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Stories
Slashdot is powered by your submissions, so send in your scoop
7171062
submission
+- Xbox360 Game Cheats-> on Saturday November 21, @06:17AM hexbox360
Submitted
by
hexbox360
on Saturday November 21, @06:17AM
background: url(//a.fsdn.com/sd/topics/topicxbox.gif); width:74px; height:56px;
xbox
hexbox360 writes "Hexbox360cheats.com is the ultimate source for Xbox360 Game Cheats and Xbox360 Cheat Codes. In addition we have all the latest Xbox 360 tips, hints and Xbox 360 achievements for your favorite Great Xbox Games, so make sure you bookmark us! Visit us at http://www.atlantaseoworks.com"
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0 comments
7160110
submission
Comments: 1 +- Gaming With Your Children: It’s Not All Guts-> on Friday November 20, @06:54PM Anonymous Coward
Submitted
by
Anonymous Coward
on Friday November 20, @06:54PM
background: url(//a.fsdn.com/sd/topics/topicwii.gif); width:62px; height:70px;
wii
An anonymous reader writes "EOGamer's ThreeDog offers some useful insight for folks looking to game with their children, ages 4 and up. He's reviewed 7 games just in time for Black Friday, which include why children like the games, why parents like the games and possible, if any, objectionable content."
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1 comments
7155678
submission
+- Eve creators CCP Under Siege by users on patch cha-> on Friday November 20, @03:31PM Anonymous Coward
Submitted
by
Anonymous Coward
on Friday November 20, @03:31PM
background: url(//a.fsdn.com/sd/topics/topicgames.gif); width:68px; height:77px;
games
An anonymous reader writes "Hi there,
There is an interesting story brewing over on the CCP forums in relation to an announced change that many players are not happy about.
A developer called CCP Nozh posted a dev blog (http://www.eveonline.com/devblog.asp?a=blog&bid=717) in relation to changes coming up in the next major release — Dominion — due for release on 1st December.
The blog post itself and the content may not be the most interesting story — but to give you a quick overview, it's in relation to changes in Capital ships. Just over a week ago, players tried out features on the test server and after feedback, many people were happy with the changes. Then today, with just over two weeks until release, CCP have posted completely different changes and many players are not happy.
The forum thread is over 40 pages now — however CCP are deleting posts that they do not agree with — some from some high profile alliance leaders. They have yet to provide a full reply, just one so far posting more charts and a total mis-understanding of the changes proposed.
Some of the discussion is getting heated as well. Anyway, might be nothing but worth checking out."
Link to Original Source
There is an interesting story brewing over on the CCP forums in relation to an announced change that many players are not happy about.
A developer called CCP Nozh posted a dev blog (http://www.eveonline.com/devblog.asp?a=blog&bid=717) in relation to changes coming up in the next major release — Dominion — due for release on 1st December.
The blog post itself and the content may not be the most interesting story — but to give you a quick overview, it's in relation to changes in Capital ships. Just over a week ago, players tried out features on the test server and after feedback, many people were happy with the changes. Then today, with just over two weeks until release, CCP have posted completely different changes and many players are not happy.
The forum thread is over 40 pages now — however CCP are deleting posts that they do not agree with — some from some high profile alliance leaders. They have yet to provide a full reply, just one so far posting more charts and a total mis-understanding of the changes proposed.
Some of the discussion is getting heated as well. Anyway, might be nothing but worth checking out."
Link to Original Source
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0 comments
7154982
submission
+- iPhone Piracy: The Inside Story-> on Friday November 20, @03:01PM Anonymous Coward
Submitted
by
Anonymous Coward
on Friday November 20, @03:01PM
background: url(//a.fsdn.com/sd/topics/topicgames.gif); width:68px; height:77px;
games
An anonymous reader writes "Many game developers don't think of the iPhone as being a system which has extensive game piracy. But recent comments by developers and analysts have shown otherwise, and Gamasutra speaks to multiple parties to evaluate the size of the problem, and whether there's anything that can be done about it."
