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[Pokemon's Pikachu takes center stage with his very own special edition SP.]

401

TalkBack / New GBA SP On The Way For Japan

« on: February 07, 2005, 02:53:31 PM »

Pokemon's Pikachu takes center stage with his very own special edition SP.

Despite being one of the key mascots for Nintendo's Game Boy, Pikachu has never been awarded with true immortalization that can only be achieved with a stylish handheld design. Well, those days are over.  

Starting this March in Japanese Pokemon Centres, the critter will have his own Game Boy SP model. Unfortunately, no plans of an American release have been announced.

[Turns out the former release date isn't going to be held up. We're getting it earlier!]

402

TalkBack / Another Deception by Midway!

« on: February 04, 2005, 11:29:35 AM »

Turns out the former release date isn't going to be held up. We're getting it earlier!

Today Midway had a pleasant surprise for GameCube owners with the announcement that their latest iteration of Mortal Kombat would hit Nintendo's console on February 28th.  The game was originally scheduled for a March release.  

In place of the online play present in Playstation 2 and Xbox copies of Mortal Kombat: Deception, Midway has included two exclusive characters, Shao Kahn and Goro.  Deception was recently honored with the award for "Fighting Game of the Year" by the AIAS.

[The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences has chosen its winners.]

403

TalkBack / AIAS Award Winners

« on: February 02, 2005, 04:52:42 AM »

The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences has chosen its winners.

Winners are highlighted in bold.

Game of the Year Awards

Game of the Year
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
 Half-Life 2
Halo 2
 Katamari Damacy
 World of Warcraft

Console Game of the Year
Burnout 3
 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
 Halo 2
 Katamari Damacy
 Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal

Innovation Awards

Innovation in Console Gaming
Fable
 Halo 2
Donkey Konga
 EyeToy: AntiGrav
 Katamari Damacy

Craft Awards

Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction
Doom 3
 Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
 Prince of Persia: Warrior Within
 Sly Cooper 2
 Half-Life 2

Outstanding Achievement in Animation
Prince of Persia: Warrior Within
 Sly Cooper 2
 Jak 3
 Rachet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
Half-Life 2

Outstanding Character Performance--Male
Robert Guillaume, Half-Life 2
The Bard's Tale
 Metal Gear Solid 3
Demon Stone
The Chronicles of Riddick  

Outstanding Character Performance--Female
Demon Stone
 Judi Dench, GoldenEye: Rogue Agent
Zoo Tycoon 2
 

Outstanding Achievement in Soundtrack
Need For Speed Underground 2
 Tony Hawk's Underground 2
 Donkey Konga
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Outstanding Achievement in Original Musical Composition
Rome: Total War
NBA Ballers
Katamari Damacy
 Killzone
 Fable  

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design
Rome: Total War
Halo 2
Doom 3
Rachet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
 Sly Cooper 2  

Outstanding Achievement in Gameplay Engineering
Donkey Konga
 Spider-Man 2
EyeToy: AntiGrav
 Half-Life 2
Fable

Outstanding Achievement in Online Gameplay
Halo 2
Rome: Total War
 Unreal Tournament 2004
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War  

Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering
Doom 3
 Metroid Prime: Echoes
 Demon Stone
Rachet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
Half-Life 2

Outstanding Achievement in Game Design
Fable
 City of Heroes
Katamari Damacy
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
 Half-Life 2  

Outstanding Achievement in Character or Story Development
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
 Half-Life 2
 Demon Stone
Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy
 Fable

Genre Awards

Console

Platform Action/Adventure Game of the Year
Prince of Persia: Warrior Within
Rachet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
 Jak 3

Action/Adventure Game of the Year
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Pikmin 2
Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy
 Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow
 Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater  

Action Sports Game of the Year
NFL Street 2
 Tony Hawk's Underground 2
 NBA Ballers
Mario Power Tennis

First-Person Action Game of the Year
Halo 2
GoldenEye: Rogue Agent
 Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
The Chronicles of Riddick  

Children's Title of the Year
Shrek 2
 Backyard Baseball 2005
 Mario Party 6
Pokemon Colosseum
Sly Cooper 2  

Console Family Game of the Year
Donkey Konga
Eye Toy: Anti-Grav
Karaoke Revolution Volume 3
Wario Ware Inc.

