During its Gamefest event, which had its second and final day today, Microsoft's Marketplace business manager Rohan Oommen gave a presentation entitled "Xbox Live Marketplace: Future of Digital Distribution." The presentation outlined a number of statistics pointing to the success of Xbox Live Marketplace, including that 75% of Xbox Live users have downloaded content at an average of over 20 items each, making for a total of over 40 million downloads so far. Xbox Live Arcade has been successful as well, with 65% of Live users downloading content with a demo-to-full version conversion rate of 22%. By contrast, conversion rates for PC casual gaming are more in the line of 1%. Interestingly, Microsoft has found that gamers seem to respond fairly well to a variety of Live Arcade price points; games priced at 800 points ($10) and 1200 points ($15) end up making more revenue than those priced at 400 points ($5). As far as extra in-game content, according to Oommen's presentation slides, "Gamers are hungry for Game Add-on content... [it's] not coming fast enough." This segment too appears to be fairly price insensitive, as there is a "core audience for each game that downloads all add-on content for that game."

One new initiative revealed in the presentation is "Consumables." Consumables are repurchasable in-game assets delivered via Xbox Live Marketplace. They may consist, for example, of in-game currency or better equipment for the player's character. The technology behind Consumables will be added to the fall version of the Xbox 360 SDK. According to 1UP, Microsoft also hopes to make this technology directly integrated within gameplay, meaning players would be able to spend real world money on in game items without even leaving the game in question and visiting the Xbox Live Marketplace.

HardOCP claims to have gotten a look at Microsoft's Xbox 360 roadmap, consisting of a few interesting bits of rumor. According to the site, the announced external HD-DVD drive for Xbox 360 will retail for around $200 and, as previously revealed, will not make use of HDMI. Other news outlets have also cited $200 as a likely launch price for the device. This is in line with reports coming from retailers earlier this year, indicating that Microsoft plans to make the combined price of an Xbox 360 and HD-DVD drive no more expensive than that of the higher-end PS3 model.

Despite the earlier lack of comment on the part of Too Human (X360) developer Silicon Knights or publisher Microsoft regarding rumors that the upcoming action game is no longer running on Epic's Unreal Engine 3, Silicon Knights president Denis Dyack has now addressed the matter directly. Dyack denied the allegations in a statement the company has delivered to the press:

"Although we do not usually comment on speculation, rumors of Silicon Knights completely scrapping the Unreal Engine 3 on Too Human and massive delays for the Too Human product release are false. Too Human is progressing very well and we expect that gamers will be extremely excited with Too Human when we next show it."

Too Human is slated for release in the first half of 2007.

Sega today announced that one of its "vintage brands" will be returning, though the company stopped short of revealing just which brand. Planet Moon, the studio behind Infected (PSP) and Armed & Dangerous (Xbox, PC), will be returning to Sony's portable console to handle development on this title. "SEGA's vast library of properties allows for unlimited possibilities in revitalizing fan-favorites on the PSP," said Planet Moon co-founder and CEO Bob Stevenson. "Our passion for Sega's classic brands combined with our extensive background in crafting original games will help us create a compelling new chapter in this fan-favorite franchise." Sega did not give any indication as to the release period for the game.

The publisher has two other recently announced retro revivals in the works as well. Totally Games, best known for the X-Wing and TIE Fighter franchises and more recently Secret Weapons Over Normandy (PS2, Xbox, PC), is working on a new version of an unrevealed Sega IP, and Secret Level (Final Fight: Streetwise) is heading up a new Golden Axe game for Xbox 360 and PS3.

In a presentation at today's Gamefest event in Seattle, Microsoft's product unit manager for hardware Robert S. Walker made some comments suggesting that the company may release a new optional "advanced" version of the Xbox 360 controller at some point in the future. The presentation was largely focused on Xbox 360 peripherals coming in the near future, such as the Xbox Live Vision camera and the Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel, but at a certain point the topic shifted to the issue of fine control in genres such as first person shooters which are arguably less suited to traditional console controllers than to a mouse and keyboard. After confirming that, as previously stated, the company has no plans to allow in-game mouse and keyboard support on Xbox 360, Walker noted that Microsoft is looking at ways to modify the right analog stick on the controller to make it more conducive to the precise movements used in shooters and various other genres. This controller would not replace the original controller, and would merely be an option available to players looking for a more advanced control scheme.

When asked for clarification by Shacknews, Walker reiterated that Microsoft does not yet have any concrete plans for the workings of such a device, nor is there any projected release period. Rather, it is something under consideration by Microsoft's hardware development teams as a long term possibility.

