Interactive Technology Network

Sony’s Press Conference: Presented Live!

alexbader — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:19:14 +0000

For the first time ever, we’re having our first live blog. Check it out here.

E3 2009: Day 1 Roundup

alexbader — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:15:38 +0000

Although only Microsoft held their press conference yesterday, there was still plenty to be seen for all of the next-generation consoles, ranging from the phenomenal demo of Red Steel 2, to the announcement of the next Halo game and Microsoft’s new motion sensing camera.

Here are the major points that I noticed yesterday:

The first 10 songs in The Beatles Rock Band are…
Tony Hawk shows off Tony Hawk: Ride
Left 4 Dead 2, Crackdown 2 announced
Modern Warfare 2 DLC details
Microsoft owned Big Park and Epic Games show their goods
Forza 3 arriving this October
Halo: Reach announced, ODST shown, dated, detailed
Twitter, Facebook, last.fm, updated Netflix on the way to Xbox Live
Halo 3: ODST branded Xbox controller first look
Meet the case of Left 4 Dead 2
Alan Wake is indeed alive and arriving spring 2010
Final Fantasy XIII coming to Xbox 360 in spring 2010
Halo 3: ODST is a full-priced game
Ubisoft will reveal Red Steel 2, Avatar
Project Natal, what we know so far
The Old Republic MMO features all voice acting, no text
Electronic Arts media briefing chock full of games
Metal Gear Solid: Rising trailer
Electronic Arts to publish All Points Bulletin
What Tecmo is bringing to the show
No More Heroes 2 to support MotionPlus?
Red Steel 2 Demoed

Nintendo Already Planning Wii Fit Sequel

alexbader — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:09:26 +0000

Nexon Announces Combat Arms Update; New Game Mode

alexbader — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:37:35 +0000

Nexon has recently announced an update for their hit free shooter Combat Arms, along with a new game mode, ‘Fireteam’.

This Fireteam Mode gives the game it’s first Co-Op mode, while previously only giving players the option to play in deathmatch-style matches.

This mode allows a group that included up to 8 players to participate in one Co-Op experience, where all eight players are placed into a hostage rescue situation, while an opposing team of players tries to prevent them.

For quite some time, we’ve awaited the single player experience that has only launched in Korea, so this will have to tie us over for now.

Name Change: ITN

alexbader — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:30:08 +0000

This site, called Hybernation will be changing it’s name to ITN- the Interactive Technology Network.

The site name now actually means something, while Hybernation was simply a word that sounded cool to me.

Expect an official site release, Version 1 of ITN, to release out of it’s beta stage fairly soon, along with a few more staff writers and a new comment system, ran by Intense Debate.

Also coming soon is a new Multimedia page, which will feature our latest images and videos.

Chrome Update More Than Expected

alexbader — Wed, 27 May 2009 14:41:37 +0000

The new chrome update is more than an added fullscreen feature. It’s much, much more.

The new version of Chrome offers several new features, and the ability to load javascript 30-40% faster than it previously could.

But, previously, it was the fastest browser to load javascript, do think of the capabilities it has now.

For some time, my Firefox install was messed up, not allowing me to save cookies, meaning I was signed out of the 30 or so sites that I frequent daily. I got into using chrome more often, and learning the speed that it could load javascript.

It’s phenomenal how Google has revolutionized their browser, even if it doesn’t have the customization that Firefox or Opera has.

The browser now totes an improved autofill feature and a new fullscreen mode.

Sega bringing Big Hits to the Table

alexbader — Wed, 27 May 2009 13:28:09 +0000

Sega intends to make a big splash at this year’s E3, bringing four hyped hits and a few others.

The Conduit, Alpha Protical, Alien VS Predator, and Bayonetta are all going to have their respective booths at this year’s convention, along with a few others that no one really cares about.

