Gold-Gamers http://www.gold-gamers.com Latest Game News and Articles Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:00:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 GDC Sony Press Conference Coverage http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/gdc-sony-press-conference-coverage/ http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/gdc-sony-press-conference-coverage/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:00:47 +0000 admin http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/gdc-sony-press-conference-coverage/ For those interested, we will be covering the whole conference via CoveritLive. We invite you to take part in the polls, and to share your predictions, before the show starts. Remember the conference starts at 4:00 PST. Hit the break for the latest updates.

]]> http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/gdc-sony-press-conference-coverage/feed/ 0 What the Next Wii Zelda Title Needs http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/what-the-next-wii-zelda-title-needs/ http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/what-the-next-wii-zelda-title-needs/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:00:47 +0000 admin http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/what-the-next-wii-zelda-title-needs/ resumeplay writes: "Do we heap an unfair amount of expectations on Nintendo? Hmmm…Perhaps the best way to answer this is to consider the level of expectations you hold for a Nintendo-developed title…Yeah, poor Nintendo…So it’ll be a hard task, indeed, for Nintendo to build a new Zelda title that will please everybody.

So in the spirit of like for our friendly neighborhood huge business, here are a few suggestions for the next Wii Zelda title."

]]> http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/what-the-next-wii-zelda-title-needs/feed/ 0 PC | EA COO weighs in on Infinity Ward firings, retail’s fate http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/pc-ea-coo-weighs-in-on-infinity-ward-firings-retails-fate/ http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/pc-ea-coo-weighs-in-on-infinity-ward-firings-retails-fate/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:00:32 +0000 admin http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/pc-ea-coo-weighs-in-on-infinity-ward-firings-retails-fate/ GDC 2010: COO John Schappert says digital revenue will still be tied to shiny discs for years to come, expresses regret that Modern Warfare 2 developers will be spending time making court cases instead of games.

Who was there: John Schappert, chief operating officer of Electronic Arts, took part in a half-hour “Mythbusting Fireside Chat” with Los Angeles Times writer Alex Pham. The executive was expected to talk about the industry’s migration to digital distribution, the ultimate fate of retail game sales, and how social media and other recent trends will influence that evolution.

What they talked about: Alex Pham started the talk by recapping a bit of Schappert’s history, back when he was a lead programmer for Visual Concepts working on an EA Madden game and FIFA Soccer. Things quickly turned toward the future, as Pham questioned if there were any prospects at all for disc-based games with the advent of digital distribution.

Schappert called it a misnomer that retail discs would be done away with in the small term. He acknowledged that there’s a huge opportunity in digital distribution but pointed out that no matter how successful the current wave of add-ons and downloadable content may be, those business transactions still start with a retail sale of a physical disc. Even when most of the industry’s revenue is drawn from digital distribution, Schappert said he still expects the majority of that money to have been spent on extending and adapting a standard retail game.

Schappert said EA has seen consumers buying fewer games of late. Sales of the top 10 games are representing an increasing amount of the industry’s total take. He added that if a publisher doesn’t have a game in the top 30–and arguably, the top 20–then that company isn’t making money. Hit games are larger than ever, he said, and they’re selling for longer thanks to downloadable map packs and other add-ons. While Schappert stood by the “shiny disc business,” he emphasized that the model has changed, saying the days of “ship it and forget it” are behind the industry.

EA’s faith in retail games doesn’t mean the company is shying away from downloadable titles. Beyond its own efforts, the company has begun teaming with independent developers on digitally distributed titles through its EA Partners program. “It’s simpler than ever to be your own self-publisher,” Schappert said, before adding, “It’s harder than ever to stand out.”

Schappert also touted another EA development, the recent acquisition of Playfish. When questioned if the company aimed to use the company to further EA’s existing brands or launch new ones, the executive said gamers would likely see the developer produce both. Pham questioned if classic arcade titles were among those being considered, and while Schappert evaded the question, he did say it was an area EA was looking at.

When pressed about whether social gaming is a bubble waiting to pop, Schappert clarified that any bubble perception was due to a combination of the space being the “hot” thing right now and having low barriers to entry. As a result, he expects some social entities to emerge healthy, but he won’t be surprised to see others go under.

“It’s the place to be right now, but we’ll see what happens tomorrow,” Schappert said of social gaming.

When questioned about innovation and whether or not it’s the place for huge publishers to be, Schappert pointed to Dragon Age: Origins, Mass Effect, and Battlefield: Terrible Company. Dead Space and Mirror’s Edge were also name-dropped as Schappert touted the publisher’s track record with its own original products and ran down some of EA Partners’ success tales.

Pham brought up the recent Infinity Ward-Activision flap and questioned if EA is a excellent publisher (”mothership” was the word she used, referencing a Bobby Kotick presentation from last month’s DICE Summit) for developers to team with.

“Maybe you don’t pick motherships that like to litigate that much, or have a legal team that is a revenue-generating team,” Schappert said, drawing a wave of laughter from the crowd.

Joking aside, Schappert said he was disappointed with the situation, calling former Infinity Ward heads Jason West and Vince Zampella two of the best creative people in the industry. He also singled out Modern Warfare 2 as a fantastic game.

“To reckon that they’re going to be spending their time dealing with lawyers instead of making games is a loss,” Schappert said.

Quote/Takeaway: “At the end of the day, online is fantastic. It’s a nice evolution of our space. But it does all start with a shiny disc.”

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot

“PC | EA COO weighs in on Infinity Ward firings, retail’s fate” was posted by Brendan Sinclair on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:51:22 -0800
]]> http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/pc-ea-coo-weighs-in-on-infinity-ward-firings-retails-fate/feed/ 0 PC | OnLive launching June 17 http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/pc-onlive-launching-june-17/ http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/pc-onlive-launching-june-17/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:00:03 +0000 admin Ambitious HD game-streaming service to debut on PC, Mac during E3, micro-consoles to follow; will cost $15/month; 1080p, 60fps service coming 2011.

One year after it was unveiled at the 2009 Game Developers Conference, OnLive finally has a launch date. Company CEO Steve Perlman announced today at his keynote address at the GamesBeat mini-conference at GDC 2010 that OnLive will go live on June 17. The service will initially be available as an application for the Windows and Mac operating systems, with a micro-console that can be attached directly to HDTVs to arrive later on in the year.

OnLive’s launch will be limited to the contiguous lower 48 United States and will cost $14.95 per month. According to the
OnLive Blog, the first 25,000 thousand people to sign up will have the service fee waived for three months. (To apply, sign up on the
official OnLive site.) Multi-month pricing and other promotions will be announced prior to the service’s debut.

OnLive’s monthly fee does not include the buy price of games themselves, which can be rented or bought from publishers directly at a lower-than-retail price. Publishers supporting the service with PC titles include Electronic Arts, Take-Two, THQ, Ubisoft, Epic, Atari, Codemasters, and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. At the DICE Summit last month, Perlman demonstrated both Crysis and Unreal Tournament 3 running on the service with minimal lag.

The June launch will only be the start of the OnLive rollout. The service will offer 1080p high-definition gaming at 60 frames per second starting in 2011. An international launch is also plotted for an undetermined date.

For those unfamiliar with OnLive, the service aims to offer lag-free PC gaming via the Web. The company claims that since the heavy lifting of graphics processing will be done on the service’s servers, it will offer high-definition gaming on any PC or Mac, regardless of graphics card or CPU speed.

The addition of the micro-console will also allow the service to be streamed directly onto televisions, without the need for a standard game console. Perlman sees this as a positive because OnLive games will not be tied to increasingly antiquated consoles. He promised that the OnLive servers would receive graphical upgrades every six months in order to provide the latest PC graphics.

