Plus, Ni no Kuni sales figures, female fighters in UFC and Warren Spector's game design commandments
A selection of links, hand-picked by the Guardian games writers.
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*Free Forza 5 added to Xbox One pre-order deal | CVG UK*
More enticements for gamers wavering between the next-gen titans:
Microsoft has added Forza Motorsport 5 to its Xbox One 'Day One Edition' pre-order promotion in Europe.
UK retailers GAME, Amazon.co.uk and ShopTo are offering the deal, which rewards Xbox One pre-orders with either a free digital copy of Forza 5 or the previously announced FIFA 14.
Given the apparent demand for the console, and the alleged minor production difficulties, it's interesting another deal should be added at this stage. Still, Forza, like Gran Turismo, is one of those driving games that appeals to consumers who don't play anything else – a free copy may just tip them in the direction of Xbox One.
--------------------
*Kojima wants MGS 5 characters to be 'more erotic' to encourage cosplay | CVG UK*
This reads like it has come straight from an MGS fanatic's fever dream:
Hideo Kojima has been instructing his lead artist to make some of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain's characters look "more erotic".
In a series of tweets posted on his feed this morning, Kojima announced that he would be revealing the full CG data for Quiet, Metal Gear Solid V's mute female sniper, on Friday to provide cosplayers with her full outfit.
Yes, Kojima actually tweets, "The initial target is to make u want to do cosplay or its figurine to sell well." Okaaaaay...
--------------------
*Ni no Kuni has sold approximately 1.4 million units worldwide, confirms Namco | VG247*
Good news for fans of beautifully crafted JRPGs:
Namco Bandai has confirmed Ni no Kuni has sold approximately 1.4 million units worldwide. The figure includes worldwide sales of Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, released for PlayStation 3, and Japan only sales of its Nintendo DS. "We are very proud to join our partner, Level-5 to announce that the critically acclaimed role-playing game series, Ni no Kuni, has approximately reached the 1.4 million units sold worldwide," said Olivier Comte, Namco Europe's SVP. "The franchise has been very well received in EMEA and as a result of its quality, has reached an amazing number of sales for a JRPG."
If you haven't played it, if you don't normally play Japanese RPGs, please make an exception.
--------------------
*Female fighters coming to EA Sports UFC | GameSpot.com*
Call of Duty isn't the only major games franchise to discover that there's been this whole other gender lurking around out there the whole time:
Upcoming fighting game EA Sports UFC will feature playable female fighters, a first for any UFC game, Electronic Arts announced today.
The "groundbreaking" initiative will be headlined by UFC Women's Bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and bantamweight contender Miesha Tate.
"This is a great moment for video games and for Mixed Martial Arts," said EA Sports UFC general manager Dean Richards in a statement. "In our commitment to delivering the most realistic fighting experience ever achieved, we wanted to represent the full spectrum of talent and diversity of all the fighters in the sport, including women who have become an undeniable force to be reckoned with."
--------------------
*Warren Spector's Commandments of Game Design | GamesIndustry International*
A fascinating article from the legendary game designer:
If the game director and producer have just one job that matters it's to ensure that the entire team heads in a single direction, staying on course throughout the years-long development process. To that end, I drafted a set of rules, "The Deus Ex Rules of Roleplaying."
Good stuff for wannabe game designers and interested players alike.
--------------------
*Seoul calibre: Inside Korea's gaming culture | Eurogamer.net*
Another excellent Eurogamer feature, this time on South Korea's gaming culture.
Korean culture is now café culture, an urban layer of coffee establishments trading in ambient cavities of westernism.
Not quite as ubiquitous, but still extremely common, are PC Bangs: LAN gaming hangouts where 1000 Won nets you an hour of multiplayer catharsis. In Gangnam's Maxzone, overhead fans rotate at Apocalypse Now speed, slicing cigarette smoke as it snakes through the blades. Korea's own NCSoft, whose European base is but a stone's throw from the Eurogamer offices, is currently going strong with its latest MMO, Blade & Soul.
It's worth clicking on the link just for the header and strap...
--------------------
You can follow Press Start at Pinboard. Reported by guardian.co.uk 15 hours ago.
