"Ah, fanboys. What industry can truly call itself an industry without them? Those who prove themselves obsessively loyal to any product or corporation can be found among many communities, and nowhere do they flourish more freely than within gamer culture.

Although it may sound ridiculous to normal people, swearing undying allegiance to a heartless box of electrical components is a perfectly rational act in the mind of the fanboy, even though if he defended something like a particular brand ..."

This would not quite be a surprise to most people, but never the less, EA has announced the next Harry Potter game to coincide with the next movie's release. Designed by EA Bright Light Studios, they claim this game to be giving the most authentic experience of all Harry Potter games.
Now I'm a very big Harry Potter fan, but if I was a fan of the games, I sure am not now. The reason? The Goblet of Fire game was quite not upto the standard. Let's see if this can be much better, shall we?
One...

In a Business Week poll regarding the world's most innovative companies, readers voted Microsoft #5, Nintendo #7, and Sony #9; this is the first time all three have made it into the top 10.

Some interesting mentions: Apple and Google claimed the top two spots, Wal-Mart hit #23, Facebook #25, McDonald's #30, Starbucks #32, and News Corp. (Myspace, Fox, etc.) #43.

"The top-selling video game of all time has just surpassed another milestone, as EA announced that The Sims, which has been released in more than 20 different languages, has now sold 100 million copies the world over since it sprang from the mind of super-developer Will Wright in 2000. The first game's expansion-laden release was followed by The Sims 2 in the fall of 2004, while the recently announced The Sims 3 will drop sometime in 2009, for the first time letting sims venture beyond their f..."

More in particular, SarcasticGamer has called for a boycott of Battlefield: Bad Company. Of course most gamers online would question whether such a boycott had a chance of going anywhere. However, according to SarcasticGamer's statistics, it very well may be. The boycott is already gaining widespread attention. In spite of the odds, the anti-EA crowd is willing to do anything to somehow hit EA games where it hurts.

What this boycott is about? - EA allegedly making another attempt to swindl...

"In addition to dropping hints about new platforms, Gibeau also hinted that Spore might not be entirely free of charge. He told analysts that the online mode of the game could be an "opportunity" for an "expanded digital revenue stream." He did not elaborate if said stream entailed microtransactions, in-game advertising, subscription fees, or any combination of the three."

"On March 31, 1998, Blizzard Entertainment released StarCraft, a revolutionary real-time strategy game pitting three powerful and distinctive races against each other in a war-torn galaxy. In StarCraft, the resourceful terrans, mysterious protoss, and relentless zerg find themselves in a confluence of events that has only one possible outcome: an epic war for conquest and survival."

"It seems to me like Gibson is just trying to make some easy money off of an established franchise."

"While the bulk of the patent details the downloading and syncing of games between iTunes and iPhones/iPods, Apple proposes extending this functionality even further. Apple describes a method for transmitting iPhone/iPod high scores and other achievements to a central community game server.

By compiling high score data, players can compete amongst each other for prizes. All data can be digitally signed so that scores are authenticated."

"Gameloft is already responsible for a few Apple iPod games such as Block Breaker Deluxe and Brain Challenge. Wikipedia lists a number of games developed by Gameloft, including mobile versions of Prince of Persia, Rayman, Might and Magic and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six."

iPod Hacks takes a look at the iPhone's specifications and examines exactly why Apple's foray into the portable gaming market may very well create a capable new rival for both Sony and Nintendo. The full comparison can be found at the source link below. It's important to note that the device specifications listed also apply to the iPod touch.

For footage of the iPhone hardware in action, be sure to check out the following GameGrep articles:

• iPhone: "Touch Fighter" technology demonstration...

Blizzard have release a new video of the Zergs in action for Starcraft 2. Many unit types have been shown, the graphics are crisp, and the people of Korea have yet to internally combust. Can't wait. Hit the jump to see the new video in it's full glory.

The gaming capabilities of the iPhone were yesterday touted with a technology demonstration of the iPhone Software Development Kit under the moniker of "Touch Fighter".



Apple also showed off gameplay footage for iPhone versions of Spore and Super Monkey Ball.

