The producer of Age of Empires Online has been voicing his thoughts on piracy, saying that the free-to-play model is one of the best defences against piracy. Inappropriate Bunny agrees .He’s argued that Eastern games that primarily use microtransactions are more secure than other games, and that “it makes sense for us in the West to catch up on this.”
Microsoft Games Studios’ general manager Dave Luehmann made the comments in an interview with MCV, where he said “In the console world, piracy is a little better understood and managed. Whereas on an open platform, you need to have a different kind of business model that’s more resilient to piracy. In Eastern countries, transaction-based online games have demonstrably been more secure against piracy, and I think it makes sense for us in the West to catch up to this.”
This makes you wonder weather or not were gonna start to see some completely free to play/join console game on the live network, with no account fees or anything.
Over the last year, a few major Western MMOs have successfully gone free-to-play, including Champions Online and Lord of the Rings Online. Free-to-play online arena games like League of Legends and Bloodline Champions have also been growing in popularity after a quiet start. Luehmann lists this as one of the problems of the free-to-play model. “The launch of your game becomes less of an event,” he added. “It’s hard to have a big get-together and launch party for a download game like the ones we had for titles like Age of Empires 3. It’s a different sequence of events – the launch isn’t one big event, it’s something that grows over a longer period of time.”
Bioware have now officially confirmed that a demo for the Dragon Age sequel is coming. It’ll be out on Feb 22, and will offer players a chance to unlock a Dwarven blade in Dragon Age 2.
The demo will contain the opening sections of Dragon Age 2, and will offer a choice of three classes to play with. The demo will take you as far as the huge city of Kirkwall, and you’ll get to meet the sexy rogue ninja lady pirate, Isabela. Completing the demo will unlock a Dwarven blade called Hayder’s Razor in the full game. It’s an ancient weapon that buffs its wielder’s health, mana and combat abilities.
For more information, check out the demo page on the Dragon Age 2 site. The game’s due out on March 8 in the US and March 11 in Europe. The game’s still available to pre-order.
Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst could be the recipient of a bizarre new accolade.
The Solid Waste Services Department in Austin, Texas is being renamed, with officials asking for residents to vote for the suggestions they like best. Leading the way is the Fred Durst Society of the Humanities and Arts. I never thought to be honest that i would ever feel That Fred deserves and award, honor or any real recognition for anything. This though, somehow seems fitting…….
The department handles rubbish collection, recycling and household waste disposal. Durst’s candidacy has attracted over 11,000 votes – more than 10,000 more than the next most popular suggestion.
Other suggestions include George W Bush Institution of WMD Removal,Hufflepuff and Ella Fitzgerald, although none of these have attracted more than 100 votes.
Blur bassist Alex James is to hold a music and food festival in the grounds of his Oxfordshire estate.
James, who in recent years has become renowned as an award-winning cheesemaker, has now decided to venture into the world of festival organising. He’ll host a four-day event called Harvest from September 9-12 at his farm inKingham, Chipping Norton. The Independent has reported that he is billing the event as a chance to showcase “the very best of the British food scene alongside a soundtrack of the finest bands around”.
So far KT Tunstall and Steve Earlehave been confirmed to play the festival.
James said: “We’ll throw open the farm gates for Harvest this September. My family are looking forward to a celebration of all our favourite things – food, the farm and music. What more could we ask for?”
As well as music, Harvest will feature cookery master classes, pop-up restaurants, gardening workshops and a farmers’ market. The festival is still some way off, James is today (February 3) meeting up with his Blur bandmates, with guitarist Graham Coxontweeting that they may “switch a tape recorder on”.
NYT: “Security forces and gangs chanting in favor of the Egyptian government hunted down journalists at their offices and in the hotels where many had taken refuge on Thursday in a widespread and overt campaign of intimidation aimed at suppressing reports from the capital. By evening, it appeared that none of the major broadcasters were able to provide live footage of Tahrir Square, the epicentre of anti-government protests.”
The first video is that of Round 6-Thousand protesters calling for Mubarak’s Denunciation, abdication, call it what you will.
The second video is his response to the crowds the very next day, with the images looking not too far away from a civil war, this is far from a solution.
Un-suspecting contestants have the pleasure of kissing an assortment of grateful Monkeys on a television show for what they are led to believe could be used on a National Commercial.
The first woman, blinded what she feels is more than likely her big break and with Dollor signs in her eyes, she asks no question.
Check out the ditsy giggle she lets out around the 0.27 mark. Out favourite has to be the Chimp in the white suite, best kisser by far. Hey he may be a cheeky monkey, but he is male after all.
British hacker Ashley Mitchell thought it would be a hoot to steal $12 million in online cash from Zynga, the creators of Facebook games like FarmVille and CityVille. And it would have been! If he hadn’t been caught.
Mitchell’s story reads like a textbook bungled burglary. He hacks into a Zynga server, running popular online card game Zynga Poker, and steals 400 billion of the game’s betting chips, which have an official worth of around $12 million.
Only once stolen, they’re not worth anywhere near that much. Outside the bounds of the game, on the black market, they’re “only” worth $300,000. And Mitchell could only offload a third of them before he was caught.
He’s admitted his crimes to a British court and, once convicted, faces “a substantial jail term”.
The hacker admits stealing $12million worth of poker chips from US gaming company.
Justin Bieber get booed after some dodgy camera work during a Nicks basketball game sticks him on the big screen.
Thank God he wasn’t signing in some-sort of a half time show. We’re enjoying the efforts of the guy next to him giving the little nipper some re-assurance.
Regardless, anything even slightly anti-Bieber is worth blogging about if you ask me……..
Jo Whiley is to leave BBC Radio 1after 17 years presenting on the station.
Gone but not forgotten the veteran DJ will move to BBC Radio 2 in April to begin a Monday-to-Wednesday, 8pm-9:30pm (GMT) slot. The news was announced viaBBC.co.uk.
Huw Stephens, who currently presents two evening shows onRadio 1, is set to take over Whiley’s old show.
Meanwhile, on Radio 2 Whiley replaces Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie, who move to present the afternoon slot on the station.
Whiley said she was “excited” about the move, adding: “I’m proud to work for the BBC”.