Link to Original Source
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0 comments
7151082
submission
+- NIMF Closes Its Doors-> on Friday November 20, @12:12PM eldavojohn
Submitted
by
eldavojohn
on Friday November 20, @12:12PM
background: url(//a.fsdn.com/sd/topics/topiccensorship.gif); width:44px; height:55px;
censorship
eldavojohn writes "One of the driving forces behind the ESRB toughening its ratings is closing its doors on December 31st, 2009. The National Institute on Media and the Family (NIMF) was funded by Fairview Health Services that simply could no longer justify the $750,000 price tag given today's economic climate. NIMF's reign of nagging has been pretty consistent since 1996 and was often indirectly featured on Slashdot. Don't worry, president and founder Dr. David Walsh promises to keep writing and giving speeches ... and imploring us all to think of the children."
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0 comments
7149414
submission
+- Writing for Video Game Genres on Friday November 20, @11:07AM Aeonite
Submitted
by
Aeonite
on Friday November 20, @11:07AM
background: url(//a.fsdn.com/sd/topics/topicbooks.gif); width:63px; height:38px;
books
Aeonite writes "The third book in a pseudo-trilogy, Writing for Video Game Genres: From FPS to RPG offers advice from 21 experts in the field of video game writing, pulled from the ranks of the IGDA's Game Writers Special Interest Group and wrangled together by editor Wendy Despain. It follows in the footsteps of Professional Techniques for Video Game Writing and Game Writing: Narrative Skills for Videogames, and in keeping with the trend offers the most specific, targeted advice for how to write for an assortment of game genres.
Depending on your particular poison, the authors of each chapter might be immediately recognizable or complete unknowns. Possibly most likely to be familiar to a general audience are Sande Chen (The Witcher) and Richard Dansky (Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, Far Cry), but Lee Sheldon (the Agatha Christie series), Andrew Walsh (Prince of Persia) and David Wessman (the Star Wars: X-Wing series) might also ring a bell.
The important thing here, however, is not who the writers are, so much as that they deftly cover a wide variety of terrain. As the subtitle suggests the book covers everything from FPS to RPG, from MMO to ARG, and the entirety of alphabet soup in-between. Each chapter covers the particular challenges of writing for one particular genre, and generally offers specific tips on how to overcome those challenges when writing for that genre. The chapter on MMOs, for example, discusses the fact that MMOs have stories that never end, worlds with millions of chosen ones, and a complete inability to control pacing or quest flow. "Writing for Platform Games" emphasizes the need to provide a coherent narrative even while the player is generally busy trying to complete the next jumping puzzle. Other familiar genres covered along the way include Adventure games, Sports games, Flight Simulators and Driving games.
Several of the chapters also venture outside of what traditionally constitutes a "game genre." For example, Richard Dansky and Chris Klug respectively cover Horror and Sci-Fi/Fantasy, themes that are based on the shape of the narrative rather than any particular gameplay format. Later chapters also explore Sandbox games (which author Ahmad Saad indicates can include everything from Grand Theft Auto III to SimCity), Serious games (being "games that do not have entertainment as a primary purpose"), and Casual games. Chapters are also devoted to specific platforms: Evan Skolnick covers Handheld games, and Graeme Davis explores Mobile Phone games. The fact that some of these categories necessarily include games that might also fall into genres covered earlier is never a problem here, however; each chapter offers specific advice relevant to its particular subject, and there is little if any "what he said" repetition to be found, and certainly nothing like outright contradictory advice from different authors.
While a single numbered outline format is followed throughout the book, each author writes in a slightly different fashion. This means that some authors (such as Andrew Walsh, in his coverage of Platformers) present swaths of dense copy within each numbered section, whereas others break up their chapter with numerous subheads, a single short paragraph beneath each point (as with Daniel Erickson's chapter on RPGs). Further, while the format of the book's bulleted lists is consistent throughout, their prevalence is somewhat uneven; Lee Sheldon's chapter on Adventure games is chock full of bullets, while Dansky's chapter on Horror games nearly dispenses with them altogether (but for one single list of five items). Certain chapters contain many charts, tables and/or screenshots, while others lack them altogether. One particular design feature — a boxed "Special Note" that intrudes into the margin — is used only a scant handful of times in the entire book, which makes each sudden instance more of a "Hey! Over Here!!" than the "Psst, by the way..." which I think was intended.