SEGA and Apple yesterday illustrated the potential of the iPhone platform with a live demonstration of Super Monkey Ball. The early gameplay footage was shown during the Apple iPhone Roadmap Event in Cupertino, California.



Super Monkey Ball is expected to be arriving on the iPhone later this year via the iPhone App Store. Pricing details are currently unavailable.

Following the announcement of a Macintosh release of Spore, EA and Apple have unveiled Spore for the iPhone platform. A short demonstration of what the final product could look like was shown at yesterday's iPhone Software Roadmap Event in Cupertino, California.



Spore is set to be released this September via the iPhone App Store. Pricing details have yet to be revealed.

Pirates of the Caribbean Online is a MMORPG that has received some major updates concerning the actual game content. More hairstyle options, tattoo, and accessory options have been added as well, further enhancing the game content. Lastly, emotes have been added in a way for players to communicate to one another by laughing, shaking head, stomping, etc. In addition, the monthly payments are still $9.95 for those of you who are concerned.

"We, the fans of Take Two Interactive Software, Inc. (T2) games, object to the idea of Electronics Arts (EA) purchasing T2. For the sake of diversity and variety of choices in the video game industry, we would like the two companies to remain separate. Each of the companies make games that are unique to their respective ways. The fans view the purchase of T2 shares by EA, as jeopardizing to the games made by T2, and would not remain loyal if EA acquired any T2 shares. By signing this petition ..."

SPORE, the epic cell to empire civilization building game will be arriving in stores the weekend of September 7th. SPORE starts off with the player creating a single-celled organism and eventually that will evolve into a full creature whose race's end-game is the colonization of the galaxy.

"Apple has long been linked with a possible, and indeed probable, move into the mobile games space – and news of some new games-specific trademarks filed by the firm indicate that the company may be on the brink of announcing something.

Trademork.com reports that Apple recently filed to protect its logo and trademarks in relation to “hand-held units for playing electronic games; hand-held units for playing video games; stand alone video game machines; electronic games other than those adapt..."

"Official Release:
At the Macworld Expo today, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced that SPORE™ will be available for the Mac later this year. From Will Wright, creator of the mega-hit The Sims™ comes Spore, the only game that allows creative personalities to explore the depths of their own personal galaxy. A sneak peek of the game will be on display at the Macworld Expo in San Francisco, CA throughout this week. A PC version of the game will also be released later this year.

“We ..."

"Activision and Wavegroup Sound, the publisher and sound recorder for the massive hit game Guitar Hero, have been sued by The Romantics for a cover recording of the band's song.

The 1980s-era Detroit-based rock band claims the cover for "What I like About You" bears too much similarity to the original.

While the in-game usage was obtained by permission, the rock group has successfully sued over the song's use in television commercials in the past.

Band singer Wally Palmer pronounced h..."

The 5th annual Video Game Awards on Spike TV are almost here. And Kotaku has a list of all the nominees. The award show will be aired on Decembe 9th at pm on Spike TV.
Game of the year nominees are:
BioShock
Halo 3
Mass Effect
The Orange Box

Best PS3 Game
Heavenly Sword
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
Warhawk

Best Wii Game
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Super Mario Galaxy
Super Paper Mario

Best ...

For any one who has been following this format war, would know that Blu-Ray is winning in sales and has a lot of great movie companies behind its back. But Today, news came from Universal Studios that they are not planning on supporting Blu-Ray any time soon. They Say that they want to be able to market all the great things HD DVD can offer. He then went on to say this about PS3 owners

quote

70% of gamers don’t even know that their console has a DVD playback option.
the PS3 simply hasn’t be...

"Some players give themselves the ability to magically see and shoot through walls. Others find a way to fly, making them nearly impossible to defeat.

Cheating like this in video games has a long and even respected tradition. Games have often slyly included ways -- intentionally or not -- for sophisticated players to hack into the software and then skip levels or take on supernatural powers.

But these days, the subject is getting a more serious look. Unlike older games, today's are netwo..."

"To be honest, some of the bands in the extras section are foreign to me beyond Dragonforce and Lacuna Coil. But the set list is solid top to bottom and I like the way the difficulty looks to escalate all the way to the top where we get probably the hardest song of the bunch in Metallica's "One" Hit the jump to see the full listing."