Electronic Gaming Monthly articles from March 2007

Electronic Gaming Monthly archives from March 2007

Next-generation GAP.(video games for elderly)(Discussion)
March 1, 2007... "Respect your elders" has gone from something a nice young man would say to a bona fide business strategy. Just ask Nintendo, which from the get-go marketed its motion-sensing, megaselling Wii as an omni-demographic, granny-approved gaming...

That's Cool.(Nyko releasing Wii Charge Station batteries)(Capcom planning a Street Fighter movie)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Nyko charging Nintendo Flailing around the Wii-mote is totally fun...until your batteries crap out after a few hours of high-intensity arm aerobics. Luckily, peripheral-maker Nyko is releasing the Wii Charge Station to remedy quick...

Oshare Majo LOVE AND BERRY.(computer game)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Platform: Nintendo DS Likelihood it'll come here: Unfortunately, we Americans prefer killing men over dressing up hot dames. So, PSP vs. DS--who's winning in Japan? The answer, by a monster-sized margin, is the Nintendo DS....

Castlevania: Dracula X CHRONICLES.(computer adventure game)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2007... Platform: PSP Publisher: Konami Developer: Konami Tokyo Release Date: October 2007 In much the same way that Square Enix recently rewarded patient questers with a DS port of the long-overlooked Final...

Head Games.(video games and psychological effects)(Column)
March 1, 2007... Some games get into designers' heads before they're made. Back in college, Advent Rising (Xbox) Creative Director Donald Mustard doodled hundreds of guys shooting energy from their hands. The sketches led to his game years later. ...

God of War II.(computer war game)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2007... Platform: PS2 Publisher: Sony CEA Developer: Sony Santa Monica Release Date: March 2007 Around these parts, Kratos--the newly appointed god of War--ain't the only guy gettin' a promotion. GOW team member Cory Barlog will...

Rainbow Six Vegas: Players' Pack.(computer war game)(Brief article)(Column)
March 1, 2007... The war on terror is an ongoing process, and the same goes for its virtual equivalent: Rainbow Six Vegas. Between diffusing timed plastic explosive detonators, sniping suicide bombers, and gambling away your mortgage at the craps table,...

Spies Like Us.(Microsoft Corp.'s Jeff Smith management techniques)
March 1, 2007... Six-foot-four and barrel-chested, Jeff Smith got paid to pick fights. But he didn't work in a bar or as a Jerry Springer bodyguard. He brawled on Internet message boards, and he was hired by Microsoft. Smith (name changed to protect his...

Clive Barker's JERICHO.(computer war game)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2007... Platforms: PS3/XB360 Publisher: Codemasters Developers: Alchemic Productions/ Mercury Steam Release Date: Fall 2007 When we see a game with a big nongamer's name in the title, it's fair to say that...

The Elder Scrolls IV: SHIVERING ISLES.(computer war game)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2007... Platform: XB360 Publisher: Bethesda/2K Developer: Bethesda Release Date: Spring 2007 admit it. The thought of another opportunity for living in Oblivion frightens you a little bit. Whether you spent...

That Sucks.(Nintendo Company Ltd. marketing its Wii system in United States)(Zootfly's Ghostbusters game )(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Japan wins, Wii lose Either Nintendo hates America or it just enjoys teasing us with treats we'll never own. Proof? It's offering two gifts to platinum members of Club Nintendo (the official Japanese fan club): 1) a personalized Wii...

The Game of Lives.(Marcus Henderson quesioned about Guitar Hero game)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Becoming a guitar god nowadays is as easy as pushing a button, thanks to the stringless shredder, Guitar Hero. Series guitarist Marcus Henderson (the game's riff maker) is amazing on the ax, but can he rock our 5 questions? 1. Name the...

Pokemon... AND ON...AND ON.(adventure game)(Column)
March 1, 2007... Poke-fact: Poliwag is actually the favorite Pokemon of series creator Satoshi Tajiri. He likes that the swirls on the creature's stomach are where its intestines should be. Weird. "It's just a fad." Those were the exact words this...

THE BIG ONES.(Resident Evil 5)(Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots)(Halo 3)(Final Fantasy XIII)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2007... Resident Evil 5 PS3/XB360 * Capcom * 2008 Over the last 18 months or so since RE5's debut, we've learned exactly two things about the survival-horror game: jack and s***. But finally, Producer Jun Takeuchi is talkin': He recently...

Rumor Mill.(using computer games on game consoles)(Column)
March 1, 2007... Resurrected rumors Don't always doubt my dirt--if you go back, you'll see I guessed Spidey's ultimate makeover would come soon after Spider-Man 2. I also discovered Dragon Quest VIII would hit here before Final Fantasy XII. Forget...

COMING SOON.(computer games)
March 1, 2007... Prince of Persia: Rival Swords Wii * Ubisoft Maneuvering the fleet-of-foot Prince on Nintendo's new machine may inadvertently lead to a lesson in self-defense. Not only will you swing the Wii-mote to slice-n-dice foes, but you must...

BattleStation!(Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.'s Jack Tretton interviewed about Sony Playstation 3)(Interview)
March 1, 2007... Everyone from the hardcore gamers to the mainstream press was dogging on the newest console in the PS family. What hapened? How did an unstoppable juggernaut suddenly turn into an embattled victim? Is the PS3's reign over before it...

More PS3.(Sony Playstation 3)
March 1, 2007... WHAT THE PRESS SAYS We asked experts from all walks of life what they thought of the PlayStation 3 launch and what Sony needs to do moving forward. Here's what they told us. "The only people disappointed with the PS3 launch are those...