None of this is in any way bad: in fact, Despain's Preface encourages skipping around, and specifically addresses the issue of inconsistency by saying that the chapters are "written as personal essays with the individual style of each author intact." However, it is a notable feature of the book and worth a mention; this is not a book you read from cover to cover in one sitting.
The larger consideration for the purposes of review is this: should you buy a copy? The book's intended audience is — as with the earlier books in the "trilogy" — geared towards professionals already working in the game industry. Quotes on the back cover specifically mention "those of us swimming in the murky waters of games storytelling," and the book's closing chapter (J. Robinson Wheeler's "Writing For Interactive Fiction") dispenses with any illusion altogether, saying "If you're reading this book, you're a writer..." Even the Preface says "we" more than "you" when addressing the reader. The assumption is that you're already "one of us," and while that's a warm embrace for me (since I am indeed "one of them"), it might come across as a bit of a lukewarm shoulder for someone outside the industry.
In short, this book — perhaps even moreso than either of the previous IGDA Writers SIG books — is by writers, and for writers. As a "starting point from which we (game writers) can work together to improve the state of the art," the book provides an excellent foundation, and deserves to be on the bookshelf of any game writer or designer, be they novice or veteran. As for everyone else... if you're ready to dip a toe in the chilly waters of game writing, you could do far worse than to check out the advice within.
You can purchase Writing for Video Game Genres: From FPS to RPG from amazon.com. Slashdot welcomes readers' book reviews — to see your own review here, read the book review guidelines, then visit the submission page."
Depending on your particular poison, the authors of each chapter might be immediately recognizable or complete unknowns. Possibly most likely to be familiar to a general audience are Sande Chen (The Witcher) and Richard Dansky (Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, Far Cry), but Lee Sheldon (the Agatha Christie series), Andrew Walsh (Prince of Persia) and David Wessman (the Star Wars: X-Wing series) might also ring a bell.
The important thing here, however, is not who the writers are, so much as that they deftly cover a wide variety of terrain. As the subtitle suggests the book covers everything from FPS to RPG, from MMO to ARG, and the entirety of alphabet soup in-between. Each chapter covers the particular challenges of writing for one particular genre, and generally offers specific tips on how to overcome those challenges when writing for that genre. The chapter on MMOs, for example, discusses the fact that MMOs have stories that never end, worlds with millions of chosen ones, and a complete inability to control pacing or quest flow. "Writing for Platform Games" emphasizes the need to provide a coherent narrative even while the player is generally busy trying to complete the next jumping puzzle. Other familiar genres covered along the way include Adventure games, Sports games, Flight Simulators and Driving games.
Several of the chapters also venture outside of what traditionally constitutes a "game genre." For example, Richard Dansky and Chris Klug respectively cover Horror and Sci-Fi/Fantasy, themes that are based on the shape of the narrative rather than any particular gameplay format. Later chapters also explore Sandbox games (which author Ahmad Saad indicates can include everything from Grand Theft Auto III to SimCity), Serious games (being "games that do not have entertainment as a primary purpose"), and Casual games. Chapters are also devoted to specific platforms: Evan Skolnick covers Handheld games, and Graeme Davis explores Mobile Phone games. The fact that some of these categories necessarily include games that might also fall into genres covered earlier is never a problem here, however; each chapter offers specific advice relevant to its particular subject, and there is little if any "what he said" repetition to be found, and certainly nothing like outright contradictory advice from different authors.
