Major Nelson: No Xbox Live security breach

Major Nelson has issued a statement dismissing recent reports that there has been a collapse in security with Xbox Live and Bungie.net. Nelson says, "Despite some recent reports and speculation, I want to reassure all of our 6 million Xbox Live members that we have looked into the situation and found no evidence of any compromise of the security of the Xbox Live Network or Bungie.net."

Nelson goes on to say that there have been "isolated incidents" where users are trying to gain personal information. Microsoft is offering a PDF on how to protect yourself against identity theft. Seriously though, it's the internets, there are predators out there trying to steal your identity. Don't ever give someone your passwords or personal info.

The ultimate dance pad gets an upgrade

Want the arcade DDR experience at home. You can go the wimpy route and buy a decent metal pad for a couple of hundred dollars. Or you can geek it up and build your own custom DDR pad for a little over 400 smackers and over 16 hours of heavy duty construction time.

We covered the original version of this pad back in June, but the updated version 2.0 comes complete with a sturdier frame of one inch thick steel beams, adjustable spring-loaded sensitivity and an even cooler LED lighting system than before. Hey Jared, how much to get a version for casa de Joystiq?

[Thanks Jason]

Sam & Max Episode 5: Reality 2.0 unveiled

Telltale has graciously satiated our desire for more Sam & Max goodness by revealing some details, a trailer, and screenshots of the upcoming fifth episode, Reality 2.0. The internet is in a state of crisis and its up to the Freelance Police (that would be Sam & Max for the uninitiated) to get to the bottom of the mystery.

Random humor? Quality adventure games? Literal translations of silly internet jargon for the purpose of satiating the gods of corny humor? (Just look at that massive firewall -- burn!) Yep, we're sold. Reality 2.0 will be out for GameTap on March 29 and for everyone else on April 12.

See Also:
Joystiq interviews Sam & Max creator Steve Purcell

Gallery: Sam & Max Episode 5: Reality 2.0

Monster Hunter Portable 2nd off to a quick start in Japan

Famitsu is reporting on the impressive demand for Capcom's PSP RPG Monster Hunter Portable 2nd, which has launched in Japan this morning. Around 140 people were in line outside the West Shinjuku branch of Yodobashi Camera before the store opened, while more than 200 people were at the Ikebukuro branch of Bic Camera. Promotion of Monster Hunter Portable 2nd has had an impact -- the game's TV commercial seems to have aired more frequently here in the past week than that of any other game (this blogger watches too much Japanese telly), and the PSP hardware-plus-game bundle also appears to be selling out in Tokyo. Chances are, this PSP hit will top next week's Japanese sales chart.

[Image credit: Famitsu]

R-Type Delta hits Japanese PlayStation Store

It's that time of month again, as Sony opens its PSone archives to bring a new selection of old games to PS3 users' PSPs. And yes, it is a useful service -- especially for those who can't persuade their PSPs to run the PSone games they already own. Seven PSone titles are re-released today via the Japanese portal of Sony's PlayStation Store, bringing the total number available there to 31, and each release is priced at ¥525 (US$4.33). The seven (of which we'd class only one as "magnificent") are:

• Shanghai Dynasty (Success)
• The Drugmania (Hamster)
• R-Type Delta (Irem)
• Ore no Shikabane o Koete Yuke (SCE)
• Puzzle Mania (Hamster)
• Pet in TV (SCE)
  
• Yaku: Yuujou Dangi (Idea Factory)

Japanese release day highlights: 02.22.07

It's Thursday and we're in Japan, which means we're obligated by law to go shopping for new games -- and what a fine selection we have to choose from. Even if we don't pick up the Best cheapo re-releases of LocoRoco and Bomberman Land 3, there is this lot to consider:

• Sim City DS (where Will Wright is Mr. Maxis; DS)
  
• Fire Emblem: Dawn Goddess (boring ad, fun game; Wii)
  
• Naruto: Gekitou Ninja Taisen EX (from Eighting; Wii)
  
• Monster Hunter Portable 2nd (our tip to be this week's biggest-seller in Japan; PSP)
  
• Metal Slug Complete (an Anthology of the finest platform shooter series; PSP)
  
• Riot Act (you say Crackdown, Japan says Riot Act; Xbox 360)

Ring of Death: An Xbox 360 story -- Part 3

Previously on Ring of Death: The red ring of death visited a colleague's Xbox 360 for the second time. He followed the rules of Xbox replacement under warranty, received the coffin exactly "five business days" later and shipped his Xbox 360 off for repair -- again.

Yesterday, the same Xbox he sent off returned to him exactly 20 days after calling to report the issue and 7 days after shipping the unit. The shell was the same (secretly marked in a few places to be sure), with some new innards that aren't broken.

And so ends this Xbox 360's red ring of death story. Although there is anecdotal evidence regarding a disproportionate amount of problems with the system, emphasized by some nation's consumer advocacy programs, at least we can say the repair process (despite taking 20 days) is relatively painless. Here's hoping the anecdotal evidence doesn't start piling up after the one year warranty expires and people start having to drop $139 (plus box) to have their Xbox 360 repaired.

