Confab Podcast #1: Sexism in Video games

We have been working hard to bring you our first ever podcast, we hope you enjoy listening to it.

This week sees listeners join the Editor, Benjamyn Carron and contributors: Emma-Lee Davidson, Andy Robison, Charlotte Peters and lastly Michael Palmer talk about sexism in the video games industry.

Be sure to check out the article which spawned the topic for this weeks podcast: here



Related media:

6:15 Minecraft - No Female Characters




13:38 Dead Rising Cross dressing

15:40 Soul Calibur Females












16:30 Ivy from Soul Calibur 













By Ben Carron

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Game News: Nintendo 3DS XL Announced

Nintendo announces new jumbo 3DS revision

Nintendo has announced a new 3DS hardware revision at its latest Nintendo Direct broadcast.
Simply named the Nintendo 3DS XL (or Nintendo 3DS LL in Japan), the system revision shares similarities to the Nintendo DSi XL/LL that was released in 2010.

The Nintendo 3DS XL comes in three colours. In Europe it will be Blue, Red and Silver while Japanese gamers can get White, Red and Black and Silver and Black. It features an increase in screen size to 90% larger than the original Nintendo 3DS' screen and features a longer battery life. Ranging from 3.5 to 6.5 hours for Nintendo 3DS software and 6 to 10 hours for Nintendo DS software, depending on the brightness of the system, 3D usage and other features.

The pixel density of the 3DS XL works out to be less of a significant decrease in ppi than the DSiXL was due to the 3DS' higher resolution screen meaning 3DS titles shouldn't suffer too much graphically from the jump in size.


Original 3DS: 132.15ppi
3DS XL: 95.59ppi
----------
Original DS: 106.67ppi
DS Lite: 102.56ppi
DSi: 98: 46ppi
DSi XL: 76.19ppi
Source: [en.wikipedia.org] & [pixeldensitycalculator.com]

The Nintendo 3DS XL will release simultaneously in Europe, for around £179.99, and in Japan on July 28th, and finally in North America on August 19th for $199.99


- Vernon Schieck

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Nintendo Direct Pre E3 2012 Hardware Round Up

Once again gamers are calling in sick days, stocking up on snacks as they prepare for the years biggest gaming expo, where Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo hold conferences which are set to run over the next couple of days, as well as conferences being held by three of the largest publishers: Ubisoft, Konami and EA. 

Nintendo have a lot to prove this year as they build up to the release of their next generation console the Nintendo Wii U which is set to hit retail in the 2012 Holiday period. Nintendo appear to have a plethora of information and announcements for this years E3 as they have ran a Pre E3 direct presentation to reveal new information about some of the Wii U's new hardware and software features.

 Hardware:

Wii U Tablet Controller: 

Wii U Tablet Controller named Wii U Gamepad

Wii U Gamepad changed slightly from prototype seen in E3 2011

 - Slider pads changed to Analogue Sticks 

 - NFC Chip on bottom left corner of Gamepad

 - Start & Select Buttons Moved to below the face buttons on right hand side

 - Gamepad longer and more comfortable to hold

Wii U Pro Controller announced:

This new, yet incredibly familiar looking controller, aimed at the 'hardcore' audience is intended for longer play sessions than using the Wii U's Game pad. Despite looking an awful lot like their rivals current generation controller, it could potentially be one of the best controllers out there featuring what appear to be good analogue triggers and that which the Xbox 360 controller lacked: a decent d-pad.