While a single numbered outline format is followed throughout the book, each author writes in a slightly different fashion. This means that some authors (such as Andrew Walsh, in his coverage of Platformers) present swaths of dense copy within each numbered section, whereas others break up their chapter with numerous subheads, a single short paragraph beneath each point (as with Daniel Erickson's chapter on RPGs). Further, while the format of the book's bulleted lists is consistent throughout, their prevalence is somewhat uneven; Lee Sheldon's chapter on Adventure games is chock full of bullets, while Dansky's chapter on Horror games nearly dispenses with them altogether (but for one single list of five items). Certain chapters contain many charts, tables and/or screenshots, while others lack them altogether. One particular design feature — a boxed "Special Note" that intrudes into the margin — is used only a scant handful of times in the entire book, which makes each sudden instance more of a "Hey! Over Here!!" than the "Psst, by the way..." which I think was intended.
None of this is in any way bad: in fact, Despain's Preface encourages skipping around, and specifically addresses the issue of inconsistency by saying that the chapters are "written as personal essays with the individual style of each author intact." However, it is a notable feature of the book and worth a mention; this is not a book you read from cover to cover in one sitting.
The larger consideration for the purposes of review is this: should you buy a copy? The book's intended audience is — as with the earlier books in the "trilogy" — geared towards professionals already working in the game industry. Quotes on the back cover specifically mention "those of us swimming in the murky waters of games storytelling," and the book's closing chapter (J. Robinson Wheeler's "Writing For Interactive Fiction") dispenses with any illusion altogether, saying "If you're reading this book, you're a writer..." Even the Preface says "we" more than "you" when addressing the reader. The assumption is that you're already "one of us," and while that's a warm embrace for me (since I am indeed "one of them"), it might come across as a bit of a lukewarm shoulder for someone outside the industry.
In short, this book — perhaps even moreso than either of the previous IGDA Writers SIG books — is by writers, and for writers. As a "starting point from which we (game writers) can work together to improve the state of the art," the book provides an excellent foundation, and deserves to be on the bookshelf of any game writer or designer, be they novice or veteran. As for everyone else... if you're ready to dip a toe in the chilly waters of game writing, you could do far worse than to check out the advice within.
You can purchase Writing for Video Game Genres: From FPS to RPG from amazon.com. Slashdot welcomes readers' book reviews — to see your own review here, read the book review guidelines, then visit the submission page."
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7148306
submission
+- Some Claim Android App Store Worse Than iPhone's-> on Friday November 20, @10:21AM eldavojohn
Submitted
by
eldavojohn
on Friday November 20, @10:21AM
background: url(//a.fsdn.com/sd/topics/topicbusiness.gif); width:64px; height:54px;
business
eldavojohn writes "If you think the iPhone app store is the only mobile game store suffering an exodus, some game publishers claim Android's app store isn't much better at generating revenue. In fact, French game developer Gameloft (that owes 13% of its profits to iPhone game sales) said, 'We have significantly cut our investment in Android platform, just like ... many others. It is not as neatly done as on the iPhone. Google has not been very good to entice customers to actually buy products. On Android nobody is making significant revenue. We are selling 400 times more games on iPhone than on Android." So the trade seems to be more sales but an annoying approval process versus a lack of sales promotions and no annoying approval process. It seems those in it for money will opt for iPhone and those in it for distribution will opt for Android or maybe someone will get it right one of these days?"
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7146880
submission
Comments: 1 +- XBox Live Class Action Lawsuit Started-> on Friday November 20, @09:25AM eldavojohn
Submitted
by
eldavojohn
on Friday November 20, @09:25AM
background: url(//a.fsdn.com/sd/topics/topicms.gif); width:75px; height:55px;
microsoft
eldavojohn writes "Were you negatively affected by the recent ban on XBox Live for modifying hardware you own? Did you modify it for homebrew or altering things you paid for and NOT engage in piracy? Abington IP would like to hear from you and may be able to help. From that page, "If you are an Xbox Live subscriber, had your modified Xbox console banned from Xbox Live, were not refunded a prorated sum for the time left on your subscription or have experienced other problems as a result of being banned, and would like to participate in a class action against Microsoft, please submit your information below." Is someone finally standing up for the legitimate hobbyists? Should Microsoft be afraid?"
