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San Francisco IDF 2008: Visual Computing Driving Innovation

Jason Lopez — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 05:35:30 +0000

At the 2008 Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco the future was clear: visual computing. From games to television, from large systems to handhelds, the demand on hardware and software platforms will be to run large amounts of data more efficiently with less power. Some of the breakthroughs to bring video and audio more easily and seamlessly to users include the scalable Nehalem chip architecture, the Media Processor CE 3100, and the architecture codenamed Larrabee.

Tags: 2008 Intel Developer Forum, visual computing, games, CE 3100, IDF, Intel, Larrabee, Nehalem

The Reboot: Interview with Peter Molyneux

Rio Pesino — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 01:35:51 +0000

Fable 2 is one of the most anticipated Role Playing Games of 2008. In this episode of The Reboot, host Rio Pesino spoke with Creative Director of Lionhead Studios, Peter Molyneux, at E3 about the game’s unique features, how far the game is from being completed and how it’s been received so far from the gaming community.

Tags: Fable 2, Peter Molyneux, Rio Pesino, The Reboot, E3, Lionhead Studios

The Reboot: Rhythm Games at E3 2008

editor — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 07:01:22 +0000

Several rhythm games made their debut at this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. The genre has gained popularity and developers have demonstrated the ability to create different styles of gameplay, from the complexity of Guitar Hero to the simplicity of Wii Music. In episode of The Reboot, host Rio Pesino previews some of the latest rhythm games shown at E3, including Wii Music, Rock Band 2 and Samba De Amigo.

The Reboot: Rock Band 2 Demo at E3 2008

Rio Pesino — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:29:05 +0000

Game Developer Harmonix changed the video game industry last year by releasing Rock Band, a popular game that uses not only a guitar, but drums and a microphone as well. The game has prompted other games to step their game up by including additional instruments, including Activision’s Guitar Hero World Tour and Konami’s Rock Revolution. In this episode of The Reboot, Harmonix’s John Drake demos Rock Band 2 at E3 2008. The game features a larger track list, improved guitar and drum peripherals and an improved World Tour and Battle of the Bands mode.

Tags: Activision, E3 2008, Guitar Hero World Tour, Harmonix, John Drake, Konami, Rio Pesino, Rock Band 2, Rock Revolution, The Reboot

The Reboot: Sports Games at E3

Rio Pesino — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 22:01:47 +0000

E3 isn’t known as a showcase for sports games, but this year’s event featured some of the hottest new sports titles. Madden 09, NBA Live 09, TNA iMPACT, WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 and Wii Sports: Resort were just a few of the playable games at E3. In this episode of The Reboot, host Rio Pesino highlights these games and more, including Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09, Pure and Smash Court Tennis 3.

Tags: E3 2008, Madden 09, NBA Live 09, Pure, Rio Pesino, Smash Court Tennis 3, The Reboot, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09, TNA iMPACT, Wii Sports: Resort, WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2009

The Reboot: Trophies and Gamercards Coming to PS3

Rio Pesino — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 07:01:10 +0000

New screens of what looks like Sony’s answer to Xbox Live were leaked over the Internet this week. Rumor has it that the Playstation 3’s next firmware update will include a trophy “reward” system and gamercards. Also, in this episode of The Reboot, with host Rio Pesino, a Los Angeles-based production company dismisses its lawsuit against Nintendo, another Playstation Phone rumor hits the Web, and a new survey says the average gamer spends $30,000 on video games.

Tags: Playstation, gamercards, The Reboot, Rio Pesino, Playstation Phone, video games

The Reboot: Getting Into the Video Game Industry

Rio Pesino — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 07:01:18 +0000

Working in the video game industry is one thing every gamer dreams of doing. According to GameCareerGuide.com, more than 50,000 people in North America alone play, create and design video games for a living. Many gamers would jump at the chance to be paid to play video games, but most don’t know the first thing to do when it comes to getting their foot in the door. In this episode of The Reboot, host Rio Pesino speaks with video game recruiters from Bungie, LucasArts, BioWare, Ubisoft, THQ and FullSail about the hiring process, what they look for in a candidate and some insiders’ advice on how to break into the industry.

