Mystery Block Tuesday

July 1, 2008

Today marks the creation of a new feature for this blog of mine, known as Mystery Block Tuesday! This column will commentate on the latest gaming rumors and speculation on the net. And what better way to start this endeavor than with a personal crackpot theory.

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Theory: Computers will gain the ability to play Xbox 360, Wii, and PS3 games.

Evidence: Two weeks ago a crafty Neogaf forum poster had cracked the login screen to a Microsoft marketing website. The contents of the site were PR statements on unannounced games, questionnaires pertaining to these titles, and details regarding additions to Xbox Live! Services. Intellisponse the marketing group behind the site has yet to comment on the leaks. This site however has been a Microsoft affiliate for numerous years; which gives the information credibility. The leaks primarily concerned Activision games, fourteen Spiderman game concepts and a 360 balance board Tony Hawk, but the most interesting leak was a software/hardware item labeled Trioxide.

First reported on gaming blog Kotaku, the PC product Trioxide allows gamers to play all current generation consoles on their desktop. Further details are sparse, the item would come with two different price tags; a $49 dollar edition and a $299 version. Why such an immense gulf between the prices? An even better question is whether this is a hardware or software peripheral? The very best question being how this product could avoid a barrage of legal suits?

I scoffed at the idea when I first read the news two weeks ago, but after some candlelight pondering, solutions to these issues began to formulate in my mind. Maybe Trioxide isn't nearly as impossible as it first seemed.

The first question to be resolved is in what form Trioxide would arrive. Are users going to install the software on their computer and then emulate the games, or could the device plug into your computer? The software route when evaluated is the least likely. Emulation software is an inadequate process of running console games on PC. Transforming the hardware framework of a modern console to run on a computer framework eats processing power, and even the best emulation suffers countless software errors. If someone is forking over nearly 300 rupees for a product, it should work out of the box. Of course a hardware solution also features numerous issues. The product would still be incompatible with most computers and there is also the legal matter of whole-sale replicating hardware without permission.

Unless, of course, you were given the legal go ahead to reproducing the hardware. Now presenting Exhibit A. Electronic Gaming Monthly's rumor section is a well-known article for posting more fact than fiction. Most gaming sites post information from the EGM rumor mill as fact. For those too lazy to click upon Exhibit A, the article reveals that the magazine's rumor section claims that Microsoft is allowing third-party Xbox360 production. This opens the opportunity for a company to produce the Microsoft console after monetary values are settled.

This wouldn't be the first time a hardware device allowed users to play console games on their computer. The Sega CD for instance was manufactured into IBM computers. The $299 also falls in line with the most basic version of Xbox360 hardware. But then what does the $49 version include you ask? My guess is that the device is a capture card. These wonderful usb devices allow a console to plugged into the usb adapter and then be routed to the PC. The bonus of such a setup is the ability to play on a computer monitor. For those less tech savvy, monitors feature HD-quality displays. A high-def experience without the expensive television.

Another key issue to address is Xbox Live! Services. Multiplayer is a big focus for Microsoft's Xbox360 and to lose a portion of their audience to a device would be counter-productive, but even this has a possible fix. Welcome to Games for Windows, Microsoft's software community service which is attached to all computer products. Users signed up to this service play and communicate much in the same way as Xbox Live!. Perhaps the services could combine into one network. A big endeavor for a third-party console producer, but Microsoft would receive a few benefits. For example, Games For Windows was created by the corporate giant to revitalize the somewhat debilitated PC games market. What better way to bring more gamers into the PC fold than by attracting console gamers. This would also increase the Xbox360 software market for potentially increased revenue.

A few questions remain. How would the Wii or PS3 be included with Trioxide? I haven't a clue, but perhaps the product was never meant to include all three at first release. And lastly, how would Trioxide function on diverse computer hardware? Certainly not every PC would be capable of using this hardware, but then why take the financial risk if this is true.

I've done my best logical deduction to uncover the possibilities of Trioxide's existence, but it remains a very unlikely prospect. This argument has been fabricated on conjecture, rumor, and speculation of other sources; which devalues all of the above, but remains worthy of consideration.

Possibility of Being True: 40%

Note: No mathematical system exists for rumor debunking.

Snatcher Episode: 00 Complete

Preparing Thy Self for MGS4

Metal Gear Solid 4 was heralded unto us stealth loving gamers last week for the greater of gaming kind. Millions are gleefully sneaking our spandex clad hero through MGS4's lush vistas and witnessing cutscenes of Hollywood production values. One of those millions not glued to the tube with dual-shock 3 in hand is my pitiful self. A bona fide stealth expert since the days of the original MGS, I can only dream of the battle to be won against Liquid Ocelot. The worst of this predicament is that the internet has become a veritable minefield of plot spoilers. Every seemingly-innocent link related to MGS4 a coy disguise by the poster to ruin the suspense. Usually the discovery of spoilers for film/movies/books causes me no worry because the experience is half the fun, but Metal Gear Solid's plot has grown so convoluted from sequel to sequel, that inevitably the final chapter must be a train wreck. However all the reviews I've read have claimed otherwise, and I am so very curious how Kojima escapes his non-painted corner.

Back to why I'm not playing Metal Gear Solid 4. The reason is both my lack of ownership of a PS3 and the absence of cash to resolve prior problem, and the latter issue is from a few failed job interviews. Without the cash you can't play with the stache. A simple equation I should resolve as quickly as possible. My combat edge weakens with each additional day as a non-MGS4 citizen.

In order to hone my skills again and pass the time till MGS4 is in my paws, I am going to pay tribute to Metal Gear Solid 4 creator Hideo Kojima by playing all of his titles. Recording my experiences with each and posting them across my blogs. A day after I complete the title I'll provide a write up to summarize my time. Quite a few of these games will be easy to capture because I own copies of the PC versions of the games, but Boktai and the original Metal Gear's will be more difficult to capture. (Emulation will be used to record a few select games)

The Games in Order Are:
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Snatcher
Metal Gear
Metal Gear: Snakes Revenge
Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake
Metal Gear Solid
Metal Gear Solid 2
Zone of the Enders
Boktai: Sun is in Your Hands
Zone of the Enders 2
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots???

Look forward to my first update with Snatcher footage!

Enjoy Metal Gear Lupin in the mean time...

-Ciao!

Itagaki the Grand Destroyer!

Tomonobu Itagaki using his corporation destruction technique.

Recently Team Ninja's founder, pictured above-the creator of Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive series- resigned after claims that Tecmo executives had created a hostile work environment and that the company failed to pay contracted bonuses. Itagaki has deservedly filed a suite against his previous publisher for these damages, but this is only where the battle begins.

Apparently Itagaki wasn't the only Tecmo employee deserving of bonuses. Thirty-Six of Team Ninja's workers were contracted a few thousand yen for the completion of Dead or Alive 4 and Ninja Gaiden 2. Itagaki advised his Ninja clansmen to follow his example and unofficial sources report that all 37 employees are suing the company; with nearly the same number vanishing from the studio. Tecmo an industry staple since the days of Nintendo may fall by the actions of one employee.

In response to the mass exodus of employees and possible legal battles, stock holders have abandoned the company. (On June 4th, one day after Itagaki's resignation, stock fell by 10.6 percent)

This leaves me with only one question. What will happen to my beloved Tecmo Bowl Ds?