Silicon Knights' upcoming Too Human, the first title in a planned epic sci-fi trilogy incorporating themes and characters from Norse mythology, has undergone its share of delays over its ten year development system. Originally planned for PlayStation, the game was eventually moved to GameCube, and is now in development for Xbox 360.

According to recent unconfirmed reports, the game may have hit another roadblock. The Advanced Media Network claims that Silicon Knights has been encountering problems with Epic's Unreal Engine 3 and plans to create its own internal engine to power the game. Such a move would undoubtedly push the game's release back even further; it was recently delayed to early 2007 from its prior holiday season 2006 release period.

Despite other similar reports of developer difficulty with the tools, the Unreal Engine 3 remains by far the middleware of choice among next-gen developers when it comes to high end graphics rendering. In regards to these rumors, neither Silicon Knights nor publisher Microsoft Game Studios have offered any comment.

If you keep up with the vibrant and creative world of video game film adaptations, you may be familiar with the LatinoReview, which manages to post reviews of game-based film scripts on a surprisingly frequent basis and with a high degree of accuracy. The latest subject of reviewer El Mayimbe's criticism is the script to Hitman written by Skip Woods (Swordfish), who is also directing the film. El Mayimbe gives the script an "A" rating, calling it "very kick ass," "a masterpiece," and "overwhelmingly clever and intelligent," and stating that it is likely to be "the defining role of [star Vin Diesel's] career." For the curious, the review also contains various plot spoilers.

For reference, LatinoReview gave an A- to Stuart Beattie's (Spy Hunter, Pirates of the Caribbean) Splinter Cell screenplay, and an A to Alex Garland's (28 Days Later) script for the Halo film, which is currently being rewritten by newcomer D.B. Weiss.

When it released its most recent financial results, publisher Electronic Arts disclosed that it will be increasing the amount of funding it allocates to Nintendo DS and Wii development. Speaking to UK trade publication MCV, EA executive VP and COO of worldwide studios David Gardner elaborated on the company's position regarding the latest portable consoles from Nintendo and Sony.

In the last year, EA has weighted its portable development significantly in favor of PSP, which comes as little surprise given the conduciveness of EA's multiplatform approach to the PSP's home console-like attitude to portable gaming. However, in the light of the increasingly strong performance of Nintendo DS, Gardner noted, that may not be the most ideal route. "I think we were excited by the technology, but the consumers have proven that actually what they want is fun," he said. "We must never forget that what we need to focus on is fun and so EA is putting more effort behind DS games--and creative ones that really take advantage of the hardware."

Despite an apparent reallocation of funds, EA still has plenty of games in the works for PSP. If online retailers EBgames.com and GameStop.com (both owned by GameStop) are to be believed, the company is leveraging its several of its older properties for a PSP compilation called EA Replay. According to the product description, the game will support head to head multiplayer for applicable titles (presumably via local wireless) and will contain ports of 14 EA-owned titles. The provided list, with platforms added, is as follows:

- Grey Matter's B.O.B. (SNES, GEN)
- Electronic Arts' Budokan: The Martial Spirit (AMI, C64, GEN, PC)
- Electronic Arts' Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf (AMI, SNES, GEN, GB, GG, Lynx, GBA, PC)
- High Score's Jungle Strike: The Sequel to Desert Strike (AMI, CD32, SNES, GB, PC)
- Electronic Arts' Haunting Starring Poulterguy (GEN)
- Mutant Productions' Mutant League Football (GEN)
- Probe Entertainment's Road Rash (AMI, GEN, GB, GG, GBC)
- Electronic Arts' Road Rash II (GEN)
- Electronic Arts' Road Rash 3: Tour de Force (GEN)
- Bullfrog Productions' Syndicate (AMI, SNES, GEN, 3DO, JAG, PC)
- Origin Systems' Ultima VII: The Black Gate (SNES, PC)
- Electronic Arts' Virtual Pinball (GEN)
- Origin Systems' Wing Commander (AMI, SNES, SCD, PC)
- Origin Systems' Wing Commander: The Secret Missions (SNES, PC)

(Thanks GameSpot)

Microsoft today announced the final release date for Epic's upcoming Xbox 360 shooter Gears of War. Referred to in marketing materials as Emergence Day, November 12, 2006 will be when the game is officially available in stores, though comments made today by Epic employees suggest that retailers will be able to sell the title as soon as it is delivered to their stores. Somewhat oddly for a game release, the date falls on a Sunday. The game will hit the United Kingdom on November 17, the same day Sony plans to launch PlayStation 3 in North America and Europe.

Gears of War will ship in two versions, a standard edition for $59.99 and a limited edition collector's edition for $69.99. The higher price tag on the limited edition pays for metal packaging as well as an official book of artwork entitled "Destroyed Beauty" and a DVD with documentary footage. The pricing scheme breaks the Xbox 360's tradition for Microsoft-published software, which has previously launched at a $49.99 price point for standard editions.

