Apple Game Center names

Blizzard attempted to implement a new policy requiring real-world names on its Battle.net forums earlier this year, but some fierce user feedback quickly convinced them to reverse their decision and legalize anonymity once again. I don't think anyone will confuse the type of community Battle.net has with the interactions that go on using Apple's Game Center, and it doesn't look like any broad stokes of identification enforcement have taken place yet, but Apple has updated its user agreement for their service to clarify their stance on fake names.

Read More...

Tags

Ministry of Silly Games

The British comedy legends from Monty Python have decided to bring their characters and concepts back to the world of games, and the newly-anointed Python license-holders at Zattikka have chosen Facebook as their platform. "The Ministry of Silly Games" uses terminology silly walk fans will immediately understand, and Zattikka hopes that a sufficient number of them will like the upcoming release's premise enough to sign up for a beta test on MinistryofSillyGames.com.

Read More...

Tags , , ,

Grammy Civilization 4

No matter how much stock you still put in Grammy nominations, the 2010 list of nominations does contain a milestone for gaming. Although Sid Meier's Civilization series is still pressing ahead in "Civilization 5" for PC and Mac and the Facebook-based "Civilization Network", "Civilization 4" is back in the spotlight as well, thanks to composer Christopher Tin, the Soweto Gospel Choir and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and their recording of the "Civ 4" theme "Baba Yetu," which has been nominated in the category of "Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists."

Read More...

Tags , , , ,

Evil Ryu and Oni Akuma

Yun and Yang appear to be getting some more company the "Super Street Fighter 4" arcade machine, if not the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 editions of the game as well. Evil Ryu, as well as a powered-up version of Akuma — now popularly referred to as "Oni Akuma" — showed up in some purportedly leaked 360 achievement updates at the end of November, and a new, very official trailer now features them both on-screen.

Read More...

Tags , , ,

Words with Friends

The Assasin's Creed franchise wasn't exactly floundering prior to the release of "Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" this year, but a reported 20 million units sold has put some new wind into Ubisoft's sails. They've already announced that Ubisoft Montreal will tackle the next Assassin's Creed sequel for 2011, and now it looks like they may be thinking even farther into the future — maybe even into 2020.

Read More...

Tags , ,

Words with Friends

Zynga has been working to expand their "FarmVille"/"FrontierVille"/"CityVille" stable recently, but they're reaching into other companies for future titles as well. In fact, they flat out acquired NewToy, Inc., the Texas-based studio behind "Words with Friends" and "Chess with Friends," and they've already renamed the facility "Zynga with Friends."

Read More...

Tags , , , ,

EA Sports MMA 2

EA made an enemy or two at UFC last year when they decided to enter the mixed martial arts fighting game arena with "EA Sports MMA." The new game might not have scored the the kind of knockout sales results that its makers wanted, but that doesn't they aren't willing to go another round with their THQ-partnered competition. In fact, the word out of EA Sports now is that "MMA 2" is a sure thing.

Read More...

Tags , , , ,

Thor Chris Hemsworth

Movie theaters just weren't enough for Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston in their Asgardian attire for 2011. Sega's epic settings for their spring game "Thor: God of Thunder" now have some faces to act out their story, and both actors have been chosen to reprise their roles from next year's Marvel Studios "Thor" film.

Read More...

Tags , , , , ,

Xbox 360 modding trial

Matthew Crippen is currently the defendant in a case where he stands accused of hacking Xbox 360's and violating the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, but the prosecution were the ones on the receiving end of a scolding from U.S. District Judge Philip Gutierrez on Wednesday. Opening statements in the trial were delayed immediately thereafter, with Crippen now able to proceed using a "fair use" defense that had previously been prohibited in the trial.

Read More...

Tags , ,

Ghostbusters Sanctum of Slime

The same wads of cash that went into publishing and voice casting costs for "Ghostbusters: The Video Game" don't look like they'll be around for Atari's "Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime," but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The top-down adventure game will be released digitally, and the actors who inducted the first generation of GB fans — Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson — aren't signed on to be involved, but Wanako Studios of "Assault Heroes" fame is developing, and a lesser known Ecto vehicle has been confirmed to appear.

Read More...

Tags , ,