Section: Gaming News, Consoles, PCs

Retail stores have experimented with different methods to prevent the theft of games in the past. Some stores surround the disc case in a thick plastic prison cell, some have games locked in display cases and others keep the games behind the counter where only employees have access. All these methods have their advantages and disadvantages but none of them are perfect. Starting in the fourth quarter of 2010 retailers may adapt a new system that uses radio frequencies to unlock discs once they are sold.

The Entertainment Merchants Association proposed that retail stores could earn up to $6 billion a year if it switches to this new system. Under this system, disc based media such as games, Blu-ray discs and DVDs will be unplayable until they are scanned at checkout. A specific radio frequency then unlocks the disc and makes it playable from that point on.

In an effort to appease critics that may think this is another case of digital rights management (DRM), the vice president of public affairs for the EMA Sean Bersell spoke to GameSpot and said this is not the case. He says this technology is not meant to stop people from making illegal copies of disc media but rather to prevent theft from stores in general.

The president of the Entertainment Consumers Association, Hal Halpin, also spoke to GameSpot about how videogame publishers may react to this method. He doesn’t see publishers going along with the idea unless the EMA could guarantee the games could not be resold at a later date.

Via [GameSpot] Read [Geek]

Full Story ? | Written by Jeremy Hill for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article ?

Section: Gaming News, Features, Rumors, Game-Companies, Developers, Genres, 3D, Fighting

Midway Games may not be doing so well financially these days but the Mortal Kombat series isn’t going down without a very bloody fight. For the record, Mortal Kombat 9 is currently being developed and the series creator Ed Boon is being quite vocal with the details on his Twitterpage.

What we know is that Mortal Kombat 9 is returning to the form we all remember it as – very, very violent. Boon says MK9 will not have any superheroes and will answer fans’ pleas to have another Mature rated MK game. Currently, the developers are motion capturing fatalities, and Boon is wondering if they are taking it a little too far. However, Boon knows they won’t cross over into an AO (Adults Only) rating.

IGN learned the Twitter account does indeed belong to Ed Boon. We’ll be eyeballing his account just in case he decides to spill any more gory details on this game.

Read [Twitter] Also Read [IGN]

Full Story ? | Written by Jeremy Hill for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article ?

Section: Gaming News, Features, Lists

Haven’t caught all of the Gamertell news this week?? Here’s your chance to catch up on this week’s top 10 articles!

• A few games we want to see remade in HD
  ” Nostalgia can go a long way these days. We would gladly hand over money to play the same game we enjoyed more than ten years ago if we don’t own a physical copy. Some companies have taken it a step…” MORE ?
• Apple App Store gaming update for the week of June 8 – June 14, 2009
  “The Apple App Store gaming update is Gamertell’s weekly look at the previous week’s Apple App Store game releases. We cover them all – good and not so good – in their respective categories with a breakdown of the great games and the free games right where you want ‘em,…” MORE ?
• The search for budget-priced Wii RPGs
  “A common misconception among the gaming population is that the Wii is home to mini-game collections and family friendly shovelware. While there is a substantial amount of sub-par games, there are many quality games as well. Another misconception is that there are no…” MORE ?
• Gamertell Preview: Uncharted 2 multiplayer beta impressions
  ” Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is one the most highly anticipated games for 2009. It came as a bit of a surprise when we learned Uncharted 2 will have online multiplayer modes and couldn’t wait to try it out.? For…” MORE ?
• E3 2009: The 10 best games announced for the Wii
  “E3 2009 is all over now and the games have all been announced. It’s time to look at the best of the best, specifically for the Wii.? There were a ton of games announced at E3 that all look very good, so I limited it…” MORE ?
• E3 2009: Gamepark Holdings “hardly had time to rest”
  “As game companies begin to regain some sense of sanity a week after E3 2009, some are starting to send reactions to the event. Located at Booth 500, Gamepark Holdings Co., Ltd., was demonstrating its latest open…” MORE ?
• Nintendo Downloads for June 15, 2009
  ” It’s another insanely eclectic week on Nintendo’s downloadable game services. WiiWare is boasting a new Sega game,? fighting kitchen appliances and rainbow islands, DSiWare has your ripoff clock and calculator needs covered, and the excellent Arcade version of Space Harrier wraps…” MORE ?
• Gamertell Review: Knights in the Nightmare for DS
  ” Title: Knights in the Nightmare Price: $34.99 System(s): DS Release Date: June 2, 2009 Publisher (Developer): Atlus (Sting Entertainment) ESRB Rating: “Teen” for Alcohol Reference, Tobacco Reference, Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Language…” MORE ?
• Mirror’s Edge 2 is in development
  ” Mirror’s Edge was one of the most unique games we’ve seen this generation. The first-person parkour inspired concept was something we haven’t seen before in games but it wasn’t without it’s flaws. The gun combat, while not an essential part of…” MORE ?
• Gamertell Review: Final Fantasy IV: The After Years – Rydia’s Tale for Wii
  ” Title: Final Fantasy IV: The After Years – Rydia’s Tale Price: 300 points / $3 (note: You need the 800 point / $8 FFIV: The After Years to play. System(s): Wii (WiiWare)…” MORE ?

Full Story ? | Written by NEWS for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article ?

Section: Gaming News, Features, Lists, Consoles, PS3, Gear, Accessories, Clothing, Figures & Toys, Furniture, Gear-Other, Genres, 3D, Online

There’s nothing wrong with being cute and furry in PlayStation Home but after a strange message appeared on the virtual PSP menu June 18, 2009, informing users of a strange virus breaking out, turning everyone into strange creatures.

Hamster Invasions

No one thought that the creature would be avatars wearing the long awaited hamster suit. Along with their availability groups have formed asking players which side they chose to join—humans or hamsters. In fact, there will be a battle this Saturday (June 20, 2009) starting at 8 p.m. PST in Central Plaza for a Dance-off. According to Sony, whichever faction (human or hamster) forms the longest dance line or chains in central plaza will unlock a special reward item for all of Home in a future update. So practice your favorite dance move, where your best outfit or clean your whiskers and be prepared to support your species to the song of “Chain Swing” by Animal House.

Those supporting the hamster race can find the hamster suit at Threads located on the second floor of the mall in Central Plaza.
Hamster suit costume for both male and female avatars:

• Full hamster suit cost $1.99
• Hamster head cost 49 cents.
• Hamster torso cost 49 cents.
• Hamster legs cost 49 cents.
• Hamster hands cost 49 cents.
• Hamster feet cost 49 cents.

Also available at the mall today are free items at Threads:

• 25th Anniversary Ghostbusters T-shirt cost is free.
• Split Second T-shirt cost is free.

New personal spaces available

This week a new apartment and club house are now available at the real estate store located on the first and second floor of the mall. In celebration of the Ghostbusters anniversary the Ghostbusters Firehouse headquarters is available with lots of cool features and a simple clubhouse for players and their friends to meet and party.

Ghostbusters Firehouse:
The Ghostbusters Firehouse space is available for $4.99 and features three full floor space, fire poles avatars can slide down, office areas, bathroom area, kitchen area, bedroom area, a full-sized Ecto-1 vehicle and a controllable slimer that can pass through walls and floors to frighten unsuspecting friends. The space comes with a studio set camera players can use to create their own Ghostbusters machima with. Unfortunately no video editing software or recording program comes with this package. When purchasing this item you also get ornaments and furniture you can use and up to 14 wall spaces for picture frames for those who purchased the picture frames last week.

Items that also come with the personal space include:

• A reel-to-reel style movie camera
• A video recording camera
• A black storage chest
• Blue tape that can be used to mark camera locations in the firehouse for videotaping.
• A blue background screen for use with camera.
• A Ghostbusters Sign
• A plate of half eaten bagels
• A pizza box
• A pizza box with a slice of pizza on cover
• A pizza box with several slices of pizza on cover
• A noodle cup
• A 2 liter bottle of soda
• A plates
• A cup
• A stack of toast
• A firehouse bed
• A coffee maker
• A TV with a green screen
• A TV with no screen on
• A telephone
• A Stay Puft Marshmallow head for your avatar (male or female)

Club House
Also available at the real estate store is a basic club house for $4.99. The club house allows players to hold parties or hang out with friends in privacy without the hassle of random people interrupting your conversations. Its a wide open area you can customize with furniture, features a large video mounted on the wall you can share videos with fellow club members. Once players set up their club house they can start inviting friends to join. Club members can return at any time to read or leave messages on the bulletin boards for other members to arrive. Only those on the member list can enter the clubhouse at any time.

New game space and updates available

SOCOM: Tactical Operations Center
A new space just opened on the world map in Sony Home. SOCOM: Tactical Operations Center just opened featuring videos, strategy maps for the game and more. There’s a military vehicle outside that will offer military uniforms and other items to SOCOM fans soon. Take a glimpse of the newly opened game space:

EA Sports Complex Updates
Electronic Arts has updated their Sony Home Sports Complex to include more race tracks (allowing more players to enjoy the game at once), racing boost shop and leaderboards so players can compare their results with friends or brag about their fastest times around the tracks on the first floor.? More unlockable prizes are now available to those playing Texas Hold’em Poker on the second floor. Still no word as to when the golf pro shop will open in the near future according to Sony’s Home blogs.

The End is Xi

For those of you who have been patiently solving puzzles in Xi:The Hub. The end has finally arrived. As I walked down that long white hall where Jess stood waiting to explain why she created all those puzzles we have been working hard to solve, the other players on foreign servers we had to work with to find the answers and adventures we’ve embarked on – it all lead up to this one fine moment – the answers to what Xi was all about.

I’m not going to ruin the game for those still trying to gather their fragments and butterflies. But the rewards I’ve earned for completing the game were awesome as I stepped into the Alumni Hub with others to unlock three trophies for my apartment and followed the trail of a butterfly for an alumni T-shirt signifying the completion of the game. Then sighed as I can no longer enter the regular hub to help others but I can still play the hexopolis mini games found in alpha zone 1 for old times sake. I must say I can’t wait for a sequel if they ever create one. The game was annoying at times but very entertaining.

If you haven’t played Xi: The Hub yet, teleport into Xi: The Hub from central plaza find those three pieces of the invitation and embark on your own journey to find the meaning of Xi.

Read [Playstation Blog] Read [Dance-off announcement] Site [PlayStation]

Full Story ? | Written by Lucy Newman for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article ?