Sunday 30 December 2007
360 Holiday Sales Wreak Havoc on Xbox LIVE Servers - Seriously
All I want for Christmas is to play online, but Microsoft won’t let me
As of Wednesday the 26th, my experience with Xbox LIVE could best be described as “inconsistent”. I am randomly and sporadically kicked off of the service, and by that, I mean any time I try to do something — anything.
To make sure this wasn’t an isolated case of shitty broadband service on the part of my cable provider, or a local “malfunction”, I rang up some friends in various parts of the country to see if they were having similar issues — they were.
Around noon today, my annoyance got the best of me, and I called up 1-800-4my-xbox. I was greeted, as always, by the never-helpful automated super-dork — Max.
I’ve been down this road before, so I know to skip past his bullshit by spouting off “Agent” a hundred times until he finally gets the hint.
Anyhow, long story short, the agent tells me that the Xbox LIVE servers are having difficulty dealing with the massive influx of users that apparently got a 360 for Christmas. “Seriously?” I asked. “Yes, seriously” he responded.
In fact, it’s such a problem, that they have temporarily disabled the ability to create a new LIVE account. I went ahead and tried to create an account (out of curiosity) and I wasn’t able to.
I am unsure if this is the “official” Microsoft stance regarding the issue, but it does seem logical, and it did come straight from the mouth of a Microsoft employee — Tier 3 even! His Thetan levels must be off the chart.
The agent estimated that the problems will be fixed by the end of the weekend, if not by the end of the night. So I guess I just want to say “thank you” to Microsoft for making such a killer system. If it weren’t so awesome, I might actually be able to sign into the Chromehounds servers and, you know, play some freaking games.
by Dan Landis on December 28, 2007
Jade Empire 2 is coming
By Dean Takahashi
Here’s an opportunity for BioWare to get it right and for all of you fans out there to rejoice. Rumors have been swirling about the possibility of a sequel to BioWare’s Xbox hit, “Jade Empire.” For years, people have predicted it would come and Ray Muzyka, co-CEO of BioWare, even spilled the beans of something coming back in 2005. But I talked with someone who saw code for Jade Empire 2. It’s coming for the Xbox 360, and it’s real. It’s not much as far as scoops go, but I’m on vacation. What do you expect? Happy New Year.Jade Empire was BioWare’s second big game for the Xbox, following the exclusive Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic title in 2003. It will be interesting to see if Jade Empire 2 will remain an exclusive for the Xbox 360, now that Electronic Arts has agreed to acquire BioWare/Pandemic.
Jade Empire launched in spring 2005 on the Xbox. That means the team that created it has probably had a couple of years to work on it. During that time, I would guess that Microsoft secured it as an exclusive and they developed the game for that platform. But there is no law that says such games can’t be ported to the PS 3. And we all know how EA loves to do cross-platform games to maximize profits from a single property.
The original game was an action role-playing game with core martial-arts fighting game play. You play an orphan who is trained in martial arts and on whose shoulders lies the fate of the mystical Asian land, the Jade Empire. The possibilities for the sequel are very interesting given where BioWare took the conversation and RPG system with Mass Effect. Would this be the Xbox 360’s answer to Heavenly Sword on the PlayStation 3? Probably not, given it is an RPG and not a fighting game first.
Here’s an opportunity for BioWare to get it right and for all of you fans out there to rejoice. Rumors have been swirling about the possibility of a sequel to BioWare’s Xbox hit, “Jade Empire.” For years, people have predicted it would come and Ray Muzyka, co-CEO of BioWare, even spilled the beans of something coming back in 2005. But I talked with someone who saw code for Jade Empire 2. It’s coming for the Xbox 360, and it’s real. It’s not much as far as scoops go, but I’m on vacation. What do you expect? Happy New Year.Jade Empire was BioWare’s second big game for the Xbox, following the exclusive Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic title in 2003. It will be interesting to see if Jade Empire 2 will remain an exclusive for the Xbox 360, now that Electronic Arts has agreed to acquire BioWare/Pandemic.
Jade Empire launched in spring 2005 on the Xbox. That means the team that created it has probably had a couple of years to work on it. During that time, I would guess that Microsoft secured it as an exclusive and they developed the game for that platform. But there is no law that says such games can’t be ported to the PS 3. And we all know how EA loves to do cross-platform games to maximize profits from a single property.
The original game was an action role-playing game with core martial-arts fighting game play. You play an orphan who is trained in martial arts and on whose shoulders lies the fate of the mystical Asian land, the Jade Empire. The possibilities for the sequel are very interesting given where BioWare took the conversation and RPG system with Mass Effect. Would this be the Xbox 360’s answer to Heavenly Sword on the PlayStation 3? Probably not, given it is an RPG and not a fighting game first.
Is This The Gears of War 2 UK Release Date?
Amazon.com have already given an indication of when Gears of War 2 should be hitting store shelves in the US when it started taking pre-orders for the new game and set a release date of the 15th of Nov. 2008.
Now the UK have been given the same treatment and Gears of War 2 is now available to pre-order and Amazon have set the british release date for the 30th of December 2008.
Now of course this is in no way official and publishers don't usually release games that soon after christmas, but even so it is a good indication of when the gaming world expects this new title to hit the United Kingdom.
Why Konami’s Metal Gear Solid 4 Should Be Multiplatform
So the wishful thinking begins again. You don’t have to wonder why so many Xbox 360 gamers would love Metal Gear Solid 4 to go multiplatform. The series has had a huge success on many platforms from MSX to the Xbox. Konami has made millions of dollars on this franchise but for some bullheaded reason, will not go multiplatform with it’s latest triple A title. Is Hideo Kojima just a Sony fanboy in disguise?
We’ve seen the numbers and not even Kaz Hirai can deny that the Xbox 360 attach rate is dumbfounding. Even on that tiny island called Japan where about 8,000 Xbox 360’s are sold a week, the attach rate is still higher than the hotter selling PS3. So the question here is, what attracts 3rd party developers to consoles? If a console sells well but 3rd party titles collect dust(think Wii), there’s obviously no motivation to spend millions of development dollars on a longshot. In the case of the Xbox 360, pretty much everything sells from 1st to 3rd party. Xbox 360 has 29 games that have sold over 1 million copies worldwide. The Playstation 3 has 4 games that have sold over 1 million copies. 2 of those games are mulitplatform. The Wii has 15 games that have sold over 1 million and half of those are first party titles.
So I ask a question to all of you readers out there: if you became a 3rd party developer today, what systems would you release your first game on? You’d be a fool to say PS3 only, even if you are a fanboy. There is too much money to be made on both platforms; moreso on the Xbox 360. This brings us back to our original issue; what is Konami thinking?
MGS4 has been in development for many years. It’s setup to be the biggest game of 2008 along with Final Fantasy XIII. Konami has spent millions on the game and hopes to move 1 million copies in it’s first week. Looking at the numbers, how do they expect to move 1 million copies when the best PS3 title to date, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, has only been able to move 552,000 copies worldwide? Now 552k is a good number for a 3rd party after six weeks, but MGS4 needs bigger numbers. If the masses of PS3 owners who like 3D action games bought 552,000 copies of Uncharted, where are the other 448,000 that are supposed to buy MGS4 but didn’t buy Uncharted?
I’ve read interviews and postings about Kojima that has stated that it’s PS3 exclusive several times. Is that smart business? I can bet that if it also came out on the 360, they could move a million units in less than a month. That’s in addition to whatever they sell on the PS3. By going exclusive with a game like this, they are basically throwing millions of dollars down the drain.
3rd party exclusives are a thing of the past. 3rd party developers need to look out for their best interest. Whatever happened to making the game available to as many gamers as possible? Capcom, From Software, Sega and Namco all went multiplatform and are reaping the rewards. What’s stopping Konami from doing the same? Is it Kojima’s arrogance or Konami’s allegiance to Sony? Only time will tell and as we near the end of 2007, time seems to be running out.
Ninja Gaiden 2 to feature 4 difficulty levels
This time around they don't want to make the battle areas so restricted. They don't want to make it like those other games where you can't exit an area until you defeat all of the appearing enemies. In most instances, if you can outsmart your opponents you should be able to run away. Although of course if you're really skilled at fighting, you may do that as well and find it easier to do. Basically they're giving you options.
When you receive damage from enemies, there are parts that can't be healed through auto healing. This is called the necrosis system. You can only hold 6 items this time around. One bad aspect about the last game is that there were too many healing items made available to use.
Certain damaged areas can only be healed through items.You can only hold 6 items this time around. One bad aspect about the last game is that there were too many healing items made available to use. They basically went back to its roots of life management for the game so that you can't overheal against bosses. Also, they're going make you think more about using potions. For example, do you use a healing item that recovers 50% life when you're only down 30? You can't really waste your healing items as much in this game.
This time when you try to use items with the d-pad, the game will pause momentarily so that you can think about which item(s) to use wisely, since you can only carry 6 this time. This time you can't waste your game over-recovery talisman. You can't do what you did in the last game and just use it up and then reset the game. Basically, the talisman will come with strings attached to prevent that.