Tags: video games, gamers, The Reboot, Rio Pesino, Bungie, LucasArts, BioWare, Ubisoft, THQ, FullSail

The Reboot: The Pro Gamer Experience

Rio Pesino — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 07:01:16 +0000

Gaming is a hobby for most people, but a select few have enough talent and dedication to make it a career. Tournaments for popular games like Halo 3, Guitar Hero, Madden and NBA 2k8 are held all around the world, with huge prizes at stake. In this episode of The Reboot, host Rio Pesino puts himself in the shoes of a professional gamer and shares his experience entering an NBA 2k8 tournament, progressing through the ranks and winning it all… against a bunch of kids.

Tags: Gaming, Halo 3, Guitar Hero, Madden, NBA 2k8, The Reboot, Rio Pesino, professional gamer, pro gamer

The Reboot: Xbox Spring Showcase 2008

Rio Pesino — Fri, 23 May 2008 07:01:28 +0000

Several new games were unveiled at the Xbox Spring Showcase in San Francisco. Gears of War II, Fable 2, Too Human and Ninja Gaiden II were just a few of the games on display. The Reboot’s Rio Pesino was at the showcase to give you an inside look into the event.

Tags: Xbox, Gears of War II, Fable 2, Too Human, Ninja Gaiden II, The Reboot, Rio Pesino

The Reboot: Top Five Things You Must Do in GTA IV

Rio Pesino — Fri, 16 May 2008 07:01:06 +0000

Grand Theft Auto IV has been out for a few weeks now, and most hardcore gamers have probably finished the story mode. So what else is there to do in Liberty City? Plenty. In this episode of The Reboot, host Rio Pesino gives you his top-five list of the things you must do in GTA IV, beside than story mode.

Tags: Grand Theft Auto IV, Liberty City, The Reboot, Rio Pesino, GTA IV

Xbox 360 Spring Showcase ‘08: Interview with Microsoft’s Shane Kim

Rio Pesino — Thu, 15 May 2008 18:49:59 +0000

The Xbox Spring Showcase wasn’t all about the latest titles. Microsoft Game Studio head Shane Kim spoke with The Reboot’s Rio Pesino and several other members of the media about a number of topics, including the Xbox Newton controller rumors, Blu-Ray, digital distribution and the evolution of Xbox Live.

Tags: Xbox, Microsoft Game Studio, Shane Kim, The Reboot, Rio Pesino, Blu-Ray

The Reboot: Grand Theft Auto IV Launch Party

Rio Pesino — Sat, 03 May 2008 07:01:04 +0000

Videogame chain Game Crazy held a number of Extreme GTA Experience Parties to celebrate the launch of one of the most anticipated games for 2008, Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto IV. GTA IV has received rave reviews from just about every video game Web site out there, including Gamespot, Gametrailers and IGN. The Reboot’s Rio Pesino was at one of Game Crazy’s GTA IV Launch Parties, where hundreds of gamers waited until midnight to purchase their copy of the game.

Tags: Game Crazy, Grand Theft Auto IV, The Reboot, Rio Pesino, GTA IV

The Reboot: Wii Smashes March Hardware Sales

Rio Pesino — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 07:01:44 +0000

The Nintendo Wii brawled its way to the top of the hardware sales list in March. It was the highest single-month unit sales of any platform outside the holiday timeframe, according to market research firm NPD Group. In this episode of The Reboot, host Rio Pesino breaks down the Wii sales numbers and other gaming news for the week, including Midway’s latest Mortal Kombat game, a delay of another Midway title and Pro Gamers in the Olympics?

Tags: Midway, Mortal Kombat, Nintendo, NPD Group, Olympics, Pro Gamers, Rio Pesino, The Reboot, TNA iMPACT, Wii

The Reboot: Rock Band vs. Guitar Hero III - Six Months Later

Rio Pesino — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:27:10 +0000

There’s no doubt Rock Band and Guitar Hero have changed the way videogames are played. The casual and hardcore gamer are paying big bucks for plastic guitars, drums, mics and downloadable content and both games have been hugely successful at retail since they were released late last year and the music industry has taken notice. Both Rock Band and Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock were given rave reviews by game critics at the time they were launched to the masses, but how are they rated today? With the continued release of DLC and durability of the equipment, one question that comes to mind is which game reigns supreme now? In this episode of The Reboot, host Rio Pesino answers those questions and gives you his hands-on experience with both games…six months later.