After the break check out the "Xbox Quality Survey" sent back with the unit.

See also:
Ring of Death: An Xbox 360 story -- Part 1
Ring of Death: An Xbox 360 story -- Part 2

Continue reading Ring of Death: An Xbox 360 story -- Part 3

Today's hottest game video: Hellboy trailer

We plunge GameTrailers for today's video pick, a Hellboy trailer that makes us tentatively look forward to comic franchises again since the Neversoft Ghost Rider game that never was. Of course it's still just a trailer, and a lot can change before the game is released this summer. But Hellboy looks good, with its 3D engine rendering in a style that fits its comic history.

Judge for yourself after the break.

Continue reading Today's hottest game video: Hellboy trailer

Gundam Musou HD promo movie now downloadable

Gundam Musou, thank Koei, looks nothing like Gundam: Crossfire. And the other differences between Musou and last year's ugliest new-gen duckling aren't merely superficial ones -- Koei's game appears to have some depth, more gameplay modes, and... did we mention that it's not butt-ugly? To help you see why this game ranks near the top of Famitsu's readers' most wanted chart, and why Sony has okayed a PS3 hardware bundle, publisher NamcoBandai has just released a promo movie on the Japanese PlayStation Store. Gundam fans and Dynasty Warriors alike should get in there (set up a fake Japanese account for access) and get downloading. "Pronto."

Telltale Games looking to develop for Xbox 360

In this week's installment of our ongoing series, "Is Sam & Max coming to [platform here]?" we examine a job posting for an Xbox 360 programmer that went up last week on Telltale Games' official website. The systems programmer position entails the implementation of Telltale's "core 3D graphics and audio systems on the Xbox 360," as well as the modification and support of existing art and production assets. Furthermore, it's preferred that any applicants have a "love of adventure games."

Now, there's no need to leap to any conclusions here. Indeed, the most desirable conclusion lies at the end of a simple game of hopscotch -- minimal effort is required to reach it. Given their recent success, episodic nature and small file sizes, Telltale's Sam & Max episodes seem like an ideal fit for Xbox Live Arcade. Unfortunately, we live in a world that's far from ideal and with no official announcement, there's no telling what tale Telltale is working on next. We've always been rubbish at the whole waiting and seeing thing.

• Read

Jade is Latina, Asian, Black ... who knows ?

Earlier this week, a story by Jason Ellis traveled around the intertubes listing 11 black video game stars. The list was tragic, highlighting that black leading characters, especially original intellectual properties, are few and far between. However, the topic of most debate had to do with the appearance of Jade, from Beyond Good and Evil, on the list. Jade was black?

It was the immediate thing we wondered about on our staff. Latina, Asian and "just tan," were terms we came up with. The crew over at Wired apparently had a similar issue. Writing up a column on racially ambiguous characters. Chris Kohler says, "The reaction to Ellis' piece would suggest that Michel Ancel and his team got it perfect with Jade. Because only a few people are suggesting that Jade 'looks' black or 'seems' Asian. They say with conviction that she is black, is Asian, is 'clearly' Latina. Everyone is right, and no one is right."

Half-Life is also master of the racially ambiguous. Alyx Vance could be a mix of anything, her look is truly exotic. Then there is always the question of Gordon Freeman. Not the most stereotypically "white" name, you never actually see him, and other than the box art -- we'd never know. Was making Freeman white, or showing him at all, a last minute marketing decision? It's a fun experiment to take Freeman and just change the pigment of his skin, it's amazing how well it works. The main point is when things are ambiguous, we see what we want to see. Personally, we don't care what race Jade is, we just want to see that girl in a sequel!

Factor 5's Lair almost complete, Turrican PS3 possibly next

Speaking with Game Informer, Factor 5 president Julian Eggebrecht opens up about his studio's PlayStation 3 project Lair. Currently estimated to be 80-90% complete, Eggebrecht is confident that the development team will reach the vaguely stated spring deadline, but admits "Sony's not going to ship it the next day."

Next up for Factor 5 is likely a smaller project -- a downloadable game (or two). Eggebrecht supposes it'll be an original "mini franchise," but doesn't rule out the possibility of also porting over some old Turrican titles; not necessarily straight-up ports, but perhaps "something like that but in 3D," teases Eggebrecht.

Also, Eggebrecht reports that Factor 5's break-up with Nintendo has not spoiled the two's friendship. We're no talking Rogue Squadron IV; just the occasional happy hour cocktail. Eggebrecht adds, "When I read all of those things about how you have to buy a 360 and a Wii, that's not true. You have to buy a PS3 and a Wii-that's the perfect combination."

Lego Star Wars producer unlocks secret of gaming success

Gamespot had a chat with Lego Star Wars producer Jonathan Smith and learned nothing about the upcoming Lego titles, except that they are working on more. What Gamespot did learn was something far more precious: How to ultimately design and test games.

One of the more interesting things Smith talks about is that game developers should create games and test them on 8-year-old-boys. Smith says, "They like moving forward in a game. They like funny things happening in a game when they press buttons. They love, more than you can possibly believe, cheats. ... They dislike waiting for anything, and the universal phrase is that if something is too difficult, that doesn't necessarily mean that it's too challenging, it means that they don't understand what they're being asked to do ... the game designer is asking something from them, but they're not asking the kids clearly enough and not giving appropriate feedback to their attempts to overcome the challenge. It's rarely a skill difficulty."

We tip our hat to Mr. Smith. He's absolutely right. The clarity and genius of that statement is incredible. Do the sales of Lego Star Wars prove Smith knows thirty-something-year-old video game players are the same as 8-year-olds? The only real difference being puberty, a driver's license, bank account and the ability not to ask mom if they can get an M rated title -- well, most of them anyway.

NBA Live '07 1000 man achievement chance now! [update 1]

A reminder regarding one of the most obnoxious Xbox 360 achievements ever conceived. For the next hour, if you've got a copy of NBA Live '07, turn that puppy on, it may be the best chance to get the "1,000 People Online" achievement. The achievement is worth 100 points. The event was promoted by Achieve360points.com. It is going on right now, and here's the simplest way to lay it out:

• February 10th at 5:00 to 6:00 pm (Pacific)
• February 10th at 6:00 to 7:00 pm (Mountain)
• February 10th at 7:00 to 8:00 pm (Central)
• February 10th at 8:00 to 9:00 pm (Eastern)
• February 11th at 1:00 to 2:00 am (United Kingdom)
• February 11th at 10:00 to 11:00 am (Japan)

Even after you gain the achievement, stay on. Remember, you got 999 people to thank for your easily gained, but ridiculously conceived, achievement.

[Update 1: Apparently the event was a success. Congrats to those who participated.]

Columbia Pictures acquiring Metal Gear movie rights, Ghost Rider producer onboard

Columbia Pictures, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, is reportedly in negotiations with Konami for the rights to adapt Metal Gear Solid for the cinema; as breifly noted by Sony exec Yair Landau earlier this week at D.I.C.E. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Columbia has assigned Ghost Rider producer Michael De Luca to the project, while MGS creator Hideo Kojima and JEA's Rick Privman will serve as executive producers. Privman is also the executive producer of the upcoming film version of survival horror game Siren.

Sony producers Doug Belgrad (The Grudge 2) and Sam Dickerson will also be involved with the live-action adaptation; and Josh Bratman, who works for De Luca and introduced the project to Sony, will continue to act as a consultant. Plot details and casting prospects remain unknown.

[Thanks, Nitroid]

Emerson student org. looks to make game in semester

Some ambitious students from Emerson College (not pictured) have created the Emerson College Game Developers Association, a group attempting to finish a game within a semester. The brainchild of Jeff Edwards and John Richardson, the group of 25 students, including animators, digital artists, programmers, Web designers and more monkeys at typewriters (writers) than the pair know what to do with, are energized to get the project started. Richardson says, "We had more writers show up than we anticipated. We're going to make more avenues for those people to independently learn about the craft as we move along." Richardson's got the slick industry lingo down already, that is one smooth way to say "downsize."

The group has no budget and is not yet recognized by the overseers at the Student Government Association. The Visual and Media Arts Department did like the idea of the organization and gave them an Xbox 360. No word if they received a developer kit to go with the department's generous gift. The project plans to be incredibly small, but Edwards puts it best, "College is a great time to do that kind of [project], as many film students and writing students have learned, because you don't have to worry about the paychecks so much." For real though, 'cause, like, you know? The real world is, like, totally hard.

[Thanks William]

Activision sues to protect Guitar Hero investment

Activision is protecting the intellectual property of their $100 million Red Octane acquisition with great fury and righteous fervor befitting a corporation. Activision is suing former Guitar Hero series producer, brand manager, hardware member, Red Octane's PR firm, and, for a second time, peripheral manufacturer The Ant Commandos.

Brendan Sinclair over at Gamespot does a good job laying out the very intricate plot of this future courtroom drama -- although it'll probably all be settled out of court, just like the last round of Activision v. The Ant Commandos. The over-simplified version of it is that some of the major people behind Guitar Hero II left Red Octane and began their own company, teaming up with The Ant Commandos. Of course, this means that these people leave with all the intimate knowledge that made Guitar Hero a success, making Activision's $100 million purchase lose some value. Harmonix was the soul, but Red Octane was the brain of Guitar Hero ... and some major functions of the brain just left for another body. Not just any body either, but the direct competitor.

This situation is almost as strange as Marvel waging superhero wars with Cryptic Studios over City of Heroes and then offering the company the chance to create the Marvel MMO. At the moment, everyone involved in the Activision super-terrific-happy-lawyer-overtime-case is keeping their mouth shut.