A selection of links, hand-picked by the Guardian games writers.
--------------------
*Free Forza 5 added to Xbox One pre-order deal | CVG UK*
More enticements for gamers wavering between the next-gen titans:
Microsoft has added Forza Motorsport 5 to its Xbox One 'Day One Edition' pre-order promotion in Europe.
UK retailers GAME, Amazon.co.uk and ShopTo are offering the deal, which rewards Xbox One pre-orders with either a free digital copy of Forza 5 or the previously announced FIFA 14.
Given the apparent demand for the console, and the alleged minor production difficulties, it's interesting another deal should be added at this stage. Still, Forza, like Gran Turismo, is one of those driving games that appeals to consumers who don't play anything else – a free copy may just tip them in the direction of Xbox One.
--------------------
*Kojima wants MGS 5 characters to be 'more erotic' to encourage cosplay | CVG UK*
This reads like it has come straight from an MGS fanatic's fever dream:
Hideo Kojima has been instructing his lead artist to make some of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain's characters look "more erotic".
In a series of tweets posted on his feed this morning, Kojima announced that he would be revealing the full CG data for Quiet, Metal Gear Solid V's mute female sniper, on Friday to provide cosplayers with her full outfit.
Yes, Kojima actually tweets, "The initial target is to make u want to do cosplay or its figurine to sell well." Okaaaaay...
--------------------
*Ni no Kuni has sold approximately 1.4 million units worldwide, confirms Namco | VG247*
Good news for fans of beautifully crafted JRPGs:
Namco Bandai has confirmed Ni no Kuni has sold approximately 1.4 million units worldwide. The figure includes worldwide sales of Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, released for PlayStation 3, and Japan only sales of its Nintendo DS. "We are very proud to join our partner, Level-5 to announce that the critically acclaimed role-playing game series, Ni no Kuni, has approximately reached the 1.4 million units sold worldwide," said Olivier Comte, Namco Europe's SVP. "The franchise has been very well received in EMEA and as a result of its quality, has reached an amazing number of sales for a JRPG."
If you haven't played it, if you don't normally play Japanese RPGs, please make an exception.
--------------------
*Female fighters coming to EA Sports UFC | GameSpot.com*
Call of Duty isn't the only major games franchise to discover that there's been this whole other gender lurking around out there the whole time:
Upcoming fighting game EA Sports UFC will feature playable female fighters, a first for any UFC game, Electronic Arts announced today.
The "groundbreaking" initiative will be headlined by UFC Women's Bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and bantamweight contender Miesha Tate.
"This is a great moment for video games and for Mixed Martial Arts," said EA Sports UFC general manager Dean Richards in a statement. "In our commitment to delivering the most realistic fighting experience ever achieved, we wanted to represent the full spectrum of talent and diversity of all the fighters in the sport, including women who have become an undeniable force to be reckoned with."
--------------------
*Warren Spector's Commandments of Game Design | GamesIndustry International*
A fascinating article from the legendary game designer:
If the game director and producer have just one job that matters it's to ensure that the entire team heads in a single direction, staying on course throughout the years-long development process. To that end, I drafted a set of rules, "The Deus Ex Rules of Roleplaying."
Good stuff for wannabe game designers and interested players alike.
--------------------
*Seoul calibre: Inside Korea's gaming culture | Eurogamer.net*
Another excellent Eurogamer feature, this time on South Korea's gaming culture.
Korean culture is now café culture, an urban layer of coffee establishments trading in ambient cavities of westernism.
Not quite as ubiquitous, but still extremely common, are PC Bangs: LAN gaming hangouts where 1000 Won nets you an hour of multiplayer catharsis. In Gangnam's Maxzone, overhead fans rotate at Apocalypse Now speed, slicing cigarette smoke as it snakes through the blades. Korea's own NCSoft, whose European base is but a stone's throw from the Eurogamer offices, is currently going strong with its latest MMO, Blade & Soul.
It's worth clicking on the link just for the header and strap...
--------------------
You can follow Press Start at Pinboard. Reported by guardian.co.uk 15 hours ago.