You are currently viewing archives for March 2009
What's a Wii-mulator? I'll TELL you what the Wii-mulator is! It's called Dolphin (hmmm) and it is an emulator for the PC that can allow Wii games to display in high-definition 720p resolution (provided you have a powerful enough computer to use it). The Wii, of course, naturally displays on U.S. TV sets in the ol' fashioned 480i standard resolution (that's been around forever) or in the crisper 480p resolution through progressive scan. But now the —ahem— graphics "ladies of the night" can wonder what may have been or may be to come through the Dolphin emulator. Why not the Revolution emulator? Is the use of the Gamecube code name some sort of backhanded compliment towards the platform?
Anyway, now that you've seen Super Smash Bros. Brawl HD style, here's another clip from YouTube user 'renebarahona' showing WiiWare game Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King through the magic of the Dolphin. Oh, click HD button on the clips to really feel the high resolutions.
GoNintendo.com Go!
When Wii came out with the new control phenomenon known as the Wiimote, it created a divide in the gaming community on the usefulness of the new style. Over 25 years ago, Nintendo introduced what we now call the traditional way of playing: control plank resting in palms comfortably supported by fingers played primarily with the thumbs. All controllers since have been built upon this paradigm model (I hate the word 'paradigm') & its evolutions (shoulder triggers, analog stick) before Wii came out in late 2006.
Who is BAFTA? Why, that's the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and they awarded Super Mario Galaxy the title of "Best Game" for this edition of the annual BAFTA Awards. The award for the Nintendo Wii masterpiece given out with many many others on March 10th beat out serious contenders Rock Band, Fable II, Fallout 3, Grand Theft Auto IV, and even Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (they got revenge in a few other selections) for the prize picks covering the year 2008. Powerful feat considering the game was released to the world November 1, 2007 (Nov. 12th for us in North America).
There were numerous awards covering categories like Original Score, Artistic Achievement, Technical Achievement, and Gameplay. Two categories of special interest are the BAFTA Ones To Watch Award which spotlights new emerging talent from art/science students and graduates through Dare to Be Digital, a game development competition. And then there's the voted by popular consent GAME Award of 2008 sponsored by the GAME Group, Europe's leading specialist retailer of PC and video game products. Oh, and did I forget to mention Atari founder and videogame industry father Nolan Bushnell becoming a Fellow in the British Academy of Film and Television Arts?
Check out the other videogame winners of the BAFTA Awards next...
Whoa. This recession/depression is really serious. The Sony Corporation as they prepare for a record fiscal loss drastically restructures their management as well as their business sectors for their soon-to-arrive new fiscal year. Starting April 1st of this year, Welsh-born Sony Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sir Howard Stringer also takes over as President of the company replacing Dr. Ryoji Chubachi who will now command the role of Vice Chairman of Sony Corp. overseeing product safety and quality as well as Sony's environmental policies. Dr. Chubachi will stay on as a member of Sony's Board of Directors and keep the role of Representative Corporate Executive Officer in order to assist Sir Stringer where needed. Sir Stringer commands the overall strategic direction of the company as he directly oversees their electronics division, the root of the entire corporation and its largest business sector.
Also on the same date, Sony will combine Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. (its videogame or "PlayStation" division) with their VAIO computer and Walkman music player brands (along with various to-be-produced mobile devices and Sony Media & Software Services) into the new entity known as the Networked Products & Services Group. This new combination will be led by Kazuo Hirai, Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer of Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc., who while maintaining his current position will also become Executive Vice President of the overall Sony Corp. as well as President of this newly-established group come April 1st.
There's a lot more info to follow. Keep readin'...