Abstracting hardware: obsolescence obsolete (with OnLive)

Most everyone has heard the news of OnLive, the new cloud-based computer gaming platform. I’m not here to regurgitate that for you. Instead, I intend to give it some context. Cloud computing is all the rage right now. With netbooks growing in popularity, all sorts of Internet-based services are popping up to make the experience of owning a netbook more rich. OnLive applies this model to PC gaming while...

Frequency/Amplitude reborn!

Frequency and its sequel Amplitude for the PS2 were Harmonix’s, Guitar Hero creators and current developers of Rock Band, first foray into console gaming. The games pioneered the modern rhythm gaming craze. In fact, the biggest difference between Rock Band and the early games are the controller. Harmonix tested the waters by releasing games that could be played with the standard PS2 controller. The games were...

Pure developer showing off trailer of their next game

This screenshot is of Pure not the new title unfortunately. Blackrock the developer of Pure, an excellent ATV racing game, has a new title in the works. Joystiq has posted a trailer of their latest work—a Burnout-esque action racing game. Having played Pure myself (and loving it no less), I’m pretty psyched to see what’s next up for this developer. Now that I’ve discovered it is an action racing...

Three great gaming blogs (two new to me)

Awesome gaming blogs are coming out of the woodwork. I have found two excellent blogs in the past week that were not at all on my radar before. The first is Play This Thing! That’s their exclamation, not mine, but it is well-deserved nonetheless. The blog covers games that are otherwise starving for coverage. They cover indie games of all kinds including downloadable games, Flash games, and even board games...

Doom 4 tidbits

In spite of the fact that I am now a huge Valve/Half-life fan, I still remember the time when id Software was a completely dominant force in the space of first-person shooters. Rock, Paper, Shotgun reports on a small info-leak from an interview with one of the motion-capture actors from the forthcoming sequel, Doom 4. Evidently, there are both marines and civilians armed in this game. The actor discussed the ways...