There will be 4 difficulty levels. Level 2 will be recommended for those who cleared the first game. Level 3 for those pretty skilled and huge fans. Level 4 is made to be really hard. They're thinking about possibly altering how much damage you take and how many items you can carry depending on the difficulty. Those who have played the last game may find the lowest difficulty (shinobi no michi) [Ninja Dog] a little disappointing. In the last game I mean. But this time around it'll be more enjoyable and interesting [funnier] than the last game's "ninja dog".
When you receive damage from enemies, there are parts that can't be healed through auto healing. This is called the necrosis system. You can only hold 6 items this time around. One bad aspect about the last game is that there were too many healing items made available to use.
Certain damaged areas can only be healed through items.You can only hold 6 items this time around. One bad aspect about the last game is that there were too many healing items made available to use. They basically went back to its roots of life management for the game so that you can't overheal against bosses. Also, they're going make you think more about using potions. For example, do you use a healing item that recovers 50% life when you're only down 30? You can't really waste your healing items as much in this game.
This time when you try to use items with the d-pad, the game will pause momentarily so that you can think about which item(s) to use wisely, since you can only carry 6 this time. This time you can't waste your game over-recovery talisman. You can't do what you did in the last game and just use it up and then reset the game. Basically, the talisman will come with strings attached to prevent that.
There will be 4 difficulty levels. Level 2 will be recommended for those who cleared the first game. Level 3 for those pretty skilled and huge fans. Level 4 is made to be really hard. They're thinking about possibly altering how much damage you take and how many items you can carry depending on the difficulty. Those who have played the last game may find the lowest difficulty (shinobi no michi) [Ninja Dog] a little disappointing. In the last game I mean. But this time around it'll be more enjoyable and interesting [funnier] than the last game's "ninja dog".
Amazing demo seen with graphics not thought possible on 360"
http://www.gameguru.in/features/2007/29/rumor-101-microsofts-metal-gear-for-the-xbox-360/
It seems absolutely impossible to notice that Microsoft is unfazed by Metal Gear Solid 4, the titan of all games released during the year on the PS3. Splinter Cell: Conviction might not be powerful enough to scratch our beloved Solid Snake, so Microsoft has decided to bring something as brilliant as the game on the 360.Word has it that the company is in collaboration with a highly talented studio that can give their 360 something way better than Snake
Microsoft Cooking Up an Enhanced Xbox 360 Controller?
By: César A. Berardini - "Cesar" Share This ArticleDec. 28th, 2007 12:02 am I should not have been talking about this until next year, but a story of a motion sensing add-on for the Xbox 360 controller forced me to interrupt my holiday break. First, let me tell you that the image floating around with supposed prototypes of a motion sensing Xbox 360 controller is FAKE.
The image in question, which you can see below, was taken from a Gizmodo article that showed the many prototypes Gyration and Bridge Design pitched to Nintendo in 2001; prototypes that eventually gave birth to the Wii controller.
TeamXbox.com can confirm that Microsoft has been researching alternative input technologies for the last two years, including vision-based recognition such as the one used on Xbox Live Vision, as well as motion sensing technologies similar to those seen in the Microsoft Freestyle Pro and the PlayStation 3 SIXAXIS.
Particularly, Microsoft has looked at ways to improve the right analog stick input and you’ll hear more about those efforts soon.
In the long run, there’s more than a first-party tilt mod in the works and TeamXbox.com will bring you a real list of next-generation Xbox controller prototypes soon.
Xbox LIVE Status
You may have noticed that the LIVE service has been having a few issues over the past few days. This includes things like signing in, matchmaking and account recovery. Not everyone has had problems, but I know some of you have and I wanted to give you and update. While the service was never completely offline, problems like this are not acceptable. The entire LIVE team has been working day and night to ensure that you can have a great LIVE experience. While we’re not done yet, I wanted to let you know that things are getting better each hour and that no one on the team is going anywhere until the job is done. Thanks for your patience.
Next week on Arcade: Metal Slug 3
Kick off the New Year with Metal Slug 3 on Xbox LIVE Arcade. It will be available Wednesday, January 2, 2008 for 800 points.
Tuesday 25 December 2007
Spiritlorre season greating & quick year rundown
Thanks all for checking out the blog this year, i really hope i've helped you guys out & given you all the information you need concerning the gaming industry.
Next year i will be expanding the blog & i will be writing more of the article myself, if there's anything i can do to improve the site please let me know as the blog is for you
This year has been a dam fine year for gaming, the quality of games has been outstanding.2007 has been one the most memorable gaming years for me.
Early 2007 starting strong straight out of the blocks with LOST PLANET,superb shooter with great graphics amazing boss battles & fantastic multilayer maps i will never forget the map where you start submerged underwater brilliant.
CRACKDOWN what a wonderful unexpected surprise, a complete riot & a joy to play taking on gang members or climbing buildings collecting orbs or juggling trucks with your firefly rocket launcher, coop is amazing to as you could be at either ends of the city a complete blast.
GHOST RECON WARFIGHTER 2 & RAINBOW SIX VEGAS two world class shooter,s also took so much of my time ghost recon solid single player campaign stunning visuals but must admit the multilayer side needs to move on.rainbow six vegas was blazing on both counts brilliant single player campaign with multiplayer pushing the bouderies way to go ubisoft.
FORZA MOTOSPORT 2 WOW!what a game, this stunning racer is so comprehensive its making my head spin just typing it,over 300 cars including cars packs & tracks to download, comprehensive car customisation to deep to go into,built in market place trade, buy, paint & auction house even give a car as a gift what the hell! Crisp detailed vibrant graphics with stunning physics & crash damage which really effects the way you drive, stunning a.i. too all running at 60fps the mind boggles, i could go on but you my drift lol..
GOTHEM 4 is off the chain is as simple as that, the weather effect,s are gorgeous & its not just not for show either it really has an impact on the way you drive puddles will slow you down & so on, awesome handling great cockpit view, great online mode amazing tracks & cities to rip your car around & the graphics are truly firing.
BIOSHOCK one of the best first person shooters to arrive on the scene since the mighty halflife, amazing use of the unreal engine stunning water effects compelling storyline, fantastic atmoshpere, big daddies.
F.E.A.R EXPANSION PACK What game do you know where you can approach your enemy slow down time perform a fly kick to the chest & pump them full of bullets at the same time yep its f.e.a.r, why is it so good well it has the best a.i. i have ever seen in a first person shooter its that's simple, they flank you they speak to each other verbal & with hand signals, enemy animation is superb as well as voice overs, atmosphere is also brilliant with great shadow effects for good measure a quality scfi horror.As for the weapons they could be the best ever.
TYPE 12 LASER CARBINE
DEPLOYABLE TURRETS
TG-2A MINIGUN
ANDRA MOD-2 MULTI ROCKET LAUNCHER
ARMACHAN TYPE-7 PATICLE WEAPON
ARMACHAN 10MM HV PENETRATOR
LP4 LIGHTNING ARCH
STRANGLEHOLD This game is a good old fashioned now brainer 3rd person shooter but boy is fun, just sit back and let those bullets fly john woo style, brilliant arcade action slick visuals destructable enviroments & a fun multiplayer riot to cap it all off, a satisfying blast indeed, the tequila gains are tops , you get precision aiming, bombs, & barrage, barrage being the best as you spin around in slow mow as doves fly dropping enemy at will exiting & fun.
MEDAL OF HONOUR AIRBORNE, Is this the best game in the world? hell no! is it fun play hell yes! a solid shooter indeed a nice blend of quality graphics open sandbox world where you can parachute in and start your campaign from anywhere along with great lighting gives this game its appeal, i enjoyed this one hats of EA.
ORANGE BOX This is the best bargain ever in gaming history, halflife 2 episode 1&2 plus portal & team fortress on disc stunning, in my humble opinion halflife 2 & the episodes are simply the best single player first person shooters i have ever played, no other game has ever got be so involved & gripped in a game like this one, the story, atmoshpere, visuals gameplay are the best, the pacing & set pieces & puzzles are great, character & enemies are so memorable, the last section in episode is just incredible, if your into first person shooters you must play this its a must.
HALO 3 the biggest game of the year & rightfully so. the best multplayer on the xbox 360 by a good stretch sure COD4 comes close but not closer enough in my opinion.
Brilliant visuals superb lighting, stunning 4 player coop campaign, the forge, huge levels, great enemy a.i, for those in the loop there,s no need to say much it just awesome online where it will be played for years to come, & its still got one thing now other online game has & that's match making! plus the amazing ability to watch all your games recorded at any angle, & send them to your mates.i love the theatre lobby where can all join in and watch a memorable frag fest OUTSTANDING!!!
CALL OF DUTY 4 Let me just start by saying the graphics are remarkable!! maybe the best this year, amazing multiplayer game which is deep & rewarding, the single player mode offers a compelling & exiting & engaging gaming experience, the effects & lighting are outstanding along with great particle effects really stand out.WOULD YOU BELIEVE THIS GAME IS ONLY 600P!! yep..