For a detailed look at OnLive in action, read
GameSpot’s coverage of Perlman’s DICE presentation or watch the OnLive announcement video below.

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot

“PC | OnLive launching June 17” was posted by Tor Thorsen, Sarju Shah on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:52:33 -0800
]]> http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/pc-onlive-launching-june-17/feed/ 0 Cheat tips for Mafia wars http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/cheat-tips-for-mafia-wars/ http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/cheat-tips-for-mafia-wars/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:06:04 +0000 admin Mafia wars have grown by leaps and bounds with uncountable players fighting it out. It’s an addictive game wishing on strategy and if you want to make it to the top you had higher recognize what your are doing.
Here are four mafia wars tips to get you started on the right track.
Size is very vital No it is not simply your ancient girlfriend saying it. A massive family is capable of providing muscle for all the fights and jobs needed in the game. Smaller families will not gain much since you’ll find that you may be losing battles and obtaining robbed. Watch out though of adding to your mafia too quickly since you’ll special items availability is based on your member stats.
Even thus, recruiting new members is crucial to gaining any ground. Forums and blogs are simply a couple of places to find new recruits.
Doing the right jobs
Taking the most beneficial jobs for the extent you are at is vital to urge ahead. The right jobs early in the sport can earn you the cash to shop for property and alternative things which can increase you’re earning power. For example, in levels one – four the best job for money and experience is auto theft.
Get Godfather points Godfather points are the foremost questioned for in Mafia Wars. These points are typically earned through traditional game play and can allow you beat people who are at much higher levels than you. They’ll also be bought and earned by finishing offers. Godfather points are rather precious thus use them sparingly.
Do not invariably bank your money
Keep in mind that depositing your money in the bank can cost you 10% while the utmost amount you’ll lose during a fight is $one hundred,000. Therefore, banking your cash might not be the wisest factor to do.

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]]> http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/cheat-tips-for-mafia-wars/feed/ 0 Things Not to Do in Mafia Wars http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/things-not-to-do-in-mafia-wars/ http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/things-not-to-do-in-mafia-wars/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:05:35 +0000 admin You’ll have a ton of choices as you start to build your criminal empire in Mafia Wars.  This can be one of the best things about the game, but it can conjointly make it arduous to work out where your priorities should be.  All of the decisions you make too soon can have a vital impact on the speed at that you’re able to advance in the game.  Here are a few useful hints on pitfalls to avoid if you wish to succeed quickly in Mafia Wars.
Fighting
There’s nothing incorrect with fighting, but you’ll want to choose your battles wisely.  Don’t start a fight unless you recognize you’ll be able to win it.  Going after someone just as a result of they attacked you is a sensible means to waste valuable time and resources.  You’ll have masses of time to select fights later on once you’re made and powerful.  Best to wait ‘til then to take your revenge.
Property
Every property offers a slightly completely different come on your investment.  Once you’re initial beginning out in the sport, you want to urge some money returning in, but you probably won’t have a huge mafia in place nevertheless to guard your investments.  Don’t go out and build up a bunch of hotels and casinos at this time because you’ll simply be asking somebody to return rob you.  Just specialize in buying up the property you’ll need to make these on later on.
Godfather Points
You’ll be tempted constantly with different novelty things to buy along with your Godfather points.  Resist this urge.  Godfather points are valuable and hard to return by.  You’ll need as many as you’ll dig up presently, and you’ll regret it if you squander a bunch of them early in the game.
Ability Points
You’ll be able to use skill points to improve your character in several completely different ways.  Don’t waste your skill points increasing your character’s attack and defence rating, but.  The various weapons and other armaments you get along the approach will make sure of you in those areas.  It’s a waste to spend your skill points on these character aspects and it won’t do you a lot of smart anyway.
The Bank
Whereas the bank’s ten% laundering fee will be frustrating, it’s better to place your money in there where it’ll be safe.  If you just leave all your additional money lying out in the open, you’re just begging somebody to return along and take it.  You’ll’t lose cash in a fight if it’s in the bank, therefore keep it there till you’re prepared to use it.
You have got a heap of options in Mafia Wars and a heap of different territories to explore.  Cuba and Moscow are currently open for business, and there are new regions coming back soon as well.  You want to be prepared to require on these new challenges as they become accessible, thus conserve your resources and pay your cash wisely.  You’ll profit huge time in the end if you are doing, and before you know it, you’ll end up in command of the largest and most powerful mafia around.

