via: Kotaku

via: VGBlogger

Most open source game lovers would agree that it is a tad too annoying when a cool game turns out to be not free. This also limits the gamer’s freedom to download freely, distribute and modify the game without breaking the law. Though the copyrights laws are really strict, many people have been taking freedom to break the annoying law and do what they please to. However, there seems to be some good news at least, for classic PC games Heretic and Hexen have been given new freedom on the net with the next release under the GNU Public License. This allows the gamers to do what they what they want with the game. The source code of the game is available on SourceForge. This might just be a tiny step towards a more vibrant open source community.

Via: Ripten

Most of the gaming community has already lost interest in the traditional media such as TV and radio. ESPN, one of the most important TV channels that are dedicated to sports, has been long trying to keep youngsters hooked to their TV screens. Much of the competition arises from the video games and the virtual reality they provide. ESPN thus has teamed up with Electronic Arts to reveal a new technology that would allow ESPN commentators to interact with virtual players and also manipulate past sporting situations to discuss what might have happened if, for example, a player turned to the right at a certain an angle instead of the other way.

The technology uses specialized digital camera and makes use of both real and virtual people to help commentators discuss various situations. Called the Virtual Playbook, the technology brings video games to TV and so far, it has been the other way. Meanwhile, EA has already teamed up with ESPN to produce more sports themed games and the contract would last for 15 years. It is mighty possible that Virtual Playbook is part of the deal. This could help bring back the gamer audience back in front of the screens.

Via: NYTimes

We gamers always have had the best of technology and gadgets to serve our needs. However, it is rather dismal when it comes to the fashion industry considering our needs and aspirations. Noting this deficiency amongst us gamers, artist Natalie Hutcheson (HutchMe) has designed some really cool gaming inspired metal buckles, which you can use for your belts. Some of the games that inspired the buckles are Donkey Kong and Ms. Pac-Man. The buckles contain classic arcade games imagery and is built using sturdy brass-toned metal and inlaid with metallic game graphics that shine. An industrial epoxy finish makes the buckles scratch proof. These buckles could be the beginning of what I see as a fashion revolution that might happen in the gaming sphere. A gaming buckle would cost you $18.

Via: TechnaBob

Codemasters has released the first batch of screen shots for the highly anticipated title FUEL. The game is still under development but is set to be one of their biggest projects ever. Asobo, the developers, have created a racing game which features 14,000 square miles of open racing environment. It also features dynamic weather, destructable environments and much more. Some of us may know this game as “Grand Raid Offroad” which was renamed about a year ago.

The storyline is set in a futuristic North America, where resources are low and the earth is ravaged by global warming. There are a band of adrenaline racing junkies who live for speed and take part in any racing events in the free roaming environment, even through the most devastating weather conditions. Races are multi-part and feature a variety of vehicles such as Quads, SUVs, motorbikes, muscle cars and much more, each of which is packed with lots of power. The game is also fun because raging weather conditions force riders to find alternative routes to reach their destination.

There are many environments as well such as beaches, canyons, moutains and valleys, salt flats and more. There is also the day/night cycle so drivers will have lots to do in just exploring the environment. The damage system is also said to be very realistic, and considering the level put into games such as GRID, there is a good chance that the damage system here would be very good as well. Another small feature includes character customization. Single player takes the form of a career mode while multiplayer allows for 16 players to match up.

The game is set for release in the 2nd quarter of 2009 on the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 simultaneously. There are also promises of updated post-release content. Stay tuned for more. Check out the screen shots below.

Via: Hide and Geek

Via: Massively

The THQ Australia Warhammer 40K game, now known as Warhammer 40K Space Marine has been expected for quite sometime and we have failed to receive any confirmations at all, but only till now. The guys not only confirmed the game but also revealed a 10 minute gameplay video peppered with developer commentary. The video could be seen at Tiscali Games and those that were waiting for the GameTrailers version would be disappointed because for now, it seems like it has been pulled. This game is one of the coolest to be released now and the player would be pitched in a third-person combat environment like Space Marine. Sword fighting takes up the center stage and it definitely seems to make us happy.

