expands its graphics stack with Mali-JSR297 software for graphics acceleration on a wide range of next-generation mobile devices

CAMBRIDGE, UK – Feb. 20, 2008 – ARM [(LSE:ARM)]; (Nasdaq:ARMHY)] today announced at the Game Developers’ Conference, San Francisco, Calif., the ARM® Mali-JSR297™ software for 3D graphics, the first product to enable developers of Java applications to take advantage of the latest hardware graphics features found in OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics processing units (GPUs), such as the ARM Mali200™ GPU. With the established Mali-JSR184 software (formerly Swerve Client), ARM is uniquely positioned to offer a complete software and hardware graphics stack and is one of the leading suppliers of middleware that enable 3D graphics to be used in Java games. Ericsson Mobile Platforms are the lead Partner for the Mali-JSR297 software, complementing the Mali200 GPU and ARM graphics middleware in the groundbreaking HSPA-enabled mobile platform, U500, bringing console class gaming to 2009 feature phones.

With the ARM Mali-JSR297 software, game developers now have complete control over the visual appearance of their games, enabling the creation of graphics displays on mobile phones that are similar to those seen on high-end gaming consoles and PCs. The Mali-JSR297 software demonstrates a leap in graphics quality that meets consumer demands for advanced-content entertainment on mobile phones.

“The expectations of the gaming community continue to increase, which is driving demand for device manufacturers to deliver the next wave of user experience in mobile gaming. The Mali-JSR297 software will provide game developers with the resources they need to bridge the graphics divide among various gaming platforms,” said Dr. Jon Peddie, president of Jon Peddie Research, a leading multimedia and graphics market research firm. “Historically, graphics quality on mobile phones has lagged in comparison to those displayed on a gaming console or computer screens. The software and hardware products that ARM is now offering mean that mobile graphics will now quickly approach the quality of a dedicated games device.”

In order for Java applications to make use of the graphics hardware, handset manufacturers require an efficient software engine that minimizes the number of calculations that Java games need to perform in order to display the graphics. The Mali-JSR297 software builds on ARM’s legacy in graphics solutions and eliminates the risk of integration issues. Furthermore, the new features in the Mali-JSR297 software reside beneath the gaming applications that users download to their phones and open up the full power of OpenGL ES 2.0, the API used in leading games consoles such as the Sony PlayStation 3 and which is supported by the Mali200 GPU. The ARM Mali-JSR297 software empowers developers with the artistic freedom to produce games with more personality, despite limited display size, which previously had not been possible for mobile Java applications.

“One of the biggest challenges facing game developers today is the lack of tools that allow programmers to capitalize on the most powerful graphics hardware in mobile phones,” said David Brittain, vice president of technology, Superscape. “ARM’s graphics portfolio provides optimal compatibility and enables us to speed time-to-market with the games we develop.”

“The majority of today’s mobile phones are using Java technology to enable additional applications and games to be downloaded to the phone after it is sold. ARM is committed to providing solutions for the gaming community that deliver dramatic improvements in the quality of graphics displayed on these applications,” said Gareth Vaughan, graphics product manager, ARM. “ARM’s support for the Java community and graphics ecosystem with products such as the Mali-JSR297 software enables game developers to harness new hardware capabilities, producing 3D graphics that are markedly superior in quality and performance.”

The Mali-JSR297 software is the latest addition to the Mali™ graphics stack, a fully integrated set of hardware and software IP that supports all the graphics standards a device manufacturer needs. ARM has further expanded this stack with the recent launch of the Mali-JSR226™, Mali-JSR287™ and Mali-SVG-t™ products for the 2D graphics market at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. Please visit http://www.arm.com/news/19869.html for more details.

Availability
The ARM Mali-JSR297 software will be released immediately following ratification of the JSR297 standard, with pre-release versions available from ARM in Q3 2008. For more information about the ARM graphics stack, please visit: http://www.arm.com/products/esd/multimediagraphics_home.html.

About ARM
ARM designs the technology that lies at the heart of advanced digital products, from wireless, networking and consumer entertainment solutions to imaging, automotive, security and storage devices. ARM’s comprehensive product offering includes 16/32-bit RISC microprocessors, data engines, graphics processors, digital libraries, embedded memories, peripherals, software and development tools, as well as analog functions and high-speed connectivity products. Combined with the company’s broad Partner community, they provide a total system solution that offers a fast, reliable path to market for leading electronics companies. More information on ARM is available at http://www.arm.com.