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]]> http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/things-not-to-do-in-mafia-wars/feed/ 0 NIntendo DSi XL Multi Player Console http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/nintendo-dsi-xl-multi-player-console/ http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/nintendo-dsi-xl-multi-player-console/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:05:03 +0000 admin Nintendo DSi XL {is the|may be the|could be the|is a|will be the} {latest|most recent|most up-to-date|newest|hottest} {in the|within the|inside the|inside|from the} line of Nintendo DSi series. Released on March 5th, 2010, it has some {special|specific|particular|unique|exclusive} {features|functions|characteristics|includes|attributes} that {make it|allow it to be} {unique|special|exclusive|one of a kind|distinctive}, {such|like|these|this kind of} as {a new|a groundbreaking new|a fresh} Touch Pen, {improved|enhanced} battery {life|existence|living|daily life|everyday living}, {and a|plus a|along with a|including a|and also a} 4.2″ {screen|show|show screen|monitor}. {As the|Since the|Because the|For the reason that|Because} term itself is self explanatory, it {is a|is really a|is often a|can be a|is usually a} {larger|larger|greater|large|higher} edition {of the|from the|with the|in the|on the} {existing|current|present} DSi {game|online game} console. The {screen|show|show screen|monitor} is {one|1|a single} inch {larger|larger|greater|even larger|even larger} {and the|and also the|as well as the|plus the|along with the} frame {of a|of the|of your} {much|significantly|a lot|very much|substantially} {better|much better|greater|far better|improved} {quality|high quality|top quality|excellent quality|brilliant}. It {allows|permits|enables|makes it possible for|lets} {you to|one to|you to certainly} play your {games|game titles|video games|mmorpgs} {more|a lot more|much more|extra|additional} efficiently, {as the|since the|because the|for the reason that|because} {games|game titles|video games} {appear|show up|look} {much|significantly|a lot|very much|substantially} clearer and {larger|larger|greater|large|higher}. {What is|What’s} {more|a lot more|much more|extra|additional}, {they have|they’ve} also been priced {very|extremely|really|incredibly|quite} reasonably. So, you {should|ought to|must|need to|have to} not have {much|significantly|a lot|very much|substantially} {problem|issue|difficulty|distress|dilemma} in {finding|learning|obtaining|getting|selecting} the cheapest Nintendo DSi XL pre-orders