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1 comments
7133826
submission
+- Anti-Violence Game Allows Players to Abuse Women-> on Thursday November 19, @05:37PM eldavojohn
Submitted
by
eldavojohn
on Thursday November 19, @05:37PM
background: url(//a.fsdn.com/sd/topics/topicgames.gif); width:68px; height:77px;
games
eldavojohn writes "Their hearts are probably in the right place but the message may be a little muddled in a Danish only anti-violence game entitled "Hit the Bitch". Depending on how successfully you beat her, you are rated from "pussy" to "gangsta." The game apparently allows an interactive mode if you have a webcam connected so when you swing your arm, the flash based game swings your arm at her. If you're wondering when the strong anti-violent message comes, it's at the end when the player is called an "idiot" for playing. It's generating so many pageviews that it's only for Danish IP addresses but despite that success it's probably not the most prudent advertisement model. More at Huffington Post."
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0 comments
7130280
submission
+- New York State to issue alerts over Xbox Live/ PSN-> on Thursday November 19, @03:22PM Anonymous Coward
Submitted
by
Anonymous Coward
on Thursday November 19, @03:22PM
background: url(//a.fsdn.com/sd/topics/topicxbox.gif); width:74px; height:56px;
xbox
An anonymous reader writes "Gamers are used to confronting invading terrorists, nuclear attacks, and natural calamities—in virtual form. But those living in New York State could soon receive warnings about real emergencies through their favorite video console.
State authorities are testing a plan that would see the Emergency Management Office issue alerts over online gaming networks in addition to regular channels."
Link to Original Source
State authorities are testing a plan that would see the Emergency Management Office issue alerts over online gaming networks in addition to regular channels."
Link to Original Source
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0 comments
7119728
submission
+- China Enforces Even Stricter Regulation on Games-> on Thursday November 19, @09:29AM eldavojohn
Submitted
by
eldavojohn
on Thursday November 19, @09:29AM
background: url(//a.fsdn.com/sd/topics/topiccensorship.gif); width:44px; height:55px;
censorship
eldavojohn writes "Chinese gamers have a pretty hard life. From crackdowns on 'undesirable' games to bans on gangster games to delayed World of Warcraft expansions they suffer. The worst part is that in order to qualify for operating in China, you face a myriad of conflicting bureaucracy and regulation. Well it just got a little worse. Now if you want to operate you need to hire a 'specialist' to oversee content and you need to 'enhance socialist values' in your game. They also want to limit in-game marriages and how many player versus player combat sessions one can engage in. The circular issued from China's Ministry of Culture contained all the vague verbiage giving them easier reign over who operates and who doesn't. It's a large market but is it worth the gamble to game developers?"
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0 comments
7101070
submission
+- EA shuts down Pandemic Unit, cuts 200 jobs. on Wednesday November 18, @11:58AM lbalbalba
Submitted
by
lbalbalba
on Wednesday November 18, @11:58AM
background: url(//a.fsdn.com/sd/topics/topicgames.gif); width:68px; height:77px;
games
lbalbalba writes "Electronic Arts Inc. is shutting down its Westwood-based game developer Pandemic Studios just two years after acquiring it, putting nearly 200 people out of work.
Link To Original Story"
Link To Original Story"
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0 comments
7100650
submission
+- CodeWeavers releases CrossOver Games 8.1 for MAC a-> on Wednesday November 18, @11:38AM twickline
Submitted
by
twickline
on Wednesday November 18, @11:38AM
background: url(//a.fsdn.com/sd/topics/topicwine.gif); width:100px; height:70px;
wine
twickline writes "CODEWEAVERS RELEASES CROSSOVER GAMES 8.1 FOR MAC AND LINUX
Latest "Zombie Mallard" Release Features Support for Left4Dead 2; Free PC Giveaway
SAINT PAUL, Minn. (November 18, 2009) – Despite a crazed assault of zombie playtesters on their headquarters, CodeWeavers, Inc., a leading developer of software products that turn Mac OS X and Linux into Windows-compatible operating systems, today announced the release of CrossOver Games 8.1 for both Mac and Linux, available immediately.