MASS EFFECT Ive only played one mission but that alone was enough! its blew me away its was like playing a dam movie.
SPRITLORRE GAMES OF THE YEAR
1 HALO 3
2 ORANGE BOX
3 FORZA 2
4 BIOSHOCK
5 GOTHEM 4
6 RAINBOW SIX VEGAS
7 LOST PLANET
8 MASS EFFECT
9 F.E.A.R. EXPANSION PACK
10 VIRTUA FIGHTER 5
There are a few more games COLIN MCRAE etc but i can,t mention them all i'm hungry lol, season greetings to all & many thanks Karis who first gave ne the idea for the blog "i won,t forget that" massive shout to, tag ulius, a hak, no1 mo,dam,ludi,kuma you have been a great flat mate, all the heads that I've been online with we have had a barn storming time playing halo 3 so many highlights & heart attacks its been unbelievable, i don,t think i,ve ever jump so high out of my seat winning these tight matches great stuff, can't wait for next year.
Devil May Cry Bundle Coming to Japan
PlayStation 3 isn't the only system getting some bundle love from Capcom. Microsoft Japan announced today the Xbox 360 Devil May Cry 4 Premium Pack, a hardware bundle that combines the 360 with the latest installment of Capcom's dramatic action hack-n-slasher.
The Japan-only bundle includes a Xbox 360 Standard Model, which is the Japanese version of America's Premium Pack, complete with a 20 gigabyte hard disk, wireless controller, media remote, HD AV cables and LAN cable. All hardware units in the bundle will have HDMI ports, so you'll get to experience the included retail copy of DMC4 in digital bliss.
Ps3 heated debate on 1up podcast
The 1UP podcast is considered by many the best of its kind on the Internet today, and this week's episode does not disappoint. Shane, the 1UP offices' only fan of Sony, and Garnett get entangled in a fierce explosive argument regarding the console wars; more specifically, the Online infrastructure of the consoles. Live and, coming soon, PlayStation Home.
The calm before the storm starts at the 2hour, 15min and 50second mark on the podcast. Tune in.
http://www.1up.com & go to podcast listen to the latest episode.
The calm before the storm starts at the 2hour, 15min and 50second mark on the podcast. Tune in.
http://www.1up.com & go to podcast listen to the latest episode.
BioWare Confirms Mass Effect Sequel
BioWare (accidentally?) announced today the title of the second volume in the Mass Effect series of novels, confirming also that there will be a sequel to the Xbox 360 exclusive.
Del-Rey Books and author Drew Karpyshyn have announced the title of the second volume in the Mass Effect series of novels: Mass Effect: Ascension. Set between the first and second game, the novel will arrive in Summer 2008.
When EA acquired BioWare, the future of the Mass Effect trilogy was in peril, but with the developer now confirming that there will be a second game, we are pretty sure the companies involved have come to an agreement.
Del-Rey Books and author Drew Karpyshyn have announced the title of the second volume in the Mass Effect series of novels: Mass Effect: Ascension. Set between the first and second game, the novel will arrive in Summer 2008.
When EA acquired BioWare, the future of the Mass Effect trilogy was in peril, but with the developer now confirming that there will be a second game, we are pretty sure the companies involved have come to an agreement.
Monday 24 December 2007
Tuesday 18 December 2007
Friday 14 December 2007
DVDs holding gaming back?
What does it mean when PS3 games start appearing on DVD?
by: Chris Stead 13/12/2007
We noticed something a little strange today – we received PS3 preview and review code (provided to journalists only) on DVD format… not Blu-ray. We won’t point fingers or name names, but further research through our piles of discs revealed that this was not an isolated incident and that this phenomenon is restricted to games that are, or had been, released on the Xbox 360 as well. That is, multi-format games’ not all of them, but some of them.
On face value that didn’t seem particularly weird – after all, most multi-format games are indistinguishable across the consoles - but we couldn’t shake the feeling of being sold short. Really, shouldn’t there be some type of PS3 specific optimisation that makes use of this all-powerful Blu-ray format? Given that developers have access to an extra, what, 20-odd gig with Blu-ray, shouldn’t games be stepping up?
Then it hit us: it’s not worth their while. If you build a multi-format game across Xbox 360 and PS3 right now, you have two options: design the game separately for each format or design one game, that maximises the capacity of the smaller format... i.e. DVD. Obviously the second option makes much better business sense, especially given that the PS3’s install base is only just starting to show life, ensuring that any extra costs incurred by redeveloping the game specifically for the system are unlikely to be recovered. So yes, we’ll get our game on a Blu-ray disc but don’t let the label fool you: in many multi-format games it’s still a DVD experience.
And then something else hit us, even harder. The progression of gaming, in general, has been bottlenecked by the bloody DVD!
This looks bad on Microsoft, despite the fact it is Sony’s Blu-ray not been properly utilised. In fact, it is becoming apparent that Microsoft really screwed Sony, and by extension us gamers, over in this generation. In their effort to be first into market they built a next-gen machine on old-gen technology, releasing the Xbox 360 with a standard DVD drive and not an HD-DVD drive.
But by being first, Microsoft gained the better market position, and now has an install base that demands that it is the lead format for developers – or in simpler terms, developers can make more money from a game through the Xbox 360, than the PS3. And the Xbox 360 is restricted to DVD. Worse still, Microsoft didn’t go with a hard-drive as standard, further restricting developer freedom.
At the moment, you could argue that it doesn’t really matter. Call of Duty 4 is just one example of how games can kick serious arse at a maximum of 9GB. But Microsoft’s lack of forethought, or worse still their knowing decision to just run with DVD at the cost of the industry’s long-term future, will bite them on the arse. The PS3 is starting to get games, good games, and it’s becoming more reasonably priced. The install base will grow and sometime, maybe in late 2008 or in 2009, we will reach a tipping point and the PS3 will become big enough to be chosen as the lead format. This will open the doors for developers to wash their hands of DVD limitations and develop primarily for both Blu-ray and a standard hard-drive. It’ll come like an avalanche – if the PS3 catches up on the Xbox 360, it will surge ahead.
What for Microsoft’s Xbox 360 then? Down-sized, compressed and ugly ports? Games on five discs? At the very least we’re talking a new HD-DVD and hard-drive as standard SKU, but most likely we’re talking a new console altogether. We get the impression developers want that freedom of a hard-drive and greater storage space – surely it is harder to have to squish everything in to 9GB. We’re already seeing Xbox 360 games like Blue Dragon appearing on more than one disc, like latter releases in the PS2 catalogue.
But for right now, these PS3 games on DVD are an embarrassment to the industry. Ok, so you’ve got a game that doesn’t need more than 9GB of space – congratulations. But you’re burning to, and consumers are paying for, Blu-ray discs. So fill the bloody thing! Whatever happened to those ‘you’ll get the game, and the movie, and all the bonus features, all on the same disc’ crap we were being sold a few years back? You’ve already made demos and trailers right? Stick ‘em on there too! Make us believe that there is somewhere in this generation for gaming to go.
by: Chris Stead 13/12/2007
We noticed something a little strange today – we received PS3 preview and review code (provided to journalists only) on DVD format… not Blu-ray. We won’t point fingers or name names, but further research through our piles of discs revealed that this was not an isolated incident and that this phenomenon is restricted to games that are, or had been, released on the Xbox 360 as well. That is, multi-format games’ not all of them, but some of them.
On face value that didn’t seem particularly weird – after all, most multi-format games are indistinguishable across the consoles - but we couldn’t shake the feeling of being sold short. Really, shouldn’t there be some type of PS3 specific optimisation that makes use of this all-powerful Blu-ray format? Given that developers have access to an extra, what, 20-odd gig with Blu-ray, shouldn’t games be stepping up?
Then it hit us: it’s not worth their while. If you build a multi-format game across Xbox 360 and PS3 right now, you have two options: design the game separately for each format or design one game, that maximises the capacity of the smaller format... i.e. DVD. Obviously the second option makes much better business sense, especially given that the PS3’s install base is only just starting to show life, ensuring that any extra costs incurred by redeveloping the game specifically for the system are unlikely to be recovered. So yes, we’ll get our game on a Blu-ray disc but don’t let the label fool you: in many multi-format games it’s still a DVD experience.
And then something else hit us, even harder. The progression of gaming, in general, has been bottlenecked by the bloody DVD!
This looks bad on Microsoft, despite the fact it is Sony’s Blu-ray not been properly utilised. In fact, it is becoming apparent that Microsoft really screwed Sony, and by extension us gamers, over in this generation. In their effort to be first into market they built a next-gen machine on old-gen technology, releasing the Xbox 360 with a standard DVD drive and not an HD-DVD drive.