Fighting Game of the Year
Def Jam: Fight for NY
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3
Mortal Kombat: Deception

Racing Game of the Year
Burnout 3
Rallisport Challenge 2

Role-Playing Game of the Year
X-Men Legends
The Bard's Tale
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles
 Tales of Symphonia  

Sports Simulation Game of the Year
Madden NFL 2005
ESPN NHL 2K5
ESPN NFL 2K5
Winning Eleven 7  

Wireless & Handheld

Wireless Game of the Year
Pokemon FireRed/LeafGreen
Super Mario 64 DS

Handheld Game of the Year
Metroid: Zero Mission
Super Mario 64 DS
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories

[The folks at EA Sports make their predictions on the outcome of the Super Bowl through AI-controlled simulation.]

404

TalkBack / Finally, a straight-forward Madden call!

« on: February 01, 2005, 07:16:54 AM »

The folks at EA Sports make their predictions on the outcome of the Super Bowl through AI-controlled simulation.

Every year, Electronic Arts runs a Super Bowl simulation with their most recent edition of Madden NFL running both teams under its A.I. routines.  This year, the simulation predicted the New England Patriots to come out on top, 26-21.  Here's a rundown of what happened during the simulation:

The game starts on intensely, as both teams' defense comes out to show their skills. The Pats score however, once a pass is made from Tom Brady to Troy Brown. The defense bunkers down for the remainder of the quarter.

The second quarter starts out much like the first, as the defense is really being tested. The Eagles soon show why they've made it so far, though, when Donovan McNabb throws a touchdown pass to Terrell Owens. Not willing to let the quarter end in a tie, the Patriots kick a field goal. The score is now 10-7.

The Patriots score early after halftime with a 30 yard pass and scamper from Brady to Deion Branch . Not willing to lose face, the Eagles counter with Brian Westbrook carrying the load with a long run down the middle. The end-quarter score is now 17-14.

In what seems to be a pattern in this game, the Patriots score first again, this time with a field goal, giving them a 6-point lead. The lead wouldn't last, though, with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Freddie Mitchell. The score is now 21-20 in favor of the Eagles. Knowing that they had better act quickly, the Patriots have Corey Dillon run them down the field. They go for a two-point conversion, but are ultimately stopped by the Eagles. Unfortunately for them, though, it makes no difference. The game is over and the score is 26-21. The Patriots have won.

Will this prediction come true? We'll have to just wait and see.

[Juggernaut developer/publisher Midway increases their hold over the market in Europe.]

405

TalkBack / Midway Expands Into Germany

« on: February 01, 2005, 05:57:53 AM »

Juggernaut developer/publisher Midway increases their hold over the market in Europe.

MIDWAY EXPANDS INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS INTO GERMANY

Industry Veteran Uwe Fuerstenberg to Head New Office

CHICAGO – February 1, 2005 – Midway Games Inc. (NYSE: MWY), a leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software, today announced that it has expanded its international operations with the formation of a new subsidiary, Midway Games GmbH, and the opening of a new office in Munich, Germany. Midway Games GmbH is responsible for all of Midway's sales, marketing and distribution in Germany. Midway's new office will be headed up by industry veteran, Uwe Fuerstenberg.

"Growth in the European territories is a major initiative for Midway," said David F. Zucker, president and chief executive officer of Midway. "This expansion into Germany will allow Midway to continue its strategy of becoming one of the industry's top publishers."

"Germany is a key European territory for Midway, and one we're keen to improve our market share within," said Tony Adams, managing director for Midway Games Ltd. in London, UK. "We consider ourselves very fortunate to have a seasoned industry veteran like Uwe Fuerstenberg running this new operation, and look forward to his future contribution."

"This is a very exciting time for the new team here in Germany," said Uwe Fuerstenberg, general manager, Midway Games GmbH. "We look forward to Midway Games GmbH being a huge success in 2005 and beyond. The strength of Midway's current line-up, coupled with the addition of PC self-publishing makes this the optimum time to expand into the German marketplace."

The first new product release from Midway Games GmbH in its territory will be the award-winning Shadow Hearts: Covenant, scheduled to launch March 11 exclusively for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. Other new releases for Midway Games GmbH in the first of half of 2005 include Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict for the Xbox® videogame system from Microsoft, NARC (PS2, Xbox), and the highly anticipated Area 51 (PS2, Xbox).