Speaking on the possibility of a pre-release demo, Epic vice president Mark Rein soundly refuted any such speculation, noting that the time it takes to create a demo would needlessly delay the game. "Given a choice of the game this year or a demo this year and the game next year I'm sure every one of you would rather have the game this year because you're already planning to buy it," he said frankly, adding that the company has not decided whether to create a demo post-release. However, it seems like Epic's priority is on creating extra downloadable content for the game, which has already proven to be hugely popular with Xbox Live gamers. "I know we have some very cool plans (not 100% solid so too early to give any specifics) for additional downloadable so that might take a higher priority than creating a demo," he said.

Following comments made this week by Ubisoft's Laurent Detoc that Ubisoft has seven titles in development for Nintendo's upcoming Wii console, the publisher has issued a press release providing a somewhat surprising clarification to that remark. It seems that the company in fact plans to release seven titles at the system's launch alone, which solidifies the company's existing image as the strongest third party supporter of the console. Today's announcement claimed that there are "many more titlets currently in development" in addition to those planned for launch. The titles are:

- Red Steel (exclusive, already announced): Yakuza-themed gun- and swordplay action title from Ubisoft Paris
- Far Cry: This iteration of Far Cry will feature "a fresh storyline, new maps, characters and equipment," as well as being tailored to the Wii remote, according to an IGN interview
- GT Pro Series: A newly announced racing franchise unique to Wii, featuring 80 licensed cars, tuning options, and drift physics. Apparently, this game will be packaged with some kind of custom peripheral.
- Rayman Raving Rabbids (multiplatform, already announced): Ubisoft Montpellier's latest Rayman title is heading to all current- and next-gen consoles, though designer Michel Ancel seems to consider Wii the game's primary platform
- Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII: Wii version of Ubisoft Romania's WWII flight combat sim
- Monster 4x4 World Circuit: Wii version of Ubisoft's monster truck franchise
- Open Season (multiplatform): Wii version of Ubisoft's animated film adaptation

The French version of today's press release also stated that a Wii version of Prince of Persia will be released in March 2007, though the English-language release did not include that information. Prior rumors alleged that Ubisoft was preparing a compilation of the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time trilogy for Wii; this may be referring to that project.

Today's announcement brings the number of expected Wii launch titles near 30.

Last night, Blizzard sent out a press release indicating that various "key members" of the Blizzard Console team, formerly known as Swingin' Ape, have been relocated to various other Blizzard projects on the PC. The only currently announced new project in the works for the company is the upcoming The Burning Crusade expansion for World of Warcraft, but this week a Blizzard job posting surfaced, suggesting that the company has a new realtime strategy game in the works.

About a year ago, Blizzard's regular newsletter asked readers whether they would be interested in a Nintendo DS version of StarCraft, or a Nintendo DS or PSP version of Diablo. The company has not made any reference to these proposals since then.

One perennial rumor, that Blizzard is preparing a console version of World of Warcraft, is dealt yet another blow by today's announcement, having already been repeatedly denied by Blizzard representatives.

According to the latest issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly, Konami's classic PlayStation title Castlevania: Symphony of the Night will be ported to Xbox Live Arcade for Xbox 360. The game, commonly abbreviated SOTN, is revered among the Castlevania franchise for being the entry that inaugurated the series' Metroid-like nonlinear level design, which it has retained ever since.

The news may suggest that Microsoft has relaxed its 50MB size restriction on Xbox Live Arcade games. Requests sent to Konami and Microsoft regarding this possibility as well as the accuracy of the initial report had not been returned as of press time.

An update from Midway today revealed that the company's upcoming action title John Woo Presents Stranglehold (PS3, X360, PC) will be missing its 2006 release date and instead coming out some time in the first quarter of 2007. This update contradicts earlier reports from IGN that the game would be launching alongside Sony's upcoming PlayStation 3. No further details regarding the reason for the delay were revealed.

In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Atari CEO Bruno Bonnell confirmed that Atari will not be publishing any titlets for PlayStation 3 in 2006, though 2007 will see some Atari output on Sony's upcoming machine. Oddly enough, Bonnell stated that the reason for the delayed showing has to do with a lack of information. "It's just that we're lacking information about the PS3 at this stage, because we have basically a rough release date and a high retail price point," he explained. "As far as the Wii and the Xbox 360 go, we'll be there for this season."

Cubed3 speaks with Hirohide Sugiura of Monolith Soft about the company's Baten Kaitos series of RPGs and about developing for Wii.

Silicon Knights' Ken McCulloch has updated the IGN-hosted blog on the company's upcoming Too Human (X360).