DSi XL versus DSi {Choice|Option|Selection|Alternative|Preference}

The {latest|most recent|most up-to-date|newest|hottest} {model|design|style|product|type} also {offers|provides|presents|delivers|gives} you a wide array of {selection|choice|collection} {to choose|to select} from in terms of {colors|colours|hues|shades} and {style|type}. The {color|colour} {options|choices|alternatives|selections} {include|contain|consist of|comprise|involve} Wine Red, White, Dark Brown, and White. {But|Nevertheless|Nonetheless|On the other hand|Even so}, {despite|in spite of|inspite of|regardless of} all these {facts|details}, {it is|it’s|it can be|it really is|its} {very|extremely|really|incredibly|quite} {vital|essential|crucial|critical|significant} for {you to|one to|you to certainly} {keep|maintain|hold|retain|preserve} in {mind|thoughts} that this new addition {to the|towards the|for the|on the|towards} DS {family|household|loved ones|family members} has not been launched with an intention to replace the {existing|current|present} DSi. {It is|It’s|It can be|It really is|Its} just {a excellent|a fantastic|an brilliant|a fantastic|an effective} {alternative|choice|option} {choice|option|selection|alternative|preference} {for the|for that|to the} gamers. {If you|Should you|When you|In case you|If you ever} {prefer|choose|favor|like} your gaming a {small|tiny|small|minor} {larger|larger|greater|large|higher}, Nintendo DSi XL {makes|can make|makes|tends to make|would make} {the right|the best|the ideal} {choice|option|selection|alternative|preference} {for you|for you personally|in your case|to suit your needs|available for you}. {But|Nevertheless|Nonetheless|On the other hand|Even so}, if {you are|you’re|you might be|that you’re|that you are} {looking for|searching for|trying to find|seeking|in search of} a {model|design|style|product|type} {that is|that’s|which is|that may be|that is certainly} {easily|effortlessly|very easily|quickly|simply} portable, you had {better|much better|greater|far better|improved} {consider|reckon about|take into account|contemplate|look at} {buying|purchasing|getting|acquiring|obtaining} DSi, {which is|that is|which can be} lighter, sleeker, and smaller. The video {game|online game} console {is a|is really a|is often a|can be a|is usually a} {better|much better|greater|far better|improved} {choice|option|selection|alternative|preference} {for those|for all those} who use it when stationary, {such|like|these|this kind of} as when at {home|house|residence|dwelling|household}, and not {while|whilst|when|although|even though} {they are|they’re|these are} traveling.

DSi XL {Features|Functions|Characteristics|Includes|Attributes}

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{Better|Much better|Greater|Far better|Improved} Nintendo Gaming

If {you are|you’re|you might be|that you’re|that you are} {looking for|searching for|trying to find|seeking|in search of} {something|some thing|one thing|a thing|anything} that could {provide|supply|give|offer|produce} you {a new|a groundbreaking new|a fresh} 2-player gaming {experience|knowledge|expertise|encounter|practical knowledge}, {the new|the groundbreaking new|the modern} Nintendo DSi XL {can be|could be|may be|might be|is usually} a {perfect|ideal|best|brilliant|fantastic} {package|bundle|package deal} {for you|for you personally|in your case|to suit your needs|available for you}. The DSi XL {games|game titles|video games|mmorpgs} coming {soon|quickly} {will be|is going to be|will probably be|are going to be|might be} equipped for multi-players {on the|around the|within the|about the|for the} {same|exact same|similar|identical} console. {After|Right after|Following|Immediately after|Soon after} the initial loading, {you are|you’re|you might be|that you’re|that you are} greeted with vivid, sharp {colors|colours|hues|shades}. The amazingly realistic and crisp {images|pictures|photos} only add {more|a lot more|much more|extra|additional} {fun|enjoyable} {to your|for your|for a} {overall|general|total|entire|all round} gaming {experience|knowledge|expertise|encounter|practical knowledge}. {Because of|Due to|As a result of|By reason of} the fatter, precise stylus and {larger|larger|greater|large|higher} {images|pictures|photos}, {you will|you’ll|you may|you can|you might} have {fantastic|brilliant|fantastic|wonderful|excellent} time playing quicker-paced {games|game titles|video games}. The {larger|larger|greater|even larger|even larger} speakers and {better|much better|greater|far better|improved} sound {system|program|method|technique|process} is {another|an additional|one more|yet another|a further} {fantastic|brilliant|fantastic|wonderful|excellent} {feature|function|attribute|characteristic|element} {that you|that you simply|that you just|which you|you} {may|might|could|may possibly|may well} {like|adore|like|really like}.