CrossOver Games allows Windows games to be played on Mac and Linux PCs without the need for a Windows operating system license."
Link to Original Source
Latest "Zombie Mallard" Release Features Support for Left4Dead 2; Free PC Giveaway
SAINT PAUL, Minn. (November 18, 2009) – Despite a crazed assault of zombie playtesters on their headquarters, CodeWeavers, Inc., a leading developer of software products that turn Mac OS X and Linux into Windows-compatible operating systems, today announced the release of CrossOver Games 8.1 for both Mac and Linux, available immediately.
CrossOver Games allows Windows games to be played on Mac and Linux PCs without the need for a Windows operating system license."
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0 comments
7100320
submission
+- Actual Joystick Emulation on Wednesday November 18, @11:21AM Voulnet
Submitted
by
Voulnet
on Wednesday November 18, @11:21AM
background: url(//a.fsdn.com/sd/topics/topicgames.gif); width:68px; height:77px;
games
Voulnet writes "Hello everyone, I have been tasked with writing code that allows a program to emulate a real joystick programmatically. This functionality is to be added for an accessibility system for disabled users, and using joystick emulation; a disabled person is able to use custom hardware to control a joystick for gaming more easily.
Problem is, I have done quite a bit of research and asking around, and it seems there is no documented method of emulating a joystick, as opposed to how easy it is to send keyboard and mouse messages for example. Add to that Microsoft's possible lockout of DirectInput, so this task gets a bit more difficult.
So, for Windows systems (You know, gaming), is there a way to write code that would send the same messages to Windows that a joystick sends? Would it require writing virtual drivers, perhaps?
I would like to know the possibility of performing this task, and the methods to do so. If anyone asks, the preferred programming language for this task is C#.
Thank you for your time."
Problem is, I have done quite a bit of research and asking around, and it seems there is no documented method of emulating a joystick, as opposed to how easy it is to send keyboard and mouse messages for example. Add to that Microsoft's possible lockout of DirectInput, so this task gets a bit more difficult.
So, for Windows systems (You know, gaming), is there a way to write code that would send the same messages to Windows that a joystick sends? Would it require writing virtual drivers, perhaps?
I would like to know the possibility of performing this task, and the methods to do so. If anyone asks, the preferred programming language for this task is C#.
Thank you for your time."
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0 comments
7055618
submission
+- Russia Recalls Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2-> on Monday November 16, @12:42PM eldavojohn
background: url(//a.fsdn.com/sd/topics/topiccensorship.gif); width:44px; height:55px;
censorship
eldavojohn writes "You may recall much ado over some questionable footage in the latest Call of Duty game. Well, that footage has led to a recall of Modern Warfare 2 in Russia. Seems the Russian government was none too happy about the portrayal of Russia in the game and decided to yank it from stores. Infinity Ward has responded with a patch that removes the "No Russian" mission (the content in question) from the storyline. Before you overly criticize the Russian government, there may be some truth to the claim that the game's story line overly demonizes Russians as just terrorists as the Russian site GotPS3.ru alleges. Is cultural sensitivity becoming an overly played card in the gaming world? Not too long ago, Wolfenstein was recalled in Germany for containing Nazi symbols."
Link to Original Source
Link to Original Source
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0 comments
7014848
submission
+- Top Android Game Series Developed in the Open on Saturday November 14, @05:24PM rbgrn
Submitted
by
rbgrn
on Saturday November 14, @05:24PM
background: url(//a.fsdn.com/sd/topics/topicgames.gif); width:68px; height:77px;
games
rbgrn writes "As the Android platform becomes more adopted, game developers begin to speculate and wonder if the platform will see the same sort of gaming gold rush as the iPhone experienced. It's no secret that developing Android games presents a unique set of challenges to any team. Developer Robert Green of Battery Powered Games documented over 80 days of coding, graphics and problem solving, calling it the Light Racer 3D Development Journal. The diagrams, code and tutorials in this journal can help kick start any Android game project."
