Super Mario Returns to Nintendo DS
May 20, 2005, 4:04 PM
Nintendo has once again revamped Super Mario Bros., which will be released on the Nintendo DS in the second quarter of this year. The game features all of the classic enemies with new levels and tricks. Gameplay is reminiscent of the original Nintendo with the two button controller. It's clear that Mario will continue to be the staple brand for Nintendo, which also set to release a version of Mario Kart for the DS later this year.
Revealed: Xbox 360 User Interface
May 20, 2005, 1:02 AM
Behind closed doors on Thursday, Microsoft demonstrated to BetaNews the user interface on its Xbox 360. The Dashboard, which can be customized using themes, offers access to four main panels: System, Games, Media and Xbox Live.
Vonage Wi-Fi Phone in Action
May 19, 2005, 11:37 PM
While the company may not be exhibiting at E3 2005, Vonage met with us to give a short hands-on demonstration of its upcoming Wi-Fi phone. The phone uses a form factor similar to a standard cell phone, but connects to 802.11b Wi-Fi networks. Once connected to the Internet, the phone utilizes Vonage's voice over IP infrastructure to make calls. In tests by BetaNews, the phone performed admirably and automatically acquired network access without a hitch.
Vonage's Wi-Fi phone is currently in beta testing and is slated to launch by the end of the year. Pricing will be around $100 USD, and the phone will be sold via Vonage's Web site. The company says it is primarily targeting international travelers and tech-savvy customers with the initial version of the device.
BetaNews Interview: America's Army
May 19, 2005, 5:53 PM
We were able to secure an interview this afternoon with the U.S. Army to ask them a few questions about the real purpose of "America's Army." Is it propaganda? Is it a recruitment tool? Major Bret Wilson was kind enough to sit down with BetaNews for a few minutes to explain the purpose behind the Army's first foray into video games. The interview will be up soon, so stay tuned.
Age of Empires III Makes E3 Debut
May 19, 2005, 5:40 PM
Thursday at E3, BetaNews witnessed a demo of Age of Empires III. In a macro sense, the two most compelling changes are the inclusion Sim-like home cities and a major overhaul of in-game combat that does away with micromanagement by intelligently grouping each military unit with corresponding tactics and behaviors.
The graphics and realism also stand out - one programmer dedicated a year of his time toward perfecting the appearance of water effects. The gameplay pushes the envelope on the genre: buildings react differently to cannon fire if they are built out of wood or stone, no destruction is ever the same and villagers climb trees to escape wild animals. Errand cannonballs even ricochet off of stone walls.
Atari Rethinks First Person Shooter
May 19, 2005, 4:17 PM
One of Atari's new titles dubbed "TimeShift" has taken the old first person shooter style of gameplay and added a new twist. Slated for release later this year on Xbox and PC, TimeShift allows players to manipulate time as a complete fourth dimension. Not only can you slow time as popularized by The Matrix, but also rewind up to 18 seconds of play in order to avoid and overcome obstacles.
That's not to say that the game has a built-in cheat mode, as first suspected, but that the new dimension complements gameplay. For example, a player can slow time in order to walk on water. To accomplish this style of gameplay, TimeShift required a whole new way of thinking in terms of rendering. Thus, the engine has been written from the ground up in order to accurately cache the previous 18 seconds of play.
Xbox 360: Have it Your Way
May 19, 2005, 3:58 PM
The major theme at E3 with the Xbox 360 is personalization. From unique faceplates to Xbox Live personas, Microsoft is pushing customization to attract gamers from all walks of life. The Xbox 360 is designed to deliver a gratifying experience no matter what your interests, company officials told us.
Xbox 360: Games Impressive at 30%
May 19, 2005, 3:50 PM
It would be fair to say that the next generation games for the Xbox 360 will be impressive based on the demonstrations shown this morning. We toured several games, including the new NBA basketball game from EA and Call of Duty 2, both equally stunning in their visual presentation. At the moment, the games are still alpha, running at about 30% of what they will be when the Xbox 360 ships.
Up Close: Xbox 360
May 19, 2005, 3:28 PM
Microsoft was keeping its new Xbox 360 under lock and key at E3, but we did get a peek at the next-generation gaming console during a Thursday morning booth tour. Redmond also promised to give us a hands-on with the Media Center interface later today. Sony, on the other hand, was not so receptive to publicly showing off the PS3.
Sony Enhances EyeToy Vision
May 18, 2005, 7:39 PM
Sony is using E3 to showcase a new line of EyeToy wares, expanding on the original system in which a player can get inside the game. Highlighted at the Expo was the EyeToy: Chat, enabling the PlayStation 2 to be used for video and voice chat, or basic text chat.
Also on display, the EyeToy: Play 2 features dozens of games and capabilities. A demonstration of the Air Guitar game pitted the player against the virtual instrument, scoring points based on hand position and strumming ability.
The Wall of PSP
May 18, 2005, 7:31 PM
For anyone unclear on how important the PlayStation Portable is to Sony's gaming efforts, the company has decorated an entire wall at E3 with the new device. Hundreds of PSPs sporting the latest games are also available for E3 attendees to actually play.