{Overall|General|Total|Entire|All round}, the {larger|larger|greater|large|higher} screens make {a fantastic|an brilliant|a fantastic|a terrific|an incredible} supplement {feature|function|attribute|characteristic|element}, not a disappointment. In {fact|truth|reality|actuality|simple fact}, {the new|the groundbreaking new|the modern} Nintendo DSi XL {is not|isn’t|just isn’t|seriously isn’t|will not be} so {huge|large|huge|major|massive} that {would be|will be|could be|can be} a {problem|issue|difficulty|distress|dilemma} with its portability.

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]]> http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/nintendo-dsi-xl-multi-player-console/feed/ 0 Not all Final Fantasy XIII’s are created Equal. http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/not-all-final-fantasy-xiiis-are-created-equal/ http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/not-all-final-fantasy-xiiis-are-created-equal/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:00:51 +0000 admin http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/not-all-final-fantasy-xiiis-are-created-equal/ Some gamers are questioning what version of Final Fantasy XIII should be picked up, the Xbox 360 or the PS3 version? There is some info that may swing gamers towards the PS3 version, that involves FFXIV.

]]> http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/not-all-final-fantasy-xiiis-are-created-equal/feed/ 0 Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Four Pack Released http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/battlefield-bad-company-2-four-pack-released/ http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/battlefield-bad-company-2-four-pack-released/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:00:51 +0000 admin http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/battlefield-bad-company-2-four-pack-released/ Have you and your squad bought Battlefield: Terrible Company 2 yet? If not, you could save $50 by purchasing the BF:BC2 Four Pack through Steam.

]]> http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/battlefield-bad-company-2-four-pack-released/feed/ 0 PC | GDC Awards, Sony press briefing streaming live on GameSpot http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/pc-gdc-awards-sony-press-briefing-streaming-live-on-gamespot/ http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/pc-gdc-awards-sony-press-briefing-streaming-live-on-gamespot/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:00:18 +0000 admin http://www.gold-gamers.com/2010/03/pc-gdc-awards-sony-press-briefing-streaming-live-on-gamespot/ Thursday’s Game Developers Choice Awards ceremony and Wednesday’s suspected motion-controller unveiling top coverage of San Francisco event; write-ups of Meier, Pardo, Molyneux, Pitchford, Muzyka, Sakamoto, Yamaoka, Toriyama, and Schafer talks also on tap; full schedule inside.

SAN FRANCISCO–The 2010 Game Developers Conference started today with the Independent Games Summit kickoff, a session on “guerilla” development, and a (very) brief talk by Caleb Arseneaux from Scribblenauts developer 5TH Cell. Tomorrow morning, the main conference will start with a series of presentations, including talks by BioWare co-founder and CEO Dr. Ray Muzyka, Bungie creative director Joseph Staten, and Electronic Arts COO John Schappert.

The event will shift into high gear at 4 p.m. PST Wednesday, when Sony Computer Entertainment will hold a press conference. Though no details are yet public, the company is expected to use the event to show off the PlayStation 3’s motion-control system, widely believed to be called the “PlayStation Arc.” GameSpot will be on hand with both live video streaming and liveblog coverage, accessible from the main GameSpot GDC page.

Thursday will see full coverage of presentations by Silent Hill composer Akira Yamaoka, Metroid co-creator Yoshio Sakamoto, Naughty Dog’s Richard Lemarchand, Lionhead’s Peter Molyneux, and Blizzard Entertainment’s Rob Pardo. Besides the arrival of the latest NPD report, there will also be a special live GDC edition of Today on the Spot, broadcast from the nearby GameSpot Studios at 4 p.m. PST.

That evening, GameSpot will exclusively stream the Game Developers Choice Awards, hosted by Deus Ex and Thief creator Warren Spector, who is currently at work on Epic Mickey at Disney Interactive Studios. Uncharted 2 will be the most-nominated game at the ceremony, which will also see id Software’s John Carmack take home the Lifetime Achievement Award for over 20 years of work on the Doom and Quake series.