Tags: Activision, EA, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, Harmonix, Rio Pesino, Rock Band, The Reboot, DLC

The Reboot: Grand Theft Auto 4 Review Hits the Web

Rio Pesino — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 07:01:20 +0000

In this episode of The Reboot with Rio Pesino, the first Grand Theft Auto 4 review is on the Web, weeks before the game’s release on April 29th. Some are questioning the validity of the review of GTA 4, which is the most-hyped game of 2008. Also on this week’s show, Call of Duty 4’s variety map pack shoots down the Xbox Live service, Sony brings back the Dual-Shock controller to the PS3 and THQ unveils Saints Row 2 at its Gamer’s Day event in San Francisco.

Tags: The Reboot, Rio Pesino, Grand Theft Auto 4, Call of Duty 4, Dual-Shock, Saints Row 2, Gamer’s Day, GTA IV

The Reboot Video Review - God of War: Chains of Olympus

Rio Pesino — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 07:01:18 +0000

Kratos makes his debut on the Playstation Portable in God of War: Chains of Olympus. The game is a prequel to the first God of War, which was one of the best games ever to come out on the Playstation 2. Fans of the God of War series and PSP owners have been looking forward to this game ever since developer Ready at Dawn Studios announced that it would come out for the handheld system. The buzz surrounding Chains of Olympus was so big that Sony even unveiled a God of War PSP bundle before the game was released. But does it live up to the hype? Find out in this podcast video review of God of War: Chains of Olympus with The Reboot’s Rio Pesino.

Tags: Kratos, Playstation Portable, God of War: Chains of Olympus, God of War, Playstation 2, Ready at Dawn Studios, The Reboot, Rio Pesino

The Reboot: Sonic Unleashed

Rio Pesino — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:37:50 +0000

In this episode of The Reboot, Sonic the Hedgehog fans went nuts after several screenshots and a video trailer of the blue-haired hero’s latest adventure, Sonic Unleashed, were leaked online. SEGA Europe later confirmed that the game will come out this year. In other gaming news, Sony and Harmonix were hit with lawsuits this week and a Super Famicom console signed by Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto fetches thousands of dollars on Ebay.

Tags: The Reboot, Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic Unleashed, SEGA, gaming news, Harmonix, Shigeru Miyamoto

The Reboot: Martin Leung’s Performance at Video Games Live

Rio Pesino — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:35:14 +0000

Martin Leung, also known as the Video Game Pianist, gained worldwide recognition for playing video game themes on the piano. He’s best known for the 2004 video of him playing the theme to Super Mario Bros. blindfolded. In this episode of The Reboot, Leung performs a tribute to perhaps the most famous Role Playing Game, Final Fantasy, at a Video Games Live show in San Francisco.

Tags: Martin Leung, Video Game Pianist, video game, Super Mario Bros., The Reboot, Role Playing Game, Final Fantasy, Video Games Live

The Reboot: Inside Video Games Live

Rio Pesino — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 07:01:20 +0000

Video Games Live is a festival highlighting some of the most popular video game music soundtracks performed by top orchestras and choirs. Super Mario Brothers, Sonic the Hedgehog, Halo, Mass Effect, Bioshock and Metal Gear Solid are just a few of the games featured at every show. The Reboot was at the Video Games Live event in San Francisco, which featured pianist Martin Leung and a rare rendition of the “Metroid” theme. In this episode, host Rio Pesino speaks with co-creator Tommy Tallarico about how Video Games Live was created, what makes it different than your typical symphony and why the event is for all music lovers, not just gamers.

Tags: Video Games Live, video game music, Super Mario Brothers, Sonic the Hedgehog, Halo, Mass Effect, Bioshock, Metal Gear Solid, The Reboot, Martin Leung, Metroid, Rio Pesino, Tommy Tallarico, gamers

Microsoft’s Porcaro on Online Community

Jennifer Jones — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 07:01:20 +0000

As one of the world’s most renowned gamers, John Porcaro, Manager of the Online Community of Microsoft knows what is happening online whether it concerns games or not. He talks with Marketing Voices of online trends and where the world of online is headed.