But by being first, Microsoft gained the better market position, and now has an install base that demands that it is the lead format for developers – or in simpler terms, developers can make more money from a game through the Xbox 360, than the PS3. And the Xbox 360 is restricted to DVD. Worse still, Microsoft didn’t go with a hard-drive as standard, further restricting developer freedom.
At the moment, you could argue that it doesn’t really matter. Call of Duty 4 is just one example of how games can kick serious arse at a maximum of 9GB. But Microsoft’s lack of forethought, or worse still their knowing decision to just run with DVD at the cost of the industry’s long-term future, will bite them on the arse. The PS3 is starting to get games, good games, and it’s becoming more reasonably priced. The install base will grow and sometime, maybe in late 2008 or in 2009, we will reach a tipping point and the PS3 will become big enough to be chosen as the lead format. This will open the doors for developers to wash their hands of DVD limitations and develop primarily for both Blu-ray and a standard hard-drive. It’ll come like an avalanche – if the PS3 catches up on the Xbox 360, it will surge ahead.
What for Microsoft’s Xbox 360 then? Down-sized, compressed and ugly ports? Games on five discs? At the very least we’re talking a new HD-DVD and hard-drive as standard SKU, but most likely we’re talking a new console altogether. We get the impression developers want that freedom of a hard-drive and greater storage space – surely it is harder to have to squish everything in to 9GB. We’re already seeing Xbox 360 games like Blue Dragon appearing on more than one disc, like latter releases in the PS2 catalogue.
But for right now, these PS3 games on DVD are an embarrassment to the industry. Ok, so you’ve got a game that doesn’t need more than 9GB of space – congratulations. But you’re burning to, and consumers are paying for, Blu-ray discs. So fill the bloody thing! Whatever happened to those ‘you’ll get the game, and the movie, and all the bonus features, all on the same disc’ crap we were being sold a few years back? You’ve already made demos and trailers right? Stick ‘em on there too! Make us believe that there is somewhere in this generation for gaming to go.
November NPDs: Microsoft's Reaction
While it was always going to be tough for Sony to put a good spin on the latest NPD figures, for Microsoft, things were a little easier. The 360 kicked the PS3's arse, a 360 release topped the software sales charts and two Microsoft first-party titles (Mass Effect & Halo 3) made the top 10. And aside from a failed attempt to gain "victory" for the month by citing "most dollars spent" (sorry MS, we count numbers sold, not dollars spent), that's exactly what they focused on
Xbox 360 - Consumers voting with their wallets, Xbox 360 winning this holiday
Fueled by the greatest holiday lineup in video game history, consumers spent more holiday dollars on Xbox 360 consoles, games and accessories than any other platform in the month of November according to NPD.
#1 in Game Sales: Four of the Top Ten Titles are on Xbox 360, compared to three on the Wii and two on the PS3.
Xbox 360 holds the #1 title with "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare" (Activision), selling nearly 1.5 million units on Xbox 360, compared to 444,000 units on the PS3.
#1 in Total Revenue: Xbox 360 leads in total revenue with $763 million compared to $587 million for Wii and $364 million for PS3 according to NPD.
#1 in Game Quality: Xbox 360 delivers the highest-rated games lineup this generation, with 6 out of the top 10 rated games through the end of November according to Metacritic, the world-wide authority in entertainment reviews.
Xbox 360 - Consumers voting with their wallets, Xbox 360 winning this holiday
Fueled by the greatest holiday lineup in video game history, consumers spent more holiday dollars on Xbox 360 consoles, games and accessories than any other platform in the month of November according to NPD.
#1 in Game Sales: Four of the Top Ten Titles are on Xbox 360, compared to three on the Wii and two on the PS3.
Xbox 360 holds the #1 title with "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare" (Activision), selling nearly 1.5 million units on Xbox 360, compared to 444,000 units on the PS3.
#1 in Total Revenue: Xbox 360 leads in total revenue with $763 million compared to $587 million for Wii and $364 million for PS3 according to NPD.
#1 in Game Quality: Xbox 360 delivers the highest-rated games lineup this generation, with 6 out of the top 10 rated games through the end of November according to Metacritic, the world-wide authority in entertainment reviews.
Tuesday 11 December 2007
The Bourne Ultimatum (HD DVD) review
The Movie Itself: Our Reviewer's Take
Until 'The Bourne Identity' hit screens in 2000, the spy genre was in pretty sorry shape on the big screen. The James Bond franchise had long since become a parody of itself with an series of increasingly ridiculous installments, while Tom Cruise's 'Mission: Impossible' series had some cool moments but was still a hit-or-miss affair. It was really 'Identity' that ushered in a new era for the spy thriller -- one that was gritty, realistic and refreshingly free of gadgets and gimmicks.
The rare sequel to actually outgross its predecessor, 2003's 'The Bourne Supremacy' was so well-received that it created an unusual hunger for 'The Bourne Ultimatum,' which enjoyed an even better opening weekend. In terms of world-wide box office receipts, 'Ultimatum' now stands as the most successful of the 'Bourne' trilogy, which is rare cinematic feat indeed. This success is a testament not only to the series' highly-praised action sequences, but also the complexity of its story and the appeal of the Jason Bourne character. Bourne may not exactly be a new generation's James Bond, but he's certainly the closest modern cinema has seen to his heir apparent.
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Viewers who are intimately familiar with the first two films in the series will likely get the most out of 'Ultimatum's convoluted narrative, but the film works well enough as a self-contained thrill ride even if you don't remember every single plot detail of the past two entries. As the movie begins, Bourne is inadvertantly drawn out of hiding by British investigative reporter Simon Ross (Paddy Considine), who has been trying to uncover the secrets of Project Treadstone, now upgraded to new operation called Blackbriar. During the meeting with Ross, Bourne's memories are triggered once again, and he renews his quest to solve the riddle of his mysterious background.
Of course, the CIA has been tracking his correspondence with Ross, and Pamela Landy (Joan Allen) is again back on the case. Only this time, she's got higher-ups (David Straithairn and Scott Glenn) breathing down her neck, and further complicating the government's pursuit is wayward operative Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles), who will eventually risk her life and career to help Bourne. While racing across four continents, Bourne will not only have to use every trick in the book to elude capture, but must somehow make his way back to the States and into the inner-most sanctums of the CIA itself if he is to finally uncover the secret of his identity.
As directed by Paul Greengrass (who also helmed 'Bourne Supremacy'), 'Ultimatum' may be the most impressive of the 'Bourne' films in terms of elevating cinematic integration of exposition and action into an art form. This is pure information overload, but because the execution of the suspense sequences is so intense, we are held in a constant state of rapt attention. Watching 'Ultimatum,' the audience literally becomes Jason Bourne, and like him, we are constantly on alert for fear of missing a crucial bit of information integral to our survival. Slyly, Greengrass uses camerawork and editing as co-conspirators in this gleefully shameless manipulation, and the film simply never stops for a second to let us catch our breath. 'Ultimatum' truly relies on the intelligence of its audience, demanding that we pay attention -- even if we're left wrung out and exhausted by the end of the ride.
Admittedly, as fast-paced and consistently engaging as 'Ultimatum' is, there is a certain sense of deja vu that permeates many of the scenarios and setpieces. Case in point is the car chase, which is certainly as adrenaline-fueled as those in the previous 'Bourne' films, but doesn't really offering anything we haven't seen before (it certainly isn't central to the main plot). Likewise, our emotional engagement with the Bourne character can't quite stack up to earlier entries. Although Damon is certainly up to the task, the absence of his great love Marie (Franka Potente, seen here only briefly in flashback) often leaves the character only with cold detachment. The film does try to expand upon the relationship between Bourne and Parsons to add some heat, but the dewey-eyed Stiles doesn't have the same fire as Potente, and though I enjoyed her scenes, there is a distinct feeling of efficiency triumphing over emotion throughout much of 'Ultimatum.'
Still, 'Ultimatum' is quite satisfying because unlike so many other series of its type, it doesn't cheat us of the closure to the story and the character arcs set up in the first two films. Bourne does finally decipher all the clues to his past, and his case with the CIA is closed shut. Of course, the filmmakers have still left themselves just enough wiggle room to bring Bourne back for a series of new adventures some day, but I can't say I blame them. Like the end of the 007 flicks always say, "James Bond will return..." -- so why not Jason Bourne? But regardless of whether there ever are any future 'Bourne' films or not, 'Ultimatum' is a perfectly fitting capper on a truly superlative cinematic trilogy.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
If you're familiar with the first two installments in the Jason Bourne series, then you probably already know what to expect from the visual look of 'The Bourne Ultimatum.' Grainy, desaturated and with nary a static shot in film's entire 115-minute runtime, the intentionally rough sheen of 'Ultimatum' certainly doesn't help it in terms of delivering the kind of ultra-clean, super-slick look of the best high-def transfers, but as a representation of the source material this HD DVD is aces.
