Welcome to another edition of This Week in Geek. This Week in Geek is the one place you can go to get everything you need to know on gaming, entertainment, entrainment, and kittens. I search the internet for all the latest rumors and announcements so you don't have to. Get ready to see all this week's game releases too: downloads, PC games, and console games. Prepare to know more than ever before...
Virtual Console Releases:
-Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa-Opa. Originally for the Sega Master System. 1 player. 500 Wii points.
WiiWare Releases:
-Water Warfare. Developed by Hudson. 1-8 players. 800 Wii points.
-Reel Fishing Challenge. Developed by Natsume. 1 player. 500 Wii points.
-Silver Star Reversi. Developed by Agetec. 1-2 players. 500 Wii points.
DSiWare Releases:
-Sudoku Master. Developed by Hudson. 1 player. 500 DSi points.
Game Releases:
June 30, 2009:
-Call of Juarez: Bound on Blood (X360, PC, PS3)
-Mega Man Star Force 3: Black Ace (DS)
-Mega Man Star Force 3: Red Joker (DS)
-Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (PC, PS3, X360, PSe DS, Wii)
-Steambot Chronicles: Battle Tournament (PSP)
-Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (X360, PC, PS2, Wii, PS3, PSP, DS, MAC)
-Infernal: Hell's Vengeance. (X360)
Rumors:
-Halo: Reach could be compatible with Project Natal according to Harold Ryan, Bungie's President, saying it "absolutely" "could" be enabled to work with Natal. This is the first we are hearing of possible interconnectivity between the two.
Source
-According to EA's newsletter Battlefield 1943 has a tentative release date. The game was said to be available for download on the PlayStation Network and the Xbox Live Arcade on July 9th. However, after this newsletter's release DICE producer Gordon Van Dyke said they are only "close to confirming" the dates. Was this a mix-up, a misprint, or someone releasing the release date before they were ready to announce it?
Source
-Tetsuya Nomura of Square Enix is talking Kingdom Hears 3. He isn't confirming anything but he is acknowledging what fans wants and how he wants to give that to them, eventually, "Right now I’m busy with Birth by Sleep and FF13: Versus, let’s think about the future plans of Kingdom Hearts slowly. But the next Kingdom Hearts is not restricted to Kingdom Hearts 3. However it won’t be a side story, but an authentic addition. Separate from that, I’m thinking on the things of Kingdom Hearts 3."
The Buzz:
China has officially made gold farming in World of Warcraft illegal. In-fact the trading of virtual goods in general has now become out-lawed. This comes as a surprising announcement for the country considering so much actual "gold" is made due to in game gold farming. It is widely doubted that this law will be enforced rigorously however, because so much money is brought into the country from it.
China's Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Commerce released this statement:
"The virtual currency, which is converted into real money at a certain exchange rate, will only be allowed to trade in virtual goods and services provided by its issuer, not real goods and services,"
"The Chinese government estimates that trade in virtual currency exceeded several billion yuan last year, a figure that it claims has been growing at a rate of 20% annually. One billion yuan is currently equal to about $146 million.
"The ruling is likely to affect many of the more than 300 million Internet users in China, as well as those in other countries involved in virtual currency trading. In the context of online role playing games like World of Warcraft, virtual currency trading is often called gold farming. "
It is estimated that over 80% over gold farmers are based in China.
How will this effect not only the in-game economy of games like Wow but also the real-life economy of China?
Source
Announcements:
-Sega has sadly confirmed that the Alien RPG that Obsidian was developing has been cancelled. A post was made on the Aliens RPG message board:
"Unfortunately, it is true that we are no longer working on the game, and we wanted to finally announce that officially to everyone who has been following its development."
Side note: Gearbox is still working on Aliens: Colonial Marines.
Source
-Starcraft II lead designer, Dustin Browder, wants the beta for Starcraft 2 to be public and he wants it to last "four to six months." Blizzard is keeping their mouths shut on when this public beta would begin. This news is prompting many to doubt that the game will be shipping in 2009 as hoped unless the beta is announced soon.
Source
Lolcats:
