Video Game Industry Thread: January's done, use the next thread

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  • plufimplufim Dr Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    I dunno, sony might have something to go with here. These guys released the master key for the PS3, which could be argued to be sony property.

    plufim on
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  • UltimanecatUltimanecat Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    You can't own or copyright a number (which is all the key is). You can hide it and possibly rely on recent laws that make it illegal to look for it, but I can't see any sort of copyright claim holding up.

    Ultimanecat on
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  • SmokeStacksSmokeStacks Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Inevitable, but ultimately fruitless. A scare tactic, nothing more. I mean, I suppose they did have to drop the lawyer bomb to make it look like they're doing something so they could appease... someone. But nothing will happen. Sony certainly isn't going to succeed where Apple failed, after all.

    He did express some interest in working for "the other side" before Sony took legal action. Discoverers of major electronic exploits for game consoles and other hardware do seem to disappear from the internet every once in a while, I wonder if they just get hired and put to work on electronic security?

    For all we know the dude will end up on Sony's payroll working on the PS4 after the dust settles on the legal end.

    There is good news for people who have no interest in the exploit, however - this means there will be a PS3 hardware refresh very, very soon. Odds are they'll throw more features into the hardware to entice people into buying the new model over a slim. Would be nice if hardware PS2 BC made a comeback.

    SmokeStacks on
  • tachyontachyon Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    You can't own or copyright a number (which is all the key is). You can hide it and possibly rely on recent laws that make it illegal to look for it, but I can't see any sort of copyright claim holding up.

    Unfortunately there's precedence for this sort of thing:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeCSS

    Even down to suing t-shirt makers over said number

    http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2000/08/37941

    tachyon on
  • TurkeyTurkey So, Usoop. TampaRegistered User regular
    edited January 2011
    I'd pick up an upgraded PS3.

    Turkey on
  • plufimplufim Dr Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    It could be seen as some sort of protected company secret, like the formula for creating a particular product.

    It'll be interesting, I think. I don't know of any hackers who have gotten so deep before. Normally it is about tricking the system into running unsigned code. But this actually allows people to create signed code, which as far as I am aware, is unprecedented.

    It's a different enough case that the result may not necessarily go the way of previous ones.

    edit: after reading the DeCSS information, sony certainly has a different case here than the usual one they'd take against hackers.

    double edit: as for Sony's reaction to actual CFW users, I think they'll ban every PS3 they detect running CFW from PSN, rather than wait to see if they cheat in online games or can be proven to have illegally obtained a game.

    plufim on
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  • UltimanecatUltimanecat Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    tachyon wrote: »
    You can't own or copyright a number (which is all the key is). You can hide it and possibly rely on recent laws that make it illegal to look for it, but I can't see any sort of copyright claim holding up.

    Unfortunately there's precedence for this sort of thing:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeCSS

    Even down to suing t-shirt makers over said number

    http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2000/08/37941

    Those issues arose out of the DMCA and similar laws in other countries that seek to curtail the release of information that can be used to circumvent DRM. The issue was not the algorithm itself (or Sony's key here), it is that the method to get around preventive mechanisms was released. The shirts were a "fair-use" counterargument of the type "If I release the method in a creative or artistic fashion, am I still assisting in the circumvention of DRM?".

    Like I said, a DMCA claim may have somewhere to go here, but the copyright stuff is probably there just to up the scare-factor and/or harassment level.

    Ultimanecat on
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  • PataPata Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Jintor wrote: »
    So I'm hearing Japanese support confirmation for region locking on the Three Dee Ess.

    Balls. What will I do when Ouendan 3 comes out?

    Hack your 3DS for import playing.
    Couscous wrote: »
    Sony to spend money in a lawsuit to accomplish nothing.

    This will make things worse.

    Now Sony has unleashed the nerd wrath of every hacker on the internet.

    Pata on
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  • ShadowfireShadowfire Vermont, in the middle of nowhereRegistered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Jintor wrote: »
    So I'm hearing Japanese support confirmation for region locking on the Three Dee Ess.

    Balls. What will I do when Ouendan 3 comes out?

    It's possible, but the support email specifically pointed to the DSi and DSiXL being region locked, which they only are for DSiWare releases. Carts still aren't locked, so maybe that will be the case for the 3DS as well?

    Shadowfire on
  • CatshadeCatshade Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Shadowfire wrote: »
    It's possible, but the support email specifically pointed to the DSi and DSiXL being region locked, which they only are for DSiWare releases. Carts still aren't locked, so maybe that will be the case for the 3DS as well?

    DSi-only or DSi-enhanced carts are region-locked.

    Catshade on
  • UncleSporkyUncleSporky Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    There is good news for people who have no interest in the exploit, however - this means there will be a PS3 hardware refresh very, very soon. Odds are they'll throw more features into the hardware to entice people into buying the new model over a slim. Would be nice if hardware PS2 BC made a comeback.

    Why would you expect new hardware, aside from an actual PS4? There is literally nothing they can do to fix this problem without making every previously released PS3 game stop working. People are already predicting that the PS4 might not have backwards compatibility for the same reason.

    UncleSporky on
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  • SmokeStacksSmokeStacks Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    There is good news for people who have no interest in the exploit, however - this means there will be a PS3 hardware refresh very, very soon. Odds are they'll throw more features into the hardware to entice people into buying the new model over a slim. Would be nice if hardware PS2 BC made a comeback.

    Why would you expect new hardware, aside from an actual PS4? There is literally nothing they can do to fix this problem without making every previously released PS3 game stop working. People are already predicting that the PS4 might not have backwards compatibility for the same reason.

    On the PS3 as it currently is. New hardware can close the vulnerability and still support the old software.

    As for PS3 BC on a PS4, if it exists they'll probably just run in a sandbox with restricted networking and no XMB access, similar to Xbox games on a 360.

    SmokeStacks on
  • DritzDritz CanadaRegistered User regular
    edited January 2011
    I don't think there is any chance of PS3 emulation anyways, the Cell is dead and I would think software emulation would be very difficult.

    Dritz on
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  • Cameron_TalleyCameron_Talley Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Every now and then I read this thread and go "oh yeah, The move. That is a thing that exists."

    Seriously, did they do ANY marketing for it?

    Cameron_Talley on
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  • The WolfmanThe Wolfman Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    There is good news for people who have no interest in the exploit, however - this means there will be a PS3 hardware refresh very, very soon. Odds are they'll throw more features into the hardware to entice people into buying the new model over a slim. Would be nice if hardware PS2 BC made a comeback.

    Why would you expect new hardware, aside from an actual PS4? There is literally nothing they can do to fix this problem without making every previously released PS3 game stop working. People are already predicting that the PS4 might not have backwards compatibility for the same reason.

    On the PS3 as it currently is. New hardware can close the vulnerability and still support the old software.

    As for PS3 BC on a PS4, if it exists they'll probably just run in a sandbox with restricted networking and no XMB access, similar to Xbox games on a 360.

    And unless they issue and achieve a complete recall of all existing PS3's, there's little point in releasing new hardware. Unless their plan is to release a new shiny PS3 and hopefully trick new buyers into buying that one.

    The Wolfman on
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  • JintorJintor Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Every now and then I read this thread and go "oh yeah, The move. That is a thing that exists."

    Seriously, did they do ANY marketing for it?

    They were all over the public transports here in Sydney for quite some time around Christmas.

    Jintor on
  • SmokeStacksSmokeStacks Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Unless their plan is to release a new shiny PS3 and hopefully trick new buyers into buying that one.

    Worked pretty well for the PSP. The 2000 in conjunction with new firmware was essentially secure until the Pandora exploit was found. The 3000 was the same way.

    SmokeStacks on
  • plufimplufim Dr Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Dritz wrote: »
    I don't think there is any chance of PS3 emulation anyways, the Cell is dead and I would think software emulation would be very difficult.

    Yeah, I am 100% certain the PS4 will not be backward compatible. Except maybe with the PS1 still.

    plufim on
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  • UltimanecatUltimanecat Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Unless their plan is to release a new shiny PS3 and hopefully trick new buyers into buying that one.

    Worked pretty well for the PSP. The 2000 in conjunction with new firmware was essentially secure until the Pandora exploit was found. The 3000 was the same way.

    What's happened on the PS3 isn't even really an exploit. There is literally nothing that they can do to fix this through hardware revisions. To paraphrase what the people who did this have said: "Run whatever you want through software on current PS3s, and through hardware / modchip no matter what Sony does in the future".