Universal presents 'The Bourne Ultimatum' in 1080p/VC-1 video, framed accurately at 2.40:1 widescreen. The source is grainy almost throughout, but it's otherwise clean with no blemishes, dirt or other defects. Contrast is appropriately on the hot side, but blacks hold firm and there is little severity to the "crush" on the low end of the scale, leaving shadow details surprisingly supple. Colors are almost uniformly desaturated, and most scenes skew towards blue or green, so don't expect rich orange fleshtones. Still, hues are quite stable and never bleed or fuzz-out, so I was generally impressed with the level of depth and detail, considering the source. Universal has also delivered a top-notch encode -- even with the intense level of fast motion throughout 'The Bourne Ultimatum,' the image never breaks up or suffers from compression artifacts.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
As good as 'Bourne Ultimatum' looks, it sounds even better. This is a reference-quality Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround track (48kHz/24-bit), and one that is equally powerful in terms of envelopment and impact.
'Ultimatum' is exciting because it understands the value of contrast -- Bourne's moments of quiet introspection are heightened by the loud bursts of action, and vice versa. Like its title character, the sound mix is constantly on the move -- even when the bullets aren't flying fast and furious, the techno-fueled score is always humming along, so there's never a dull moment. Realism and heft to the entire 360-degree soundfield is exceptional, with great clarity to discrete effects and seamless pans between channels. Subtle ambiance is better than I anticipated, with bleed of the score again excellent and the attention paid to fine sonic details fantastic. Director Paul Greengrass often makes clever use of subtle aural cues to inform us of Jason Bourne's state of mind (a ringing telephone, footsteps outside a door, etc.) and it's all rendered here with creativity and great care.
Lest anything think there is no bombast to 'Ultimatum,' think again. Dynamics are fantastic, from the subwoofer-shaking low bass (there is some serious rumble in nearly every one of the film's many action scenes) to the finely-attenuated higher end of the spectrum. Finally, unlike so many other action films, dialogue is actually important to 'Bourne Ultimatum,' and happily the mix is perfectly balanced. I never suffered any volume level problems (a real pet peeve of mine), so feel confident that if you crank this puppy up, you can safely put down your remote for the rest of the flick. A tremendous five-star audio experience.
The Supplements: Digging Into the Good Stuff
'The Bourne Ultimatum' is Universal's biggest hit of 2007, so they've pulled no punches when it comes to producing a full-fledged special edition for the film's video release. Both the HD DVD and the standard-def DVD versions of the film come with a healthy assortment of extras that by themselves would be pretty satisfying, but add to that some great exclusives (see the "HD Extras" section below), and this HD DVD version easily lived up to my expectations.
Audio Commentary - Director Paul Greengrass flies solo here, and as he's proven on his past tracks (particularly 'United 93') he is an articulate and comprehensive narrator. Although he gets a bit bogged down at the beginning of the track with the technical, he quickly opens up the discussion to talk at surprising length about the intricacies of the story, both in comparison to the original novels as well what needed to be restructured in order to make 'Ultimatum' work as a self-contained film. Greengrass also doesn't shy away from some of the controversies that surrounded the shoot, particularly the endless reshoots (which star Matt Damon complained about at length to the press) and working in multiple foreign locations. A great track.
Featurette: "Man on the Move: Jason Bourne"(HD, 24 minutes) - This "on location" travelogue is an often breathless look at the fast-paced shoot, divided by location into five parts: Moscow, Paris, London, Madrid and Tangier. The mix of behind-the-scenes footage and on-set cast & crew interviews (with Greengrass, producer Frank Marshall, star Damon, as well as Joan Allen, Julia Stiles and Brian Cox) doesn't re-invent the wheel, but it's edited in such a deft and entertaining manner that it's superior to most EPKs.
Additional Featurettes (HD, 22 minutes) - These three vignettes further pick apart the film's most exciting action sequences: "New York Chase" (11 minutes), "Planning the Punches" (5 minutes) and the "Rooftop Pursuit" (6 minutes). This is culled from the same batch of making-of material as the main featurette but is again expertly edited, especially "Planning the Punches," which somehow manages to make the staging of a scene with a zillion cuts actually comprehensible.
Deleted Scenes (SD, 12 minutes) - This assemblage of scenes is comprised mostly of extensions, with the majority of new material adding to the scenes at the CIA, as well as a bit more with Damon's character's memories regarding his eventual metamorphosis into Jason Bourne. Though formatted for 16:9 screens, the scenes appear to be upconverts from standard-def.
HD Bonus Content: Any Exclusive Goodies in There?
Carrying on the tradition it set with the first two 'Bourne' titles on HD DVD, Universal has packed 'The Bourne Ultimatum' with an array of high-def exclusives. But this is by far the most cutting-edge of the bunch, with graphic- and web-based materials to go along with the traditional picture-in-picture commentary, all nicely wrapped up in the studio's "U-Control" interface.
Picture-in-Picture - Easily matching the video commentaries on the first two 'Bourne' discs, this is another fine assemblage of cast & crew interviews (culled from the same materials as the featurettes), with even better behind-the-scenes footage. All three of the 'Bourne' PiP tracks work so well because the producers use the on-screen action as a counterpart to the making-of content. It's the perfect marriage of technology with substance, and does what all good tracks should do -- it greatly enhances our understanding of the filmmaking process.
Interactive Game: "Be Bourne Game" - Activate the game as you watch the film itself, and as you progress through the narrative you'll be prompted to analyze pre-marked 30-second segments. Once the clip is done, you'll be tested on the visual and narrative information you retain. This is kinda fun, although I got a bit tired after a few clips due to the repetition of the exercise. Note that you will receive a score at the end of the game, and you can go online (assuming your player is web-connected) and share your results with others.
Blackbriar Files - This text- and graphic-based overlay delivers real-time statistics on the various gadgets and locations on display throughout the film's runtime. Everything from a cell phone to the CIA building has a digital dossie of info, although personally I found much of it too banal. I think if some sort of game-like function were integrated into something like this, it would make things a bit more interactive and just plain fun.
"Get More Info" - This is certainly least interesting of the exclusives. Essentially paid advertising for the Volkswagen Toureag (Bourne's car in the film), this feature delivers various details on the vehicle (horsepower, etc.), and you can go online (again if you're web-connected) to download even more info. Sorry, I'm just not "buying" this one.
MyScenes - Universal's now-standard custom bookmarking function, allowing you to save your favorite chapters for playback even after you eject the disc. You can also go online and share them with other registered users in the Universal HD DVD community.
Easter Eggs
No easter eggs reported for 'The Bourne Ultimatum' yet. Found an egg? Please use our tips form to let us know, and we'll credit you with the find.
Final Thoughts
'The Bourne Ultimatum' easily holds its own against the first two entries in the Jason Bourne franchise -- no small accomplishment, considering 'The Bourne Identity' and 'The Bourne Supremacy' are two of the best spy thrillers since the era of vintage James Bond. This HD DVD is also a winner -- great video, audio and supplements (complete with high-def exclusives) make this a stellar package in every respect. If you are at all a fan of Jason Bourne, this one's a no-brainer.
Even in japan 360 still holds the highest attach rate
Nintendo
Hardware = 3,945,429 through Dec 2/07 (MC)
Tie Ratio = 2.60
Sony PS3:
Hardware = 1,440,642 Through Nov 25/07
Tie Ratio = 1.95
Microsoft X360:
Hardware = 509,314 through Nov 25/07
Tie Ratio = 3.93
Hardware = 3,945,429 through Dec 2/07 (MC)
Tie Ratio = 2.60
Sony PS3:
Hardware = 1,440,642 Through Nov 25/07
Tie Ratio = 1.95
Microsoft X360:
Hardware = 509,314 through Nov 25/07
Tie Ratio = 3.93
GRAW 3 Coming YES YES!!!!
I was a huge fan of the first GRAW that came along and showed everyone the 360's potential. I became a bigger fan when GRAW 2 released with a new story and polish that made for a much tighter game. Now it looks like we should be expecting GRAW 3 with even more features to launch the franchise into the stratosphere. The third installation in the GRAW series will be built with an entirely new engine but continue the Mexican terrorist story line the first two games established. This story is supposed to wrap up the events in Mexico as well as tie into Tom Clancy's Endwar story line (you can control Ghost and Slinter Cell units in Endwar). Multiplayer and the single player campaign are expected to be built by the same team so there wont be the usuall glaring differences between the two components (maybe there will be a cover system in multiplayer now). The first two GRAW's released a year apart, so if that precedent holds for the third game get ready to step in Captain Mitchell well worn combat boots around March 2008.
Mass Effect Sells One Million in First Three Weeks
The incredibly enjoyable space opera that is Mass Effect is enjoying quite the sales surge in its first three weeks out on store shelves. Microsoft confirms that the game from Bioware has sold over a million copies globally in the short time it has been available. I thought this game had kind of a slow start, but I guess not. The game has managed to triple its expected sales of November that were set at 328,000 copies sold. I guess the planned trilogy was a good idea after all. Could this be the next huge exclusive hit and system seller for the 360 thats breathing down the necks of Halo 3 or Gears of War? Well now that EA owns Bioware and therefore Mass Effect, Microsoft is going to have to start making some deals fast. Either way I am glad that this game has been as successful as it has because it really deserves to sell well and I really hope it stays a 360 exclusive (doubtful when EA is involved). If you haven't gone out and bought Mass Effect, then you need to follow in a million of your fellow 360 gamer's footsteps and head out to your nearest retailer (you wont be disappointed).
spiritlore recommends bose 10/10
BOSE® on-ear headphones deliver clean, rich sound in a small, light, on-ear design. Just slip them on and enjoy high-performance audio – engineered exclusively by Bose.