The Conduit looks like it will be the biggest hit of the year, that is, if Nintndo doesn’t pull something out of their sleeve before the end of the year. It may revolutionize the Wii, creating a hardcore community on the Wii that no other developer has done before.

The game, set for a July release, sports several features that no other game on the console has been able to pull off: A Multiplayer first person shooter with in game voice chat using WiiSpeak.

Two of the games, Alpha Protocal and Bayonetta are less known, but critics see the glimpses of innovaton in these games and why everyone should be watching for them.

Alien VS Predator, their most known title, is the only licensed title, and it is one to look out for, ecspecially after reading the preview in the 360 magazine.

They have quite a good lineup, as they have four heavy-hitters, and they will pose a threat to other developers at E3. The innovation is amazing, as 3 of their 4 major titles are new IPs.

Retro to announce New Game

alexbader — Mon, 25 May 2009 00:49:18 +0000

According to IGN’s podcast, Retro Studios, the team that made the Metroid Prime Trilogy, is working on a new game.

They released no details, but Retro Studios has so many options for what game they are working on.

It could be a possible sequel to Metroid Prime: Hunters, a multi-player based DS game, or a completely different IP that won’t be published by Nintendo.

Personally, I’ve been looking for a Hunters sequel for some time now, and just imagining what it could be like is amazing. If they made it for the Wii, they’d have less limitations than if it were on the DS, but Ds owners who played it previously may be dissapointed by the different control scheme.

Or it could be “Raven’s Blade”, a game announced and demoed by Retro years ago, but was denied by Nintendo so that Retro Studios could put all of there focus onto the Prime series.

Whatever it turns out to be, let’s hope that Retro makes a strong game like the Prime series that they’ve focused on for so long.

E3 2009 Preview

alexbader — Sun, 24 May 2009 21:20:19 +0000

E3 2009 is going to be one of two scenerios:
1.) It will be a repeat of the last two years, continuing the slump.
2.)It will return to its roots and become the premiere electronics expo that it has been in year’s past.

I’m hoping that it is the second option, and that this great entertainment magnet will successfully return to it’s loose roots. If E3 can pull this off, gamers, ecspecially hardcore gamers, will ultimately have more respect for the Los Angeles cobbenetion, which is in a dry run for nearly 2 years now.

This preview will provide what I’m hoping to see from each major publisher, Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft.

Nintendo: A possible Wii2 announcement? Probably not this year, but if E3 lives on to see another day it could be announced in the ’10 or ’11 shows. But, I think the “Big N” will try to take the show this year after a poor showing in the past year. Ecspecially with recent sales drop that Nintendo has been facing, they will need to pull off something big. They went a little too far in previous years, focusing too much on the casual side at the last E3. I’m hoping to see some announcements for a new Mario or Zelda game, and hopefully a complete new IP on the. Nintendo brand.

Sony: Itll be interesting to see how this ‘PSP 4000′ stuff plays out. For it to be a successful E3 for Sony, the new PSP that is announced will need to have some features that are new and innovated, but not small enough where it completely revolutionizes the platform. Sony needs to be in the same mindset as Nintendo and their DSi, and make the 4000 innovative. Along with this, they will need to announce a price-cut to set it to a reasonable price.

Microsoft: With all sorts of leaks for the 360 recently, it’s sure to be interesting to see what will be officially announced at E3. From the ZuneHD to the leaked information on the motion sensing camera peripheral, I hope to see Microsoft answer some burning questions.

Who knows what else we might be seeing? We’ll just have to cross our fingers and pray that E3 returns to it’s roots.

Terminator Salvation PC Recalled

alexbader — Sun, 24 May 2009 14:30:01 +0000

All Terminator Salvation copies for the PC have been recalled, due to the inability for end users to install the game on their home computer.

The publisher notes that all copies on other platforms, including the PS3 and 360 versions are unaffected by this issue.

All copies in North America have been recalled, and the publisher has stated that there is a plan to replace all defective copies of the game, which is, in fact, all copies distributed.