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6976636
submission
+- Commodore 64 Runs Again on iPhone on Thursday November 12, @07:00PM Hugh Pickens
background: url(//a.fsdn.com/sd/topics/topicgames.gif); width:68px; height:77px;
games
Hugh Pickens writes "“Ever wonder where the 80s went?” reads the description of the colorful app that mimics one of the world’s favorite personal computers. “Well, they’re back!” Stephen Williams reports in the NY Times that the app recreating some of the Commodore’s seminal retro games, including Le Mans, Dragons Den and Jupiter Lander has been re-issued after being pulled in September. The app features full speed, Commodore 64 emulator, SID sound emulation, auto-save to continue where you left off, and a realistic joystick with a beautifully crafted C64 keyboard. Apple originally rejected the program for violating the “SDK agreement,” which dictates that “no interpreted code may be downloaded and used in an Application except for code that is interpreted and run by Apple’s Published APIs and built-in interpreter(s).” After disabling the controversial feature, Apple published the app in September but days later, it was pulled and the developer was asked to remove, rather than just disable, the BASIC interpreter from the program. which would have allowed unscrupulous users to run unlicensed, emulated code on the iPhone or iPod Touch. "The road was bumpy, but we remained persistent and made the changes Apple was looking for. Ultimately, BASIC has been removed for this release; however, we hope that working with Apple further will allow us to re-enable it," writes the company's blog. "In Retro We Trust!""
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6959386
submission
Comments: 2 +- AIIDE 2010 StarCraft AI Competition on Thursday November 12, @12:24AM bgweber
Submitted
by
bgweber
on Thursday November 12, @12:24AM
background: url(//a.fsdn.com/sd/topics/topicgamesrts.gif); width:72px; height:78px;
rts
bgweber writes "The 2010 conference on Artificial Intelligence and Interactive Digital Entertainment (AIIDE 2010) will be hosting a StarCraft AI competition as part of the conference program. This competition enables academic researchers to evaluate their AI systems in a robust, commercial RTS environment. The competition will be held in the weeks leading up to the conference. The final matches will be held live at the conference with commentary. Exhibition matches will also be held between skilled human players and the top performing bots.
Competition details are available at: http://users.soe.ucsc.edu/~bweber/starcraft.html"
Competition details are available at: http://users.soe.ucsc.edu/~bweber/starcraft.html"
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2 comments
6947136
submission
+- Microsoft Disconnects Modded X-Box Users-> on Wednesday November 11, @10:42AM S-4'N3
Submitted
by
S-4'N3
on Wednesday November 11, @10:42AM
background: url(//a.fsdn.com/sd/topics/topicms.gif); width:75px; height:55px;
microsoft
S-4'N3 writes "The BBC reports that Microsoft has disconnected approximately 600,000 X-Box users from X-Box Live because the devices they are using have been modified, either with software or with new chips, to play pirated games.
"Microsoft confirmed that it had banned a 'small percentage' of the 20 million Xbox Live users worldwide. Microsoft said that modifying an Xbox 360 console 'violates' the service's 'terms of use' and would result in a player being disconnected.""
Link to Original Source
"Microsoft confirmed that it had banned a 'small percentage' of the 20 million Xbox Live users worldwide. Microsoft said that modifying an Xbox 360 console 'violates' the service's 'terms of use' and would result in a player being disconnected.""
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0 comments
6946854
submission
+- Project Natal release details emerge-> on Wednesday November 11, @10:24AM scruffybr
Submitted
by
scruffybr
on Wednesday November 11, @10:24AM
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xbox
scruffybr writes "Today the first information about the pricing and launch of Microsoft’s Project Natal. The pricing for the hardware will be much much lower than many had anticipated, coming in at around £50 when sold separately from the console. The idea being that it’s low enough that people will purchase on impulse."
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