21 Feb 2012
by
Daniel Pollman
category
Rumours
With E3 2012 right around the corner (June 5-7) the Internet has been buzzing with rumors, speculation and even emerging facts about the next generation of consoles. Among the more obvious and/or well-known developments (of course we know the next generation of systems will be more powerful), there are some developments that are quite surprising as well, and could have dramatic consequences for the future of the video game industry. Read on to find out.
An interesting rumor is circulating around the Internet: Microsoft may be phasing out its Microsoft Points system. The rumor is based on reports that Microsoft, in recent publishing agreements with mobile developers, is asking developers to plan for changes concerning their downloadable content and in-app purchases. Now if these rumors are really true and Microsoft Points are headed for the dustbin then I say good riddance!
Gamers, internet advocates, tech companies, opponents of government overreach and many more rejoiced last month when their concerted efforts to protest the SOPA and PIPA bills resulted in a loss of support for the bills among legislators and bill proponents. The dissolution of support for the bills was a major victory for online freedom, and demonstrated the valuable lesson that utilizing the organizational power of the Internet can afford real decision-making ability to individuals and organizations usually shut out of the process. However, let’s not make the mistake of assuming that bills like SOPA will simply go away.
Last time I talked about the console war between Sega and Nintendo in the 1990s and how that shaped gaming going into the new millennium. This time I am going to focus my attention on the other gaming companies that tried to make headway in the 1990s but could never quite make it to the forefront of gaming.
Last week I talked about how Nintendo pulled North America out of the video game crash of 1983 and became a huge part of video gaming worldwide. This week I am going to talk about Nintendo’s first real competition and how that changed the gaming landscape in the 1990s.
Last time I talked about the video game crash of 1983 and what it did to the video game market in North America. While the crash did destroy gaming in America, the rest of the world continued to create video games and Japan became a big market for them. In this entry I will explain how Nintendo brought video games back to North America.
It was during all the Uncharted 3/Battlefield 3 review hubbub that I realised what my next No Offence But column would be about. This is something that has become a horrific phenomenon in the gaming industry; I wouldn’t say it’s always been so strong, but with the huge number of great games out this year the weird obsession we have for review scores has only multiplied in ferocity. Read on for more on our fixation on a figure.
Attention adventurers! You have entered the realm of Ryan Moore and his incredibly nerdy love of all RPGs. Quest Accepted is my look at the world of roleplaying games, from the fantastical to the futuristic – if there is an RPG element to it, I'm going be interested in it. This week I venture into the world of Dungeon Defenders and partner up in some Borderlands.
