Top 5 Gaming News Of The Week

5. Borderlands 2 Ultimate Vault Hunter Pack released

GearBox released the Ultimate Vault Hunter Pack this week. Along with a third playthrough for everyone, a level cap and more rare loot was also released. The pack is $5 unless you have the season pass. I have not gotten to play UVHM much, but more of what In think is to come.

4. TU9 released a day early

4J studios released the much waited for Minecraft 360 a day early this week. The End has arrived along with bug fixes...and new bugs too. 

3. EA COO says We're Not that bad

With EA in the running for "Worst Company in America" again, EA COO Peter Moore is on damage control  and trying to win the CEO job. If I was EA, I hire outside of the company, because the ones running are sure doing a bang up job *cough*

2. New Pokemon Revealed

Last on Pokemon Smash, a Japaneses TV show , A new MewTwo, or MewThree was revealed to the world. The new pokemon will be in the first 3D pokemon games Pokemon X and Y

1. Next Xbox "Always On-Gate" continues with a employee making an ass of himself on twitter 

Rumors of the next xbox requiring a consent internet connection and the debate it sparked goes on, with Microsoft Studio's Creative Director making an ass of himself on twitter. Microsoft apologized  yet gave no official word on always on, which I hope the reconsider seeing how high speed internet is as wide spread as Microsoft thinks it is.

Could the “Great Portable Gaming Crash of 2012” happen?

Portable gaming is having a hard time these days. Slow sales, competing with ipods and smartphones, and attacks form industry insiders is making this section of the gamming spectrum look weak, but could portable console market crash just like video games did back in 1983? Are the conditions the same as they were in ’83? And could portable gaming make a comeback?

 The video game crash in 1983 happened because of too many systems, lack of good games (*cough ET the game  *cough), and rise of the personal  computer which could play games and was a learning tool, something they console didn't do or try to do (remember the basic programing game for 2600?). Are the same conditions affecting the portable gaming market today? Well we can count out the too many systems, 3 systems (DS, 3DS, PSP. 4 if you want to count vita) are not too many. How about lack of good games? Well PSP had its problems, and looks like Sony will try better on vita, and Nintendo makes great 1^st party games, but all the 3^rd party licensed crap out there does hurt it a bit. The one thing that is a threat and is costing sales is a non-gaming competitor.

Smartphones and Tablets are hurting and maybe close to killing the portable gaming market.  Back during the 83 crash, PC were stealing sales by offering a learning experience and a future career path, something like I said before, console could not or at least tried to offer (I still would like to see what the 2600 basic programing game was like). Smartphones/Tablets offer somethings that portable gaming can’t or are trying to offer. Apps, phone calls, and cheap games are some of the offerings.  Both companies are combating this in both of their new systems, but are losing. Even though PS vita looks to change this, I’m reminded that HP’s touchpad did not last too long before they gave up. I’m sure Sony would throw in the towel as fast as HP, but it’s something to think about.

Now what if this crash does happen, will portable gaming make a comeback after? Well I think it will and we already have a possible solution…

 The Wii U pad controller can easy be turned into a table gaming device, it can easily be make to work without the need of a console, and could easily compete with the ipad seeing how Nintendo can reach places where the ipad has seem not to go yet, family gaming. One other company has a change to change portable gaming…

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Microsoft and Sony too already has the tools with windows phone 7 and xbox live to make a smartphone dedicated complete to video games, and Gaming Phone. Gaming Phones are the next step in portable gaming. If the xperia play was not a huge failure, Sony would already have a hold on the market. These are the future of portable gaming.

So will portable gaming market crash next year? There signs are there, but it depends on if the companies are willing to compete and if the economy improves. And who to say it will fail next year, it could crash in 2013 or 2014. I think the market has a great chance of surviving and rising from the ashes if a crash does happen. It's all speculation anyway, just enjoy the gaming. 

Back to the drawing board for wii U?

Recently Nintendo withdrew the Wii U out of GamesCom 2011, Europe’s biggest video game convention due to “security concerns”, and many are not buying it. The Wii U will have some effect on how we play games with the Tablet controller, but it’s got a lot of hurdles ton jump if it wants to take on Sony’s and Microsoft’s next gen systems. So why would Nintendo may have to take the Wii u back to the drawing board?

1. The millions of causal game players Nintendo courted with the Wii.

You got to admit it, Wii U is geared toward to the hardcore gamers, and the third parties game developers that Nintendo have always been after. Many of them said they would love to develop games for it (and some that love it and still won’t develop games for it). But if Nintendo courts them, the millions of casual gamers that Nintendo used to make the Wii popular will be alienated, and more likely head to 360/Kinect (or720/kinect) and the PS4 kinect-like controls, so Nintendo need to find a way to include them as well.

2. It’s the economy stupid 

Nintendo’s latest system, the 3DS,  just got a price drop going into effect aug 12^th, due to poor sales. Do you really think people are going to pay the projected $400 to $500 for a new system, not to mention the price for one of those controllers? People Don't have the money to pay for a new system now a days, here hoping economy improves in 2012

So what could Nintendo do to make the Wii U more completive? Updated graphics that will compete with the rumored xbox 720’s “it looks like avatar” graphics? A smaller touch screen controller?  Let’s hope Nintendo can come up with something, the failure of the Wii U could possibly mean the end of Nintendo as a console maker

  

3DS price drops due too lack luster sales

Nintendo Announced today that they are dropping the price of the Nintendo 3DS from $250 down to $169. The price drop is mainly due to slow sales of the portable console, and lack of hit games. I believe they did to help compete against the PS vita this holiday season, which would be a good move on Nintendo's part. I also do believe the economy had played some part in the 3DS's slow sales

  

Heroes of Ruin Revealed by Square

So you need a 3DS RPG that's not a Zelda game? Well Square got you covered. Heroes of Ruin is coming to 3ds, with interesting Muliyplayer via streetpass and spotpass. More of this game will be seen at E3 next week.

  

E3 Game preview

Hey Hey! It's the best time of year to be a gamer! E3 is coming soon and along with Nintendo's "What ever the fuck name it's has this week" new console, there are a bunch of games being revealed at E3. Here's the list:

Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 3 360/PS3/PC

Disney Universe 360/PS3/WII/PC

Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D 3DS

Batman: Arkham City 360/PS3/PC

Bioshock: Infinite  360/PS3/PC

Transformers: Dark of the Moon 360/PS3

Warlord 360/PS3

WarHammer 40,000 Space Marine 360/PS3/PC 

X-Men Destiny 360/PS3/Wii

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Online PC

Prey 2 360/PS3/PC

Sonic Generations 360/PS3/3DS

Resident Evil Revelations 3DS

The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword Wii

The Earth Defense Force Insect Armageddon 360

Gotham City Imposters 360/PS3/PC

That's some some of thE games being revealed at E3, expect surprises reveals, many a kinect sports 2, Microsoft and sony announcing new consoles oh yea and these, lots of these..

game list info from ign.com

   

Should Nintendo drop game prices after they been out a few years?

A few days ago I went to gamestop, My plan was to get my little cousin Super Mario Galaxy for her birthday. Her family got a Wii for Christmas and I want to introduce them to some good Nintendo games. I found super Mario galaxy, and it cost $35 used and $45 new. I have had always had a problem (and thanks to formspring, you do to) with Nintendo not dropping prices on games that have been out a few years. I have passed on some DS games hoping they drop in price, which they have not. I'm not paying 35 bucks for Mario kart DS when it should only cost $15 by now. This is only hurting Nintendo by not allowing there games to naturally drop in price, like all games do. Nintendo should remedy this problem by the the next gen or consoles, stop it from becoming just another reason Nintendo is number 3.

   

Remembering The Nintendo DS

As the days count down till Nintendo 3DS comes here to the states, lets take a look back at the best portable gaming system of this generation.

The original Nintendo DS, big, bulky, but you can play any of the Game Boy games on it. I almost most got a used one of these, but with my first credits card I would get this...

Nintendo DS lite, smaller, brighter from what I've heard, but only played GBA games along with DS games, I've have many a great time with mine, then came the upgrade...



Nintendo DSi, with Downloadable mini games and internet browsing ( which you could do if a regular DS with a separate cartage). Never got one... never need it.... or this one....

But I never saw the need for a bigger screen..... or had the money.


Game wise, Glad Nintendo finally had plastic DVD like cases, I have not lost any of my games like gens before. And boy was there some great ones. Sadly my DS got treated like my other Gameboys.... I tend not to get games for them, but I know I got more DS games than with GBA games. I still need to get New Super Mario Bros., Mario Kart DS, and Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift. I did get both Legend of Zelda DS games. As we come, well not to a close, many will still be playing DS games on 3DS. We can't forget that the DS was a huge step of Nintendo.

                                             

Nintendo to reveal 3DS games next month.

Nintendo will be revealing some games for Nintendo 3DS next month at Nintendo World 2011 in Tokyo. This is consider just a teaser , but we all will be waiting to see them. As for the North American 3DS price? That's coming out the second week of January in New York. For now here's a list of game that will be revealed:(note: games in bold are demos others are works in progress)

Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D "The Naked Sample"

Pro Evolution 3DSoccer

Street Fighter IV 3D Edition

Resident Evil Revelations

Dynasty Warriors Chronicle

Dead or Alive Dimensions

Ridge Racer 3D

Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle

Nintendogs + cats

Kid Icarus: Uprising

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D

Steel Diver

Pilotwings Resort

AR Games

Nintendo 3DS Camera

Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D

Super Monkey Ball 3D

Kingdom Hearts 3D*

Gundam The 3D Battle

Tales of the Abyss

One Piece Unlimited Cruise SP

Cubic Ninja*

Puzzle Bobble 3D

Pro Baseball Family Stadium 2011

Animal Resort*

Xevious

3D Bijin Tokei*

Starfox 64 3D

Paper Mario*

Animal Crossing*

Mario Kart*

Surechigai ("passerby") Mii Hiroba

pic and list from G4TV