    Ultimanecat on
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  • Santa ClaustrophobiaSanta Claustrophobia Ho Ho Ho Disconnecting from Xbox LIVERegistered User regular
    edited January 2011
    We knew Sony would be non-plussed about the...

    Yeah. Engadget? 'Nonplussed' doesn't mean what you think it means. Just puttin' that out there for next time, 'kay?

    Santa Claustrophobia on
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  • PureauthorPureauthor Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    The lawsuit is probably a kneejerk to tell shareholders that they're doing something to fix this mess.

    I wish I could be a fly on the wall at recent Sony exec meetings.

    Pureauthor on
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  • OptyOpty Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Here's something you may or may not find interesting: Iwata's the Keynote speaker for GDC. The GDC happens the week of the 3DS's launch in Japan (launch is Feb 27th, GDC's the 2nd-4th) so I find it kinda crazy that the president will be in America for a keynote.

    Opty on
  • Unco-ordinatedUnco-ordinated NZRegistered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Sony is on the verge of finally announcing new handheld, MCV can confirm
    The industry will finally find out what form the PSP2 will take at a press event in Tokyo on January 27th, MCV can confirm.
    Claims emerging this morning about an impending reveal for the long-rumoured PSP2 are true.
    Publishers were informed late last year of the plans, with some of Sony's biggest parties already at work on titles for the high-specced device.
    The date of the reveal itself is just the beginning, however.
    http://www.mcvuk.com/news/42498/PSP2-announcement-on-Jan-27th

    MCV can confirm, MCV can confirm, MCV can confirm, MCV can confirm

    Hopefully Sony actually learnt some shit with the PSP but I'm going into this assuming they haven't, especially with the Uncharted spinoff rumours from Sony Bend. Seems like a relatively smart time to announce it though, before the 3DS launch and, importantly, GDC where I assume they'll be pitching the machine and its dev tools to any developer that will listen.

    Unco-ordinated on
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  • plufimplufim Dr Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Hey Unco, I've always wondered.

    Can MCV confirm?

    plufim on
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  • TommattTommatt Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Dritz wrote: »
    I don't think there is any chance of PS3 emulation anyways, the Cell is dead and I would think software emulation would be very difficult.

    Interesting statement, and quite possibly true.

    The PS2 was a bitch to program for supposedly, but it was #1. Games were made for it then ported. This gen, they're made for the 360 and then ported over. Because its selling better and its easier to develop for. The cell may be more powerful in theory, but you have to decide to use it from the ground up. With the PS2
    this worked. The ps3 not so much.

    So the next xbox console is likely to have great BC. They've built a great library. I'm sure they'd like to use it as a selling point. The ps4 will have to go the way of the cell again, or provide a separate board for BC.

    Tommatt on
  • Unco-ordinatedUnco-ordinated NZRegistered User regular
    edited January 2011
    plufim wrote: »
    Hey Unco, I've always wondered.

    Can MCV confirm?

    I don't know, I'll have to check with them...
    MCV can confirm that MCV can confirm
    Confirmed.

    Funnily enough, they've actually edited those lines now.

    Unco-ordinated on
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  • FyreWulffFyreWulff YouRegistered User, ClubPA regular
    edited January 2011
    Henroid wrote: »
    Unless Nintendo incentivizes porting more!

    Nintendo will never do that. You're talking about a company that had third parties remove the working online mode of a GameCube game because Nintendo didn't want to pay money to include it like Microsoft had.

    They don't throw money at something unless they think they can get a fairly good return out of it.

    FyreWulff on
  • MovitzMovitz Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Isn't the PS3 region free? How do they get around the problem of imports, or do they just not give a crap.

    Movitz on
  • darleysamdarleysam On my way to UKRegistered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Pata wrote: »
    Jintor wrote: »
    So I'm hearing Japanese support confirmation for region locking on the Three Dee Ess.

    Balls. What will I do when Ouendan 3 comes out?

    Hack your 3DS for import playing.
    Couscous wrote: »
    Sony to spend money in a lawsuit to accomplish nothing.

    This will make things worse.

    Now Sony has unleashed the nerd wrath of every hacker on the internet.