Via: Videogaming247

Via: GamesBlog

Via: CrunchGear

Kids across Japan are in for a new Arcade treat with a game dubbed the Parse Rorunpe surfacing across the gaming centers. The ones who would pleasingly adore this game would be tiny tots, for they would cherish the idea of keeping a broom between their legs and enjoying the flight. The idea is kind of stolen from Harry Potter; nonetheless, it makes for an interesting prospect. Some really bad translation does not clarify what exactly is to be done in the game but it does reveal, that the player has to imagine himself as a magician and cater to the errands using the touch screen module. He has to follow the sparkle on the touch screen and get the drawings made. To get more clarifications on this, log on to the official website of the game and once you succeed in creating a personal profile, use that identity to become an expert even in community arcades by logging on with a personal ID. God bless the Japanese!

Source: ArcadeHeroes

SEGA is at it again by porting one of its classic game series to the Nintendo DS. The “Shining Force” series of games, which was originally launched on the SEGA Genisis is set for DS release with Shining Force Feather being the first to be released in the Spring of 2009 in Japan. Illustrator “Pako” will contribute to some of the design, to get it up to a more modern standard, but keeping its original design intact. He was also responsible for the design of characters in the 2007 PS2 release, Shining Force EXA. The RPG series combines a combination of game styles including dungeon crawler, strategy RPG, and action RPG. This series has also seen the light of day on other portable devices such as the GameBoy Advance, Sega Game Gear and on mobile phones in Japan.

Old school gamers can now jump for joy yet again as another epic class title has been ported to our modern day systems. Many game manufacturers are now taking the time to port older titles onto new systems and making them easily available, in attempts to hold on to some of the older gamers. It’s good to see then actually taking the initiative to convert the games, rather than have the gamers themselves struggle to figure out how to convert the games to work on newer systems.

Via: Wired

Virtual gaming has been a big highlight of most games nowadays, with a lot of focus being placed on the visual and audible aspect. In my opinion they seem to be doing a pretty good job, but what about the sense of touch? The only real virtual technology we have is the force feedback we get from our controllers, whether it be a steering wheel or joystick. However this is about to change with a new haptic technology developed by scientists at the University of Tokyo.

The Japanese team has used Ultrasound technology to focus inaudible sound waves into a vertical virtual shape, whereby a human could “touch” it and get the sense of feeling the edges of a shape. The concept behind the technology is rather simple. A machine is set up to produce concentrated sound waves. These sound waves are inaudible, but because it is a wave, it has some form of pressure attached to it. When this pressurized wave hits your hand, it feels like you are actually touching something. The computer then tracks the movement of the hand (with a camera) as well as the position of the virtual shape to manage the focus of the ultrasound waves.

The system is still in its initial stages and can only produce a vertical plane but they are working on the wave concentration to manage other axes, hopefully with the goal to produce a fully 3D object. Professor Iwamoto has already visualized the unit being used in the video game and 3d modelling industry. The unit is certainly a big step from the past models where users had to wear big, thick gloves to experience feeling. Also, many people can interact in the same environment, so everyone can get a “feel” of the environment at the same time.

There are still lots of hurdles to overcome, the biggest one being the risk of using too much ultrasound waves. If too much waves are output, users could risk going deaf. The team is still hard at work exploring lots of concepts to better develop the virtual texturing, hardness and dimension characteristics of objects produced by the unit. Even with these few problems, it is still a great development for gamers, engineers and architects. We would just have to wait for more from this possibly industry-changing project.

via: BBC News

It always feels great to be treated in a special manner and that applies to us gamers as well. Now we might all get to buy and wear special glasses that are designed just for us gamers. The glasses will of course reduce eyestrain and also fit better with earphones when compared with other glasses that are designed to reduce eyestrain. Gunnar Optiks, which has designed the glasses, will surely find a great market amongst us all. Their earlier glasses for heavy computer usage costs $99 but we still do not have any idea about how much the new models might cost. If you just wait a while patiently, you could sport glasses specially designed for gamers like you and me and have a gala time behind the consoles.

Via: CrunchGear

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars has been launched in order to celebrate the fact that 250 games have been released over the VC. If you have been gaming for a long time, you would remember how we have spent hours playing ‘Mario’. Super Mario RPG is one of the best RPGs ever released. There is also the Clu Clu Land on VC which you could download and is a puzzle game which takes place underwater. My Aquarium which has been released on the WiiWare must of course be about fish and an aquarium and if you couldn’t understand that while reading the title, you don’t deserve to play games. You could get the Super Mario RPG for 800 Wii points and is Rated E.

Via: ThatVideoGameBlog