Valve Software’s Gabe Newell will receive the 2010 Pioneer Award for his work on the Half-Life, Counter-Strike, Team Fortress, Portal, and Left 4 Dead series. The ceremony starts at 6:30 p.m. with the Independent Game Festival winners, followed by the main awards show approximately a half-hour later.

Friday morning coverage starts at 10:30 a.m. PST, with GameSpot’s liveblog of GDC keynote speaker Sid Meier, founder of Firaxis games and creator of the iconic Civilization strategy series. Also scheduled are write-ups of presentations by Gearbox Software’s Randy Pitchford and Final Fantasy XIII writer Motomu Toriyama, as well as sessions covering Batman: Arkham Asylum, disabled gaming, and Xbox Live achievement data.

GameSpot will also be covering a panel which will see Pardo, Muzyka, and other industry heavyweights discuss how online connectivity will become more central to games in the future. That afternoon will also see another live edition of TOTS at 4 p.m.

GDC 2010 wraps up on Saturday with sessions focusing on Mass Effect 2, Shadow Complex, and Assassin’s Creed II. Ubisoft Montreal’s narrative director Richard Rouse will give a talk on evoking serious emotions, while Double Fine CEO Tim Schafer will host a panel discussing (what else?) comedy.

For more on these events and all the latest screenshots, videos, previews, interviews, and breaking news, keep your browser set to GameSpot’s ongoing 2010 Game Developers Conference coverage.

GAMESPOT’S GDC 2010 COVERAGE – SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

TUESDAY, MARCH 9

Scheduled Sessions:

–”From Huge Studio to Small Indie: Guerrilla Tactics from Hello Games ” – Sean Murray (managing director, Hello Games)

–”Indies and Publishers: Fixing a System That Never Worked” – Ron Carmel (Co-founder, 2D Boy)

–”5TH Cell: From Mobile to Handheld & Beyond” – Caleb Arseneaux (Producer, 5th Cell)

–IGF KEYNOTE: “Increasing Our Reach: Designing To Grab and Retain Players” – Randy Smith (owner and game designer, Tiger Style)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10

4 p.m. PST: SONY GDC 2010 PRESS CONFERENCE, speakers and subject TBA. – Streaming LIVE w/ text liveblog accompaniment.

Scheduled Sessions:

–”Building a Blockbuster Franchise” — Joseph Staten (Creative Director, Bungie), Ray Muzyka (CEO and General Manager, BioWare Corp.)

–Indie Gamemaker Rant! – Various speakers

–Mythbusting Fireside Chat – John Schappert (Chief operating officer, Electronic Arts)

–”The Relentless March Towards Free…and What it Means to the Games Industry” – Kristian Segerstrale (vice president and general manager, Playfish)

THURSDAY, MARCH 10

4 p.m. PST: Today on the Spot LIVE: Special GDC Edition

6:30 p.m. PST: Independent Game Festival Awards – Streaming LIVE!

~7 p.m. PST: Game Developers Choice Awards, hosted by Warren Spector – Streaming LIVE!

Scheduled Sessions:
–”Achievements Considered Harmful?” – Chris Hecker (definition six, inc.)

–”Among Friends – An Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Post-Mortem” – Richard Lemarchand (game designer, Naughty Dog)

–”As Long as the Audio is Fun, the Game Will Be Too” – Akira Yamaoka (Grasshopper Manufacture Studio)

–”Building an Open-World Game Without Hiring an Army” – Nate Fox (game director, Sucker Punch Productions {Infamous})

–”Making a Unique Visual Direction: The Successes and Failures of Making a Near-Future Cyberpunk Setting with a Renaissance Twist in Deus Ex 3 ” – Jonathan Jacques-Belletete (Art director, Eidos Montreal)

–”Epic Games/Unreal Engine 3 Media Briefing” – Speaker TBA

–”From Metroid to Tomodachi Collection to WarioWare: Different Approaches for Different Audiences” – Yoshio Sakamoto (Group manager/software plotting and development department, Nintendo)