EGM Presents: The 2006 1up Network Awards.
March 1, 2007... In a year when two new consoles, several mega-anticipated sequels, and a few freshly minted hit franchises stormed our living rooms, choosing the best from the rest is, well, a bitch. But that doesn't mean our winners weren't elected with all...

Virtua Fighter 5.(computer war game)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2007... PlayStation 3 n Publisher: Sega Developer: AM2 Players: 1-2 ESRB: TeenwMILKMAN: It's interesting that no matter how many top-tier fighters show up and try to steal Virtua Fighter's lunch money, none of them do. That task is even more...

NBA STREET HOMECOURT.(computer sports game)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2007... PS3/XB360 n Publisher: EA Sports Big Developer: EA Canada Players: 1-4 ESRB: Everyone wBRYAN: Being such a big NBA Street fan, I had superhigh expectations for this arcadey hoopster's move to the bigger and badder consoles. Aside...

BATTLESTATIONS: MIDWAY.(computer war game)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2007... Xbox 360 Publisher: Eidos Developer: Eidos Players: 1-8 ESRB: Teen wGREG S: Don't let the less-than-spectacular visuals turn you off (this was originally slated for release on the first Xbox, after all)--this battle simulator...

FUZION FRENZY 2.(mutiplayer online game)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2007... Xbox 360 Publisher: Microsoft Developer: Hudson Players: 1-4 ESRB: Everyone 10+ wJENNIFER: I remember the first Fuzion Frenzy...vaguely. The bland party game collection that graced the original Xbox's launch was forgettable at...

WINNING ELEVEN PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2007.(computer sports game)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2007... Xbox 360 Publisher: Konami Developer: Konami Tokyo Players: 1-4 ESRB: Everyone wTODD: As one of America's top Winning Eleven advocates, it kills me that I'm disappointed by the series' 10th game. For years I've wanted to harm...

CRACKDOWN.(computer war game)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2007... Xbox 360 Publisher: Microsoft Developer: Realtime Worlds Players: 1-2 ESRB: Mature wSHARKEY: Now this is what every superhero game in the history of ever should have included in the first damn place: a nice, big, semi-contemporary...

AR TONELICO: MELODY OF ELEMIA.(computer role playing game)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2007... PlayStation 2 Publisher: Nippon Ichi Software Developer: Gust Players: 1 ESRB: Teen wSCOOTER: With all of the typical Japanese RPG trappings (goofy little characters, turn-based combat, item-crafting, Aaron Spelling--level...

MVP 07 NCAA BASEBALL.(computer sports game)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2007... PlayStation 2 Publisher: EA Sports Developer: EA Canada Players: 1-4 ESRB: Everybody wTODD: MVP 07 is the type of game you check your e-mail to, as extra seconds of your life disappear when catchers soft-toss the ball back to...

DIDDY KONG RACING DS.(computer sports game)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2007... DS Publisher: Nintendo Developer: Rare Players: 1-8 ESRB: Everyone wDEMIAN: Don't get too excited. This is no Diddy Kong Racing (N64) sequel. Instead, this kart (and plane, and hovercraft) racer has received the sort of...

LUNAR KNIGHTS.(computer adventure game)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2007... DS Publisher: Konami Developer: Kojima Productions Players: 1 ESRB: Everyone 10+ wJEREMY: You probably didn't play Konami's GBA adventure Boktai--but you should have. Creative and challenging, it was basically Metal Gear meets...

MONSTER KINGDOM JEWEL SUMMONER.(computer role playing game)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2007... PSP Publisher: Atlus Developer: Gaia Players: 1-2 ESRB: Teen SCOOTER: Oh look, another average role-playing game with decent features that bump it up slightly (see: Ar tonelico, page 92). This time, it's Shin Megami Tensei...

Valhalla Knights.(computer role playing game)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2007... PSP Publisher: XSEED Developer: Marvelous/K2 Players: 1-2 ESRB: Everyone 10+ wA. FITCH: Japan-based Valhalla Knights developer Marvelous is best known for the cute-and-cuddly farm-sim series Harvest Moon. So it's a bit...

REVIEWS WRAP-UP.(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2007... PSP Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters Publisher: Sony CEA ESRB: Everyone 10+ Fans of Sony's lovable Lombax/robo duo can rest easy--Size Matters isn't some slapdash PS2 port, but rather an all-new adventure built...

Official Worst-Selling Games of 2006.(Column)
March 1, 2007... Judging from most of our mail, the main reason nerds love best/worst lists is because they want to disagree with things. Well, I've found a way to take that one last joy from them. This list of bad games isn't based on opinions. These seven...

10 Years Ago...(computer games)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... On the cover: Independence Day Our cover for Independence Day, depicting an apocalyptic alien invasion, was almost as catastrophically terrible as the actual game. But inside the issue we hosted the best of '96 awards, naming Super...

Dragon Quest.(computer role playing game)
March 1, 2007... Dragon Quest IX, the next chapter of Japan's longest-running (and most popular) RPG series, will be appearing on the Nintendo DS sometime this year. "But that's not retro!" you protest. True enough, but in order to understand why DQIX on DS...

Ratcheting Up.(designing computer war games)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... What the hell is a lombax, anyway? We'll be asking that question (and several more important ones) when we visit developer Insomniac for a world-exclusive first look at Ratchet & Clank 5 for the PlayStation 3. Resistance: Fall of Man...