You'll hear deep lows. Clear mids. Sweet highs. Distinct separation of instruments. Try them with your favourite tracks and you just may find nuances you never heard before.
Lightweight and comfortable
You may also find yourself forgetting you have them on. BOSE® on-ear headphones weigh less than 150 grams. Their ear cups are softly padded with memory foam that gently conforms to the shape of your ears. And they're designed to rotate from front-to-back and top-to-bottom – for enhanced fit that reduces pressure points. You can wear them comfortably for hours on end.
Exclusive technologies for quality on-ear sound
BOSE® on-ear headphones feature proprietary BOSE® technologies that produce high-quality audio in this compact on-ear design. The unique TriPort® acoustic headphone structure provides excellent low-frequency output and helps create a wide range of audio from such small, lightweight ear cups. There's no need to push buttons or adjust knobs, and no batteries are required. You just plug in and experience full-bodied, well-balanced audio that brings out the details in your music.
On-the-go BOSE® audio
These headphones make great commuting partners. They include two detachable audio cables of different lengths. Use the shorter 0.4m cable with armband or shirt-pocket connections, or link it to the standard 1.1m cable when you need added reach. Both cables attach to just one ear cup, so there's less tangling than with conventional "Y" cables. BOSE® on-ear headphones also feature a collapsible headband and fold-flat ear cups. To pack them away, simply fold the cups flat, pivot them into the centre of the headband and tuck them into their compact carrying case.
One listen is all it takes
Whatever your listening pleasure, we think BOSE® on-ear headphones will make it even more pleasurable. Try them yourself for 30 days, risk free.* Use them with portable media players, at the office and at home. One listen is all it takes to hear the difference BOSE® technologies make.
Best headphones i've ever had. £115.00 bose shop regent st london. or bose.co.uk
Friday 7 December 2007
Denon AVR-2808 Receiver it rocks!!
7.1 receiver
1.3a HDMI Switching (2 IN, 1 OUT)
Up-conversion of all video inputs to HDMI
Faroudja 1080p scaling
3 component inputs, 2 component outputs
Bi-Amping Capability for Enhanced Musicality and Power
110 watts at 8 ohms
Three Zone multi source capability including separate remote control and composite video output
Auto Setup, via plug- in mic
5 digital inputs (3 coaxial, 4 optical)
DTS-HD, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby digital plus and Dolby TrueHD decoders
Dolby Pro Logic IIx, Dolby Digital and DTS decoders
Dolby Digital EX and complete DTS-ES
24-bit/192 kHz DACs for all channels
Dimensions - Width: 434mm Height: 171mm Depth: 420mm
Weight - 12.8kg
RRP - £900
Hot Deals - £759
Extra info
The Latest HD Audio and Video Support.
New lossless audio formats Dolby True HD and dts-HD Master Audio decoders.
Deep Color 30/36 bits colour depth and xvYCC broader colour space support.
HDMI1.3a inputs/outputs allow to handle HD audio and video signal with higher speed.
State-of-the-art Denon Solutions for Maximising Content Quality.
Identical quality and power for all 7 channels, 110W x 7ch.
Discrete Devices for ultimate performance in each block.
Dual New 32bit floating point DSP.
Master clock design for more accurate processing and less jitter noise.
AL24 processing plus provides more dynamic range and improves low level sound details.
Denon's new audio technology for MP3/WMA/AAC compressed formats to reproduce higher frequency range and deeper bass sound.
HD Video Circuit
Digital Media Connectivity
Ease-of-Use
Auto set-up and Room EQ, featuring MultEQ XT from Audyssey.
Includes dedicated zone remote control unit.
Auto Lip Sync (HDMI 1.3a).
New back panel layout.
Multi Zone Capability.
Profigold /Qed hdmi cables
Some of you guys have been asking what hdmai cables i use, Profigold for my 360 & Qed for hd dvd player.Got the Profigold cable from selfridges, Qed from tottenham court rd.
Samsung 52’’ LCD FULL HD TV 100HZ 500,000:1 dynamic contrast!!!
Samsung have raised the standards once again with the new LE52F96BDX which is possibly one of the best TVs ever created! The LE52F96BDX is Samsung’s new 1080p HD LCD TV with super clear panel and LED Backlight provides the most detailed and clearest picture quality you’ve ever experienced. Super Clear Panel, combined with 1080p high resolution gives you the most realistic black colour. Black levels will never again appear greyish and you can see fantastic detail even in the darkest scenes. Samsungs unique technology, Smart LED Backlighting allows dramatic increase in leves of colour and contrast (500,000:1 dynamic contrast).
Star Trek: The Original Series - Season One (HD DVD)
The Movie Itself: Our Reviewer's Take
When I first heard that 'Star Trek: The Original Series' would be undergoing a 'Star Wars'-style complete digital makeover, in which all of its 1960s model and miniature special effects would be replaced with modern CGI, frankly I was appalled at the news. I outright despise the tinkering that George Lucas has imposed on 'Star Wars', and refuse to watch those movies in anything other than the original theatrical versions as I first saw them. And now the same was going to happen to 'Star Trek'? Doesn't everyone realize that its datedness is a big part of the charm and appeal of 'The Original Series'? The miniskirts and crazy costumes, the chintzy sets, goofy monster makeup, and hambone theatrical acting, these are all things to cherish. 'Star Trek' is a product of its era, and should remain so.
But then a funny thing happened. Images from the new "Remastered" versions of the episodes were released, and they didn't look so bad. Statements by those implementing the changes (including renowned 'Trek' experts Michael and Denise Okuda, writers of many 'Trek'-related books and the pop-up trivia tracks accompanying earlier DVD releases of the shows and movies) actually made some good, valid points about the work they were doing and the need for it. So now we have it, the complete first season of 'Star Trek', episodes dating from 1966 to 1967, here revamped, refreshed, and revitalized. And you know what, I think it's great. Despite my skepticism, I've officially been won over.
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Here's the difference between the revised versions of 'Star Trek' and 'Star Wars': The people updating 'Star Trek' aren't trying to change everything. Although the prints have been cleaned and the visual effects modernized, there are no goofy flying robots buzzing around scenes just to show off, no crappy deleted scenes that should remain on the cutting room floor needlessly reinstated, and no significant alterations made to the plot or the fundamental personalities of the characters. This is still 'Star Trek' as Gene Roddenberry envisioned it in the 1960s. The material has been treated with absolute loving respect and even reverence; it's just been spruced up a little to brush away the cobwebs of age and of the severe production limitations faced at the time.
So what exactly has been done to the show? Most obviously, almost every single space shot involving grainy stock footage of the Enterprise model dangling on wires in front of plastic schoolroom globes has been replaced with a fresh digital rendering that orbits credible-looking planets. It's still the Enterprise we know and love, recreated down to the last detail (even the silly glowing orange tips on the warp nacelles), just cleaner and less obviously toy-like. The shots run the same length and usually retain the same content and composition. The impulse to add stuff to shots or to make everything look sleeker and flashier has been largely resisted, and the restraint is often admirable. Many of the original effects, like the cartoonish phaser blasts and shimmery dissolves, haven't been touched at all, and many that were cleaned up were designed specifically to go unnoticed. The old matte paintings in the background of shots are sometimes tweaked a bit, but they still look like matte paintings. The aliens in ridiculous costumes haven't been digitally wiped out and replaced with complex CGI creatures, even when that might have been for the best; he may now blink, but the Gorn is still just a guy in a bad rubber monster suit. When the Enterprise jumps to warp speed, it cruises through the shots with the same movement it always did; no one has tried to add in the slingshot warp effect used in 'The Next Generation'. The work of the original artists has been respected. The intent isn't to change the show, but rather to restore it. This is what the producers of the series would have wanted it to look like if they'd had the budget and the technology at the time.
That being the case, occasionally some major alterations do creep in. Sometimes they're necessary, such as replacing a matte painting in 'The Menagerie' to correct a continuity error concerning the scene's time of day, but sometimes the digital artists are a little overzealous in wanting to wow a modern audience. On some alien planets, wide establishing shots have been inserted where previously we saw only close-ups and medium shots. This is helpful at times, but unnecessarily distracting at others. In some instances, the new visual effects are too ambitious in scale and detail, and look out of place mixed with the cheapie physical sets and props (the contrast is especially jarring in 'The Galileo Seven', where elaborate shots of the shuttlecraft flying through a beautiful green ion storm cut away to interiors set in a small room with blank gray walls and a handful of plastic chairs). There are also a few cases where the new effects just look a little video game-y, but those are fortunately rare and certainly no cheesier than the originals.