–”Making a Standard (and Trying to Stick to it!): Blizzard Design Philosophies” – Rob Pardo (VP, game design, Blizzard Entertainment)

–”Peering into the Black Box of Player Behavior: The Player Experience Panel at Microsoft Game Studios” – Bruce Phillips (User researcher, Microsoft)

–”The Complex Challenges of Intuitive Design” – Peter Molyneux (Head of studio, Lionhead Studios), Josh Atkins (studio design director, Microsoft Games Studio)

–”What Happened Here? Environmental Storytelling”- Harvey Smith (Game director, Arkane Studios), Matthias Worch (Senior level designer, Visceral Games)

FRIDAY, MARCH 12

10:10 a.m. PST: GDC KEYNOTE: “The Psychology of Game Design (Everything You Know Is Incorrect)” Sid Meier (Director of creative development, Firaxis Games)

4 p.m. PST: Today on the Spot LIVE: Special GDC Edition

Scheduled Sessions:
–”Accessibility Arcade: Bringing AAA Game Titles to the Disabled Through Controller Hacks” – Michelle Hinn (Chairperson, IGDA Game Accessibility Special Interest Group), Tara Tefertiller (VP game industry relations, Right to Fun Foundation)

–”Borderlands and the 11th Hour Art Style Change. Or: Kids, Don’t Try this at Home! ” – Brian Martel (Co-Founder & chief creative officer, Gearbox Software), Randy Pitchford (President and CEO, Gearbox Software)

–”The Crystal Mythos and Final Fantasy XIII” – Motomu Toriyama (Scenario writer for Final Fantasy XIII, Square Enix)

–”The Art Direction of Batman: Arkham Asylum: Rebooting a Super Hero Video Game IP” – David Hego (Art director, Rocksteady)

–”The Connected Future of Games” – Min Kim (Vice president, Nexon America Inc.), Ray Muzyka (CEO and general manager, BioWare Corp.), Rob Pardo (VP, game design, blizzard entertainment), Brian Reynolds (Chief designer, Zynga), Jason Holtman (Director of business development, Valve)

–”Double Header Analysis: Xbox Live Achievement Data and Intellectual Property Trends in Video Games” – Geoffrey Zatkin (President & COO, Electronic Entertainment Design and Research), Jesse Divnich (Vice President of Analyst Services, EEDAR)

–”The Game Design Challenge 2010: Real-World Permadeath” – Eric Zimmerman (Independent), Heather Kelley (Founder and game designer, Kokoromi), Erin Robinson (Independent Game developer, Wadjet Eye Games), Jenova Chen (Co-founder, thatgamecompany), Kim Swift (Project lead/game designer, Airtight Games)

–”Console Wars Revisited: Are We Breaking the Mold or Reliving History?” – Don Daglow (President & CEO, Don Daglow Interactive Entertainment)

SATURDAY, MARCH 13
–”Designing Assassin’s Creed 2″ – Patrick Plourde (Lead game designer, Ubisoft)

–”Designing Shadow Complex” – Donald Mustard (Creative director, Chair Entertainment Group)

–”Five Ways a Video Game Can Make You Weep” – Richard Rouse III (Narrative director, Ubisoft Montreal)

–”Make ‘Em Laugh: Comedy in Games” – Tim Schafer (CEO, Doublefine), Rhianna Pratchett (Freelance scriptwriter and narrative designer, Independent), Sean Vanaman (Writer & designer, Telltale Games), John Teti (Games writer, The A.V. Club)

–”Rock Band Network: Postmortem” – Matthew Nordhaus (Senior producer: design, Harmonix Music Systems), Caleb Epps (Senior sound designer, Harmonix Music Systems)

–”Where Did My Inventory Go? Refining Gameplay in Mass Effect 2)” – Christina Norman (Lead gameplay designer, Bioware

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