The Reboot: Capcom Digital Day

Rio Pesino — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:00:09 +0000

Downloadable games were the focus of Capcom’s Digital Day. During the press-only event, Capcom did not talk about Street Fighter IV or Resident Evil 5. Instead, the game developer showed off an updated version of and several other games that will soon be available on Xbox Live Arcade and the Playstation Network. In this episode of The Reboot, host Rio Pesino gives you a preview of HD Remix and other gaming news for the week, including Super Smash Bros. Brawl Disc Issues, another Xbox 360 price drop and the results of a survey that says gaming is more popular than sex. In fact, in honor of that last item, we’ve put together a little treat for viewers, featuring some interesting moments from Dead or Alive, Rumble Roses, Ms. Pac Man and Dixie Kong….

This video is available on:
YouTube, Metacafe, Revver, DailyMotion, Blip.tv, Crackle, Sclipo, and Bittorrent

Tags: downloadable games, Capcom, Digital Day, Street Fighter IV, Resident Evil 5, Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, Xbox Live Arcade, Playstation Network, The Reboot, Rio Pesino, Super Smash Bros. Brawl Disc Issues, Xbox 360, Dead or Alive, Rumble Roses, Ms. Pac Man, Dixie Kong

The Reboot: GDC 2008 Highlights

Rio Pesino — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 07:01:48 +0000

A record 18,000 people attended this year’s Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, CA. The five-day event featured 400 sessions, the GDC career pavilion, keynotes by Microsoft’s John Schappert and Ray Kurzweil and other GDC-related events including an evening with Will Wright and Video Games Live. In this episode of The Reboot, host Rio Pesino gives his take on some of the highlights of this year’s event, including Logitech’s new GT5 Prologue racing wheel, Dark Sector and Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds.

Tags: Dark Sector, Game Developers Conference, Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds, John Schappert, Logitech, Ray Kurzweil, Rio Pesino, The Reboot, Video Games Live, Will Wright

The Reboot/GDC 2008: Video Games Live - Metroid

Rio Pesino — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 01:29:05 +0000

Video Games Live was in San Francisco, CA, offering full-symphony-orchestra treatments of some of the most popular video games. Fans in attendance were given a special performance, as VGL played the theme to the popular Nintendo game “Metroid.” It was only the second time Metroid has ever been played at VGL and The Reboot was there to cover the event.

Tags: Metroid, Nintendo, The Reboot, Video Games Live

Intel Processing Power at GDC

Michael Johnson — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:10:54 +0000

Intel processing power was the name of the game at the 2008 Game Developers Conference. With quad core and 8-core muscle “under the hood,” gamers, developers, and graphics folks alike had a chance to see their games supercharged: faster rendering, MMOs running at ultimate speed, and easier exporting of element into game architecture.

For this video podcast, PodTech spoke with Peter De Lappe, of Softimage (also check out Softimage on the Road) on 3D game development graphics architecture, as well as Ethan Schur of TDVision, developers of Stereoscopic gaming headgear.

By the way, Intel’s smallest-ever processor will soon be given its brand name. This is the processor that Intel’s Denise Bohling says will bring an awesome Internet experience to small mobile devices. Check out her blog and share your guesses on the new brand name, which will be announced on March 3.

Tags: Intel, processing power, 2008 Game Developers Conference, quad core, game architecture, Peter De Lappe, Softimage, Softimage on the Road, Ethan Schur, TDVision, Stereoscopic, gaming headgear

Where is Gaming Going?

Jason Lopez — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 08:01:40 +0000

Now that GDC 2008 is behind us, and the reviews are really rolling in, PodTech takes a wide look at the gaming industry, with IDC gaming analyst Billy Pidgeon.

Gaming’s future likely includes more attention from the courts, as it continues to gain in mass popularity and questions continue to arise around “mature content” and children, for instance. And, as always, plenty of opinions about various consoles, PC vs. consoles, and the issue of game development from the developers’ perspective (the one-console future, for example).

Billy Pidgeon is the program manager for IDC’s consumer markets: gaming program. In this podcast, he speaks with PodTech’s Jason Lopez about the gaming industry, drawing important distinctions between gaming, which is a massive and growing business, and the more entrenched industries that are built around movies.

The stakes for gaming companies are higher in a way, says Pidgeon, because there are no second chances after a game flops at market (unlike the many, many secondary distribution paths that movies have). But as the industry grows, Pidgeon says, there’s a chance for the world to benefit, not only because of the truly international business that the gaming industry enjoys, but also because a broad interest in gaming might inspire a broader interest in technology and mathematics.

Photo courtesy of Gamerscore Blog, via Creative Commons

Tags: GDC 2008, IDC, Billy Pidgeon