What surprised me the most about the Remastered 'Star Trek' is how well the majority of the new footage blends right into the old. While the differences stand out in a few occasions, in most others the transition is amazingly seamless (a claim that cannot be made about the revamped 'Star Wars'). The new effects serve to pull you into the stories and the universe Gene Roddenberry created, not knock you out of them. I must admit that I'm a lot more impressed than I expected.
As for the show itself, 'Star Trek' remains a nearly ideal blend of campy fun, exciting adventure, and surprising intellectual depth. Really a series of morality plays, psychological character studies, and philosophical treatises set within an outrageous science fiction backdrop, the show may be remembered most for its Technicolor sets and costumes, William Shatner's hammy charisma, and its goofy alien monsters, but the material thrives on the strength of its writing and the chemistry of its cast. There's good reason it has so far inspired five spin-off series, ten feature films, and undoubtedly more on the way.
Although it took a little while to find its footing, this first season is arguably the show's best, and contains many of its most iconic episodes. 'Where No Man Has Gone Before', 'The Naked Time', 'Mudd's Women', 'The Corbomite Maneuver', 'Balance of Terror', 'Space Seed', 'Devil in the Dark', and 'City on the Edge of Forever' are just some of the gems found here. Sure, there are a few clunkers like 'Shore Leave', 'The Galileo Seven', and the finale 'Operation: Annihilate!' that even the best special effects updating in the world can't rescue from their inherent cheesiness. Even these turkeys have been lovingly restored with the same care and attention as the season's finest. They're mercifully few in number, and nowhere near as bad as the way the show would fall apart in its third season.
The film purist in me likes having the old versions of the episodes around, but the 'Trek' fan in me had a blast watching the new ones. It truly felt like discovering something special for the first time all over again. 'Star Trek' is classic television, and these newly Remastered episodes breathe fresh life into a series that had grown a little too comfortable with familiarity over the years.
The HD DVD: Vital Disc Stats
'Star Trek: The Original Series – Season One' comes to HD DVD in a 10-disc box set from Paramount Home Entertainment. The packaging has a funky design vaguely reminiscent of a Transporter deck. It looks interesting on a shelf, but truth be told the plastic shell, the cardboard box sleeve inside, and the plastic disc trays are all rather flimsily constructed. Little plastic pieces of the tray were already rattling around inside the shell by the time I opened my set for the first time, and one disc had popped off its hub and gotten scratched.
Also in the box are five "Data Cards" that list the episode and bonus feature contents of each disc.
All 10 discs are encoded in Combo format, with HD DVD on one side and standard DVD on the other. In a marketing first, the Remastered versions of the episodes are only available in this box set. No comparable release for just Standard-Def DVD is available at this time. The discs contain only the Remastered episodes on both sides, not the original versions with their 1960s special effects (those are already available on DVD, but not on HD DVD).
The episodes are presented in their original broadcast order, which causes a few minor continuity problems, such as Dr. McCoy's presence in the first two episodes 'The Man Trap' and 'Charlie X', followed afterwards by the actual pilot episode 'Where No Man Has Gone Before' with a different Chief Medical Officer (Dr. Piper). To make matters more confusing, the disc menus number the episodes in their production order. Thus, Disc 1 contains episodes 6, 8, and 2. If you wish to watch the episodes in production order, you have to sort that out by reading the "Mission Stardate" trivia notes on the included Data Cards. However, it should be noted that this box set does not contain the first produced pilot episode ('The Cage' starring Jeffrey Hunter as Capt. Christopher Pike) that was rejected by NBC. If Paramount follows their DVD release pattern, we can expect that episode at the end of the eventual Season Three box set.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
Befitting a television series produced in the 1960s, the 'Star Trek' HD DVD transfer retains the show's original 4:3 aspect ratio, encoded on disc with pillarbox bars at the sides of the 16:9 frame. This includes all of the new visual effects footage, which was technically rendered at a wider 16:9 ratio but is center-cropped to 4:3 here. In fact, in preparing the Remastered episodes, the studio struck three separate High Definition transfers: one at a consistent 4:3 ratio (the version available in this box set), one that varies between 4:3 for live action footage and 16:9 for visual effects (XBox Live users may have downloaded episodes in that format), and one with all of the live action footage cropped and stretched to 16:9 (reportedly, that one will be released on HD DVD in Japan). As far as I'm concerned, the 4:3 version is the most appropriate and the only one worth considering.
It should go without saying that the quality of television broadcast (not to mention the TVs themselves) in the 1960s was nowhere near the standard available today, and even the show's syndicated broadcasts over the decades have rarely captured the vibrancy of its original photography. By the time the series was released on DVD, the episodes there already looked significantly better than anyone had ever seen them before. The 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 transfers in this HD DVD set take things to the next level, revealing a world of detail that viewers in the 1960s could scarcely imagine was available. The High Definition imagery is clear enough to resolve the powder of the actors' makeup, the hairs on Shatner's chest, and the pockmarks of George Takei's bad complexion. Ironically, the seams in many alien costumes and the frayed edges of the Starfleet insignia on Kirk's uniform expose budgetary limitations previously hidden by less-detailed transfers.
With that said, the show's style does at times limit the amount of detail visible. Every single close-up of an actress, for example, was photographed in soft focus. The difference in focus between the male and female actors may not have stood out as much in Standard Definition, but here is almost comically apparent. In addition to its fresh telecine transfer, the show has had much of the dirt and age-related defects from the source elements digitally erased. Not everything was cleaned up, though, and there are quite a few surprising instances of visible dirt and damage. Still, it's much cleaner than we've ever seen it before.
'The Original Series' is famous for its garish costumes and sets, and the purity and almost surreal vibrancy of colors in the new transfer far exceed that of the prior DVD releases. The yellowish tinge of Leonard Nimoy's makeup in the early episodes is much more obvious here than it's ever been before (the thinking at the time was that Spock's green blood would leave his skin with a jaundiced look, an effect that was toned down as the series progressed). Contrast has also been digitally tweaked to enhance black levels and depth, effectively highlighting the show's expressive lighting schemes but also sometimes leading to crushed shadow detail.
On the downside, the show's photography is frequently grainy, sometimes quite a bit so, and the grain is not always adequately digitized or compressed. It appears that noise reduction has also been employed to tame the worst of it, a process that softens detail at times and can cause its own artifacts. Viewers with keen eyes will notice posterization and pixelation problems in a number of episodes, notably on the doors behind Kirk and Spock in 'The Naked Time' around the 40 minute mark. A first instinct may be to blame the AVC compression, however the same artifact is present (though less visible due to the lower resolution) at the same spot on the DVD side of the disc. Whatever the cause of this problem (likely aggressive noise reduction or digital recoloring), is part of the master, not something specific to the HD DVD encoding. For what it's worth, the same scene in the pre-Remastered 2004 DVD set does not show any pixelation.
Nitpicks aside, 'Star Trek' has never looked this good before. It's not perfect, and some episodes look decidedly better than others, but overall the High-Def transfer certainly brings a whole new life to the series.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
The show's soundtrack is offered in either Dolby Digital Plus 2.0 or lossless Dolby TrueHD 5.1 formats. The TrueHD track is set for a much lower volume by default, and will require significant amplification. If listening through TV or computer speakers in a basic stereo configuration, the 2.0 DD+ track may be better suited. In a proper surround sound listening environment, the TrueHD track has clear advantages.
As with the updated visual effects, the purist in me takes issue with the show's original monaural soundtrack being remixed to stereo or surround. Fortunately, those qualms were put to rest as soon as I heard the results. The mixers have been very careful not to lose the flavor of the original sound. Each episode remains primarily anchored in the front soundstage, with few gimmicky or inappropriate surround effects as have plagued some other 5.1 remixes of previously mono tracks.
The show's theme has been freshly recorded from a new orchestration and sounds wonderful. The Enterprise now whooshes from the front speakers to the back during the opening credits, and in many episodes there may be one or two instances of obvious movement in the rear channels, but generally speaking dialogue and most sound effects remain in the center channel, with the musical score spread out to a mild stereo dimensionality. The audio is clean and clear, if not particularly aggressive in envelopment or dynamic with bass. This may not be an auditory powerhouse like modern feature films, but the soundtrack is appropriate and respectful of the original material. Even so, I find it inexcusable that Paramount didn't find room to include the original mono tracks at least as a supplement.
The Supplements: Digging Into the Good Stuff
The box set contains a mixture of bonus features, some new and some recycled from the 2004 DVD release of the pre-Remastered first season. We'll start with the content carried over from the DVDs, all of which is located on the Side B (the standard DVD side) of each disc.
The Birth of a Timeless Legacy (24 min., SD) – A look at the origins and development of the series, from its two pilot episodes to its many budgetary and production problems. Shatner, Nimoy, and other cast members are interviewed (separately), along with vintage clips of Gene Roddenberry.
Reflections on Spock (12 min., SD) – Leonard Nimoy reminisces about his famous character, and the controversy that surrounded his "I Am Not Spock" memoir.
Life Beyond Trek: William Shatner (11 min., SD) – Recorded in 2003 (prior to his current stint on 'Boston Legal'), this interview finds Shatner discussing his passion for raising horses. There's not much relevant to 'Star Trek', or particularly interesting for that matter, in this piece.
To Boldly Go… Season 1 (19 min., SD) – Nimoy, Shatner, other cast members, guest stars, and show producers look back on key episodes of the first season, including 'The Naked Time', 'Arena', and 'Space Seed'. Production difficulties are once again covered, as well as the actors' approaches to their characters.
Sci Fi Visionaries (17 min., SD) – A tribute to the quality of the show's writing, and the potency of its science fiction concepts.
Preview Trailers (times vary, all SD) – On the DVD side of every disc, each episode contains its original TV trailer. The footage is generally in very poor condition.
HD Bonus Content: Any Exclusive Goodies in There?
New to the HD DVD are the following:
Starfleet Access – Functioning nearly identically to the U-Control features on selected Universal discs, Starfleet Access is an interactive Picture-in-Picture (or more accurately Picture-outside-Picture) functionality that accompanies episodes 'Where No Man Has Gone Before', 'The Menagerie Part I', 'The Menagerie Part II', 'Balance of Terror', 'The Galileo Seven', 'Space Seed', and 'Errand of Mercy'. Various icons will appear in the black pillarbox bar to the right of the series picture, broken down into categories such as Genesis, Federation Files, Environments, Technology, and Life Forms. When selected, the show will shrink down into a smaller box and shift to the left of the screen, while interviews, VFX comparisons, and trivia are displayed on the right. As with U-Control, the amount of manual interaction required by the viewer becomes quickly frustrating, especially when content from multiple categories overlap at the same time. The Genesis category contains the most useful information, consisting of interview footage from the cast, producers, writers, visual effects artists, and 'Star Trek' experts Michael and Denise Okuda. The stream of material on the first episode 'Where No Man Has Gone Before' is nearly constant, but unfortunately appears more sporadically in the following episodes. Despite some hiccups, this is for the most part an interesting and welcome feature.
Spacelift: Transporting Trek into the 21st Century (20 min., SD) – An overview of the Remastering process, from telecine transfer to digital cleanup, coloring, re-recording of the theme song (clips from this circulated on YouTube earlier this year), and of course the new visual effects. Altogether pretty fascinating.
Billy Blackburn's Treasure Chest: Rare Home Movies and Special Memories (14 min., SD) – Supporting actor Blackburn is seen in a great many 'Trek' episodes as the dialogue-less ship navigator Lt. Hadley, as well as numerous other non-speaking roles including crew members, Red Shirts, crowd extras, and costumed aliens (he was the Gorn!). In this interview, the actor shares his remembrances of the production and his 8mm home movies shot on the set.
Kiss 'N Tell: Romance in the 23rd Century (17 min., SD) * – An amusing look at the progression of Capt. Kirk's overactive love life. Shatner jokes around about the hardship of kissing so many beautiful women. Romance storylines for Spock, McCoy, Sulu, Chekov, Scotty, and Uhura are also highlighted.
Trekker Connections (4 min., SD) * – A pointless trivia game in the vein of "6 Degrees of…" The feature isn't even interactive. Lame.
Star Trek Online Game Preview (3 min., SD) – Equally lame, an extended commercial for the multi-player online role-playing game.
Interactive Enterprise Inspection – Somewhat better, this visual tour of the Starship Enterprise's exterior allows the viewer to select which parts of the ship to visit, presented with or without an audio "data track" explaining the purpose and function of each section. The computer graphics are nicely rendered in High Definition, though there isn't really a whole lot of information here that Trekkers won't already find familiar.
Star Trek: Beyond the Final Frontier (90 min, SD) – This History Channel documentary was originally aired in conjunction with a massive 'Star Trek' memorabilia auction. The piece affords many associated with the franchise an opportunity to reflect on 40 years of 'Trek', though for some reason absolutely no one seems to remember the animated series from the '70s. We also get a close look at many terrific props and models used in the various series and movies. This is an enjoyable feature, but it should be mentioned that it focuses more on the 'Next Generation' years than it does 'The Original Series'.
* Note that technically the "Kiss 'N Tell" and "Trekker Connections" featurettes first appeared on a promotional bonus disc included with purchase of the 2004 'Star Trek' Complete First Season DVD set at Best Buy Stores.
The Cutting Room Floor: What Didn't Make the HD DVD?
Not carried over from the 2004 DVD set are the pop-up trivia text commentaries for episodes 'Where No Man Has Gone Before', 'The Conscience of the King', and both parts of 'The Menagerie'. That content has been largely replaced by the new Starfleet Access features, at least as it pertains to 'Where No Man Has Gone Before' and 'The Menagerie'. However, 'The Conscience of the King' has no comparable coverage in this set.
Also missing is a photo gallery and various easter egg clips about the making of certain episodes (if those are hidden here, I didn't have the patience to locate them).
Easter Eggs
No easter eggs reported for 'Star Trek: The Original Series - Season One' yet. Found an egg? Please use our tips form to let us know, and we'll credit you with the find.
Final Thoughts
Almost all of my concerns about the Remastered episodes of 'Star Trek: The Original Series' were put to rest when I finally saw how tastefully the visual effects changes were implemented. There is a world of difference between the loving care taken to restore this classic TV series and the tacky desecration that George Lucas imposed on his 'Star Wars' movies. I went in with skepticism, and came out a believer.
The High Definition transfer has a couple of faults, but is by and large a joy to behold. The supplements sound more impressive in volume than many of them wind up being in content, but the Starfleet Access feature available on seven of the episodes is pretty nifty. With a list price of nearly $200, the HD DVD box set may unfortunately be priced out of the reach of many fans and casual viewers. For those who love 'Star Trek', it's worth the expense.
Samsung: Dual-Format Blu-ray/HD DVD Player Now Shipping
Despite reports to the contrary, Samsung says its BD-UP5000 dual-format high-def disc player is shipping "as we speak," and will hit stores at a price lower than previously announced.
Codemasters Unveils its EGO Engine
Codemasters has taken the wraps off the enhanced middleware being used to power upcoming titles such as Race Driver: Grid and Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising.
The proprietary tech is actually an enhanced version of Codemasters’ Neon engine, which was put to such good effect when developing Colin McRae: Dirt.
Having been in development for over three years at Codemasters' Central Technology unit, the multiplatform engine has been renamed EGO Game Technology Engine to herald its evolution.
EGO’s development formed part of the £40.5m ($84.3m) Codemasters invested in game design and technical development in the 12 month fiscal period to June 30, 2007, and is now being employed to create a new damage and physics systems for Race Driver: Grid, and large-scale environments that will become battlegrounds in Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising.
"We made significant investments in our own cross-platform, multi-genre development solution in anticipation of the next generation console transition,” said Codemasters CEO Rod Cousens. “Now we are in a position to rev mature middleware technology to get the most from today's leading game systems.”
Codemasters Studios’ chief technology officer Bryan Marshall added, "With the EGO Engine we have technology that is specific to our needs and one that doesn't force us to compromise."
Check Out Forza 2's Upcoming Content in Action
We have all been in the dark about the contents of the downloadable content that Turn 10 will be releasing on the world tomorrow. He make things a little clearer (and to get people excited) they have put out a video of the speedy cars and the track that will be included. The new track is Road America and the December Car Pack includes 11 new cars that you can drive on it (along with the other 300+ cars):
- 1971 Pontiac Firebird
- 1981 Renault 5 Turbo
- 1984 Audi Sport Quattro
- 1986 BMW E30
- 1997 Porsche 911 GT1 Street
- 2005 Ferrari FXX
- 2006 Ferrarri 599GTB Fiorano
- 2007 Audi R8
- 2007 Koenigsegg CCGT
- 2007 Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera
New Rainbow Six Vegas 2 Details Emerge
In an article on Rainbow Six Vegas 2, Official Xbox Magaizine revealed some information on the sequel to the hIt Rainbow Six Vegas. Some details announced for the game include:
Single player
- 11 new weapons
- Enhanced enemy AI
- Female character available
- Greater character customization
- Real-time cutscenes
- Part sequel and part prequel
- Improved framerate
Multiplayer
- 11 new maps
- 2 new modes
- "Search" function that makes it easier to get into matches
- Matches can be joined after they have started
The story being both a prequel and a sequel sounds pretty interesting. Maybe we will see 60 frames per second like in COD4 and be able to use the vision camera to add our faces to the single player characters (or at least make the facial mapping better for multiplayer). On the multiplayer side, being able to get into matches easier with the "Search" function and getting in after games have started will make a lot of R6V fans happy. New maps and weapons are always welcome too. Look for the new and improved Rainbow Six Vegas 2 to be released around March 2008.
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