- Ben Carron

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Weekly Gaming News - 24/02/2012

Welcome to the weekly gaming news. There's been quiet a lot of news this week, a fair number of small news (Release dates announced, Sale Stats etc etc) One of the biggest things this week is the official launch of Sony's brand spanking new handheld gaming system the Playstation Vita. I personally haven't bought one yet but I have gotten to play one and it looks like a great piece of hardware.
Check out our PS Vita Launch article


I hope you enjoy reading the rest of this weeks news. Also if you have any ideas on things you'd like to see added to the weekly gaming news please feel free to: email me


Bite Size News
Jet Set Radio coming to XBLA and PSN/SEN
TMNT game will be developed after all but by Activision
Fallout 3 and Oblivion double pack coming to Xbox 360 and PC April 3rd 
Double Fine Adventure reaches $2 million 
Rumour: EA making Crysis 3?
Witcher 2 sells 1.1 million copies in 2011
Hideo Kojima reveals New Metal Gear Solid game over twitter.
Borderlands 2 releasing September 21st
Game UK not stocking Ubisoft launch titles
Game UK cancels all The Last Story pre-orders hours before release
PS Vita outsold by PSP again
 Guild Wars 2 Beta Sign up begins
Fill out a survey to have a chance to get into the Counter Strike: GO beta
South African retailer allowing pre-orders for God of War 4

Feature Story

Huge Nintendo News

 Nintendo America have released a video announcing some upcoming games and there release dates. The first announcement was that a downloadable game called Dillon's Rolling Western, a tower defence game developed by Vanpool. It has just been released and is now available at the Nintendo 3DS eShop right now.

We also got some Kid Icarus Uprising news and some mention about the multiplayer modes. They also went into weapon fusing which looks very interesting which can be found here.

Mario Tennis Open got a release date of May 20th for the 3DS. We also have gotten some video footage of some gameplay. This is being developed by the guys who made Mario Tennis on the Nintendo 64, which is a fan favourite, so it's shaping up to be a solid arcade tennis game.

Nintendo's Xenoblade Chronicles Cover art poll has finished and Nintendo have announced which cover art they will be using for the Wii release. (Pictured below) Also the North American release date is set for April 6th. Xenoblade Chronicles is already out in Europe/Australia. Originally Nintendo had no plans to release the title in North America but they changed there minds after heavy opposition from Wii owners.

The  biggest news coming out of the video was that The Last Story, for the Nintendo Wii, will be released in America some time this year. The Last Story is a JRPG which is being developed by Mistwalker, the had of Mistwalker was, until recently, the executive producer for the Final Fantasy series. This game was just recently released for Europe and Australia as well.

No Plans For PS2/PS3 Games Coming To PS Vita

Sony's handheld packs a punch and has the potential to run any game of the PS2 library on the go. However it looks like Sony haven't gotten any plans to start porting over the PS2 and PS3 library to the vita.

Sony answered the question over at the Playstation Blog:

Q: Is the PS Vita compatible with other PlayStation platform games such as PS3, PS2, or PSP? Do you have any plan to support other PlayStation platforms in the future?

A: PlayStation does not have plans to make PS Vita compatible with PS3 or PS2 titles at this point.

Hopefully we see Sony changing there mind in the near future to support these older titles, backwards compatibility/libraries are a huge selling point to many gamers. 

3DS Is Fastest Selling Console Ever In Japan

According to Nintendo the Nintendo 3DS is now the fastest selling video game console ever in Japan. (Also in Australia as well) The 3DS sold a whooping five million units in the first year of launching. The initial launch of the 3DS did not go as Nintendo were expecting, especially after the highly successful Nintendo DS, with poor sale numbers due to a lackluster launch lineup and high retail price (£229.99/$249.99) Nintendo panicked and quickly set to try and save the 3DS with a price drop and released some solid first party titles. Helped by the big releases such as Super Mario 3D Land in November and Mario Kart 7 in early December the 3DS sales skyrocketed during the holiday period.

For such a flaky start it's impressive Nintendo managed to reach the five million units sold milestone quicker than any other console did.