ENDS

ARM is a registered trademark of ARM Limited. Mali, Mali200, Mali55, Mali-JSR184, Mali-JSR226, Mali-JSR287, Mali-JSR297 and Mali-SVG-t are trademarks of ARM Limited. All other brands or product names are the property of their respective holders. “ARM” is used to represent ARM Holdings plc; its operating company ARM Limited; and the regional subsidiaries: ARM, Inc.; ARM KK; ARM Korea Ltd.; ARM Taiwan Limited; ARM France SAS; ARM Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.; ARM Belgium N.V.; AXYS Design Automation Inc.; ARM Germany GmbH; ARM Embedded Technologies Pvt. Ltd.; and ARM Norway, AS.

When you ask gamers what their favorite console of all-time is, chances are that you’ll hear the name Dreamcast pop up with certain regularity. What’s facinating is that despite all it’s awesome features and extreme popularity with gamers, it was considered something of a failure to Sega, and marked their exit from the console gaming market. Well, some guy with a a lot of time on his hands decided that he loved his Dreamcast too much to leave it at home all day, so he turned it into a portable console.

This is the sort of thing that I would expect from Ben Heck, (If you don’t know who he is, you should really Google him, he does awesome mods) however it is not. I don’t actually know who made it, but it’s incredible. The case is vacuum-formed (which is why it looks so good) and features a small LCD screen and a pair of speakers. The discs go in the back, though there isn’t a cover which is almost a bit scary. As for batteries, it uses a pair of 7.2V 3Ah batteries that are normally found inside R/C cars. This is seriously one of the coolest mods I’ve seen in a while.

Source: TechEBlog

[Via CoolestGadgets]

While at CES, I got a chance to talk to the nice people of Tannoy. If you haven’t heard of Tannoy, they do a lot of work with speakers. I am told that several of the speakers on the Las Vegas strip were manufactured by them, so they are experts at making things loud.

They also showed me their PSP Speaker System, and it was equally impressive. It works by simply plugging the PSP into the device itself, and then you plug the other end into the video out. By the way, this will recharge your PSP as you use it.

Yes, this device isn’t really designed for the gaming aspect of a PSP, but rather to play UMD video files. And believe you me, it plays them very well. It puts out a power output of 50 watts, and I was encouraged to turn it up loud, as will you. The surround sound is pretty impressive from such a small device.

Another added bonus is that the user can attach an MP3 player and get quality sound. It does not work with video files, though. It does come with a very nifty infrared remote that will definitely come in handy.

The Tannoy PSP Speaker System should be out by February, and will retail for about $199.99.

More info

Developer of DS port wants other handheld covered.
By Philip Kollar, 01/04/2008

Last summer, we reported that the classic but much-abused Dragon’s Lair franchise is currently in development for its debut on the Nintendo DS. Today, we bring news the developer of that DS version, United Coders, is also looking to bring the game to the PSP.

In a press release sent out today, United Coders announced that they’re about finished with the DS port and stepping up efforts to find a publisher for a PSP version. Apparently Conspiracy Games, the group currently set to publish the DS version, aren’t on board. United Coders hopes to begin work on the PSP port in February, right when the DS version should be wrapped up and released. Should a publisher step forth, they’re expecting a Christmas 2008 release date for Dragon’s Lair on PSP.

Last time we wrote on this subject, we pondered how Dragon’s Lair could be translated into a portable adventure. Thankfully, Hans Olsen, United Coder’s lead programmer for both Dragon’s Lair projects, elaborated a bit:

“From a players perspective you can choose to play an arcade accurate version simply called Arcade mode, or you can opt to play the more unique Director’s Cut mode. The Arcade mode is exactly what its name implies; a genuine arcade accurate version of the 1983 arcade game with LEDs for scores, featuring the same semi-randomness of the scenes being played… The Director’s Cut mode is very different. One difference is that the Director’s Cut mode features 5 lives instead of the typical 3 lives for Arcade mode. Another difference is that Director’s Cut mode features extra scenes, such as a scene where Dirk the daring has to cross a drawbridge and avoid getting killed by tentacles. This video footage existed in 1983 but was never used in the North American version, only in the European version of the arcade.”

Olsen and crew are being greatly helped by their technical producer, Dave Hallock, whom Olsen refers to as “without doubt, the worlds leading expert on Dragon’s Lair” as well as “one of the few people who has ever reversed engineered the original ROMs.” His mastery of everything Dragon’s Lair is being used to turn the Director’s Cut version of the game into the ultimate Dragon’s Lair experience.

[Via 1up]

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Soo… it’s not REALLY a game, just shows off how well the Devs can compress MPEG video…  If Dragon’s lair was so freakishly popular to have the game ported to just about every console system.. why not just make Dragon’s Lair 4?  (DL3 was for the PC incase you didn’t know)

Kiloo developing Bionicle Arena and Racers

Source: news: New Lego games on the way
Originally published on Fri, 19 Jan 2007 11:38:00 GMT