    The Streisand Effect.
    We knew Sony would be non-plussed about the...

    Yeah. Engadget? 'Nonplussed' doesn't mean what you think it means. Just puttin' that out there for next time, 'kay?

    Actually I was about to post that then looked up the proper definition of 'surprised and confused', and yeah, it works.

    darleysam on
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  • Unco-ordinatedUnco-ordinated NZRegistered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Movitz wrote: »
    Isn't the PS3 region free? How do they get around the problem of imports, or do they just not give a crap.

    They hate hardware importing for some reason, even going so far as running Lik-Sang into bankruptcy through lawsuits. It's probably the main reason why the PS3's software is region free actually, since there's now no real point (outside of regional pricing) to import it.

    As far as I can tell, the effect has only been positive. Similar to what Bioptic said in the last thread, I think importers help provide ground support for niche titles through word-of-mouth. I attribute most of Demon's Souls success in the west on that.

    Unco-ordinated on
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  • harvestharvest By birthright, a stupendous badass.Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Regarding the PS3 remote-brick capability, it's completely moot in my mind. The first decent custom firmware to be released will probably block that option for Sony.

    harvest on
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  • PerduraboPerdurabo Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    How long before Sony starts working on a new platform? They're in a tricky situation now, because of the success of the 360 and especially the Wii, it makes sense to go for a new platform first, to be the new hot property. But conversely, the success of the 360 and the Wii isn't because of graphical fidelity. It's because of brand recognition, and novel ways to play. I don't know what they do here, keep plowing on?

    Saying that, the 2011 lineup looks great for Sony. But this has to be the last year of putting so much effort in for this amount of reward for the console.

    Perdurabo on
  • Cameron_TalleyCameron_Talley Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Opty wrote: »
    Here's something you may or may not find interesting: Iwata's the Keynote speaker for GDC. The GDC happens the week of the 3DS's launch in Japan (launch is Feb 27th, GDC's the 2nd-4th) so I find it kinda crazy that the president will be in America for a keynote.

    I read in "Nintendo Magic" that the day the original DS was launched in Japan, Iwata did not attend any of the launch festivities because he was going to meet with the professor that inspired "Brain Age."

    To Nintendo, it's important to always be looking towards the future and never be satisfied with what you have. I would assume that Iwata feels the GDC is more important than being in town so the press can get a few sound bites from him.

    Cameron_Talley on
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  • mere_immortalmere_immortal So tasty!Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    http://www.next-gen.biz/news/splosion-man-developer-hits-out-at-capcom
    Indie developer Twisted Pixel has accused Capcom of what it describes as “complete theft” of its XBLA hit ‘Splosion Man.

    The developer hit out after seeing footage of Capcom Mobile’s MaXplosion, recently released on the iOS App Store for 59p. Youtube footage reveals the game bears a more than passing resemblance to ‘Splosion Man: it’s a side-scrolling platformer with an character who can jump up to three times in a row by exploding. If you think that sounds familiar, Twisted Pixel agrees.

    “MaXplosion gameplay makes me sad,” wrote programmer Mike Henry on Twitter. “If you’re going to outright steal a game, you should at least understand what makes it fun.” He later added: “Borrowing is great. Hell, we do it all the time. But that game is a complete theft.”

    Twisted Pixel CEO Michael Wilford revealed: “Best part is, we originally pitched 'Splosion Man to Capcom and they said no. First they lose Inafune, now this.”

    Wilford intimated Twisted Pixel would not be taking action against Capcom, saying: “It just sucks because we’re too small to do anything about it, and I bet Capcom’s counting on that.”

    'Splosion Man was part of the 2009 Summer of Arcade promotion on the Xbox Live Arcade download service, and was top of the Live Arcade charts late last year after its price was discounted to 160 Microsoft Points.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOWlwo9dXh8

    mere_immortal on
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  • harvestharvest By birthright, a stupendous badass.Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    That's mean :( Twisted Pixel does good work.

    harvest on
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  • darleysamdarleysam On my way to UKRegistered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Yeah, MaXplosion looks about as blatant as you can get. That PS3 game that's coming out, I can believe it's a coincidence and that they've been working on it for a while. This one though.. just wow.

    edit: I wonder if they considered 'Splosion Max..

    darleysam on
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  • Brainiac 8Brainiac 8 Don't call me Shirley... Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    http://www.next-gen.biz/news/splosion-man-developer-hits-out-at-capcom
    Indie developer Twisted Pixel has accused Capcom of what it describes as “complete theft” of its XBLA hit ‘Splosion Man.

    The developer hit out after seeing footage of Capcom Mobile’s MaXplosion, recently released on the iOS App Store for 59p. Youtube footage reveals the game bears a more than passing resemblance to ‘Splosion Man: it’s a side-scrolling platformer with an character who can jump up to three times in a row by exploding. If you think that sounds familiar, Twisted Pixel agrees.

    “MaXplosion gameplay makes me sad,” wrote programmer Mike Henry on Twitter. “If you’re going to outright steal a game, you should at least understand what makes it fun.” He later added: “Borrowing is great. Hell, we do it all the time. But that game is a complete theft.”

    Twisted Pixel CEO Michael Wilford revealed: “Best part is, we originally pitched 'Splosion Man to Capcom and they said no. First they lose Inafune, now this.”

    Wilford intimated Twisted Pixel would not be taking action against Capcom, saying: “It just sucks because we’re too small to do anything about it, and I bet Capcom’s counting on that.”

    'Splosion Man was part of the 2009 Summer of Arcade promotion on the Xbox Live Arcade download service, and was top of the Live Arcade charts late last year after its price was discounted to 160 Microsoft Points.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOWlwo9dXh8

    OH NO! Twisted Pixel copying Capcom with Ms. Splosion Man confirmed! :shock:



    :P

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  • CantidoCantido Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Ah, that's right. Ms Splosion Man will dominate over this sack of wank and all will be right in the world.

    Also, I'm sad the Mega Man creator left Capcom.
    "Not sure what to say about MaXplosion. Pisses me off. Guess we're just gonna have to make a better iPhone game than them. Shouldn't be hard.

    God damn :lol:

    Cantido on
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  • UncleSporkyUncleSporky Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    On the PS3 as it currently is. New hardware can close the vulnerability and still support the old software.

    No it can't. If you support the old software then you also support homebrew/piracy.

    It is true that they might be able to block simpler methods like a USB drive with a program that poses as a system update; I don't know if any other software has to be able to run off of removable media like that. But it is highly unlikely that they could block a Blu-Ray disc that tells the PS3 it is Uncharted when it is actually a homebrew launcher/installer that enables easier homebrew from removable devices after using it once.

    UncleSporky on
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  • cloudeaglecloudeagle Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    More possible 3DS pricing:
    Listings for the Nintendo 3DS have popped up on UK retailers, including The Hut, Best Buy, Woolworths and WHSmith, offering "pre-order deposits" with a March 18 date. According to these sites, the handheld will be available in blue, black and red. As MCV points out, however, all these sites pull their listings from The Hut's database, so they're essentially all from the same source. (Duplicate 3DS listings on all the sites, featuring a March 25 release date, have been removed since we first looked at these retailer sites.)

    Earlier this morning, the sites had listed a placeholder price of £299 (about $466) for the 3DS, but as of publishing, the RRP has changed to £249 ($388). For comparison, the DSi XL is priced at £159.99, roughly $250 by today's currency exchange rate. In the US, the XL's MSRP is $169.99, suggesting that, if Nintendo uses the same strategy of using roughly the same numerical price in pounds and dollars, the 3DS price could be set around the $250 mark, when it's expected to be announced by Nintendo next week. That is, if the UK price here is accurate.

    MCV notes that it has been "lead to believe" that the once listed March 25 release date is going to be the real one, and that the 3DS price will be somewhere between £200–230 ($312–359). We hope that turns out to be closer to the truth, for our UK readers' sake. Nintendo will hold a European 3DS event in Amsterdam next Wednesday, at which point we should find out.

    http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/12/uk-retailers-list-3ds-for-march-18-249/

    MCV loves referring to itself in the third person.

    At any rate, $250 is about what I'd expect.

    And yeah, a PSP2 reveal before the 3DS hits is probably the last opportunity they can have without everyone outright laughing at them, though it's still pretty late. Wonder if there will be any aspects of the PSP2 that haven't leaked yet. (Pretty much everything about the Go leaked.)

    cloudeagle on
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