WEEKLY GAME RELEASES 

UK Weekly releases
Date:	Game Title:	Platforms:
February 22nd 2012	Playstation Vita	Vita
February 22nd 2012	Alan Wake's American Nightmare	XBLA
February 24th 2012	Binary Domain	PS3/360
February 24th 2012	Jak and Daxter Collection	PS3/360/PC
February 24th 2012	The Last Story	Wii
February 24th 2012	Syndicate	PS3/360/PC

AUS Weekly Releases
Date:	Game Title:	Platforms:
February 22nd 2012	Alan Wake's American Nightmare	XBLA
February 22nd 2012	Asura's Wrath	PS3/360
February 23rd 2012	Playstation Vita	Vita
February 23rd 2012	Asura's Wrath	PS3/360
February 23rd 2012	Binary Domain	PS3/360
February 23rd 2012	Catherine	PS3/360
February 23rd 2012	The Last Story	Wii
February 23rd 2012	TEKKEN	3DS

Sources: Inside Gaming Blog - Joystiq - Games On.Net 

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Gaming Feature: The Flow of the Nintendo eShop

3DSWare - The tides of the eShop

Those of you who have owned a 3DS since launch, you probably remember the system came with fun and engaging features! Some of the more popular ones were StreetPass Mii Plaza, AR Games, the friends list and the music and camera applications. However, one important feature was not available at the system launch: the Nintendo eShop.

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Gaming Feature: Saving - Nuances and Nuisances

To save or not to save?

Saving, it has been an integral part of gaming ever since it was first used. Rudimentary incarnations of it came in the form of passwords, where one would enter a series of characters to enter a specific point in the game. 

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Gaming feature: Hands on with Skyrim

I used to critique games until I took an arrow to the knee...

After the excruciatingly long wait, finally, the nine divines have blessed us with the gift of the fifth installment into the Elder Scrolls Series. Oh Talos, we thank ye for Skyrim and its amazing gameplay, huge, HUGE beautifully decorated open world and the captivating stories we learn about on our journey. Okay, so perhaps some would say I'm overreacting here, and whether you think I am or not, I don't care. If you played the predecessors to the highly anticipated 2011 release 'Skyrim' and you thought they were good, then I suggest you take a seat and... No, forget that, just go buy it. Don't even bother reading this!

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Game Feature: Australia fights for their video game rights

A fight against the censorship and lack of Australian adult video games

Australian gamers have been fighting a long and hard battle to try and secure an adult rating for video games. The highest rating games can be awarded, at this very moment is MA15+. This has lead to a lot of video games that should have been classified as an adult only game getting an MA rating, meaning teenagers are currently allowed to go out and buy these violent video games. 
Though that is not even the worst part...

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Game Review: Dead Island

Tropical paradise. Now with more zombies!

Publisher: Deep Silver

Developer: Techland

Platforms: PlayStation 3/Xbox 360/PC

Genres: First-Person-Shooter/Horror

Release Date: September 9th 2011

Price: PC- £29.99 Xbox 360/PS3- £39.99 (RRP)

Ok, let me just say this straight off the bat, I'm a huge zombie nut. I don't know why, but there's something so strangely compelling about the idea of undead humans stumbling around and feasting on our soon-to-extinct bodies. Of course, what makes this situation so compelling is the idea of survival. The idea of living against the odds and being a true hero of mankind, or something like that. Unfortunately, I doubt this would be the case if a zombie apocalypse were to actually spring up on our planet, (It could just happen yet, just you wait!)

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Game Review: Game Dev Story - iOS/Android

Ever wondered what it was like to run your own games company?

Developer: KAIROSOFT CO.,LTD.

         Platforms: iOS Devices/Android phones

Genres: Simulation/Strategy/Casual

Release Date: April 21st 2011

Price: £2.49/£1.60 (Android)

Game Dev Story appeared on digital shelves out of nowhere, there was very little coverage about it; a surprise hit. Once it was released however, it quickly gathered steam through word of mouth keyboard online and received mostly positive reviews from purchasers on the mobile markets. 

The premise of Game Dev Story is straightforward: You start off with a brand new games development studio and have to produce games and work your way up the market. Just like any developer or publisher around today did, even the likes of Electronic Arts or Activision, whom are now giants within the games industry.

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