Late Night Consoling

Speaking to Next Generation, UK-based independent developer Introversion Software director Mark Morris indicated that the studio is likely to move into console development within the next year. "I think you'll be seeing some console titles coming out from Introversion over the next twelve months or so," said Morris. "The downloads fit with Introversion very well. [Downloadable games] need to be smaller, they need to be unique. All of our games have at least got that."

Specifically, he pointed to PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii as platforms suitable for Introversion due to their game download services; he also mentioned PSP, though noted that the handheld game download market is not particularly strong.

Morris did not state whether the company plans to bring new or existing Introversion games to consoles, nor if any plans have been worked out for a particular machine. He did note that Introversion would prefer working with a first party manufacturer rather than a third party publisher, as the proposed first party business models tends to be focused on distribution and royalties rather than a more hands on publishing approach. The studio is known to be quite protective of its creative independence.

The deal that we're being offered, and maybe as a result of the comments that I've made, have all been centered around insuring that we maintain our creative freedom," said Morris. "And we've not made a single deal yet and we never will that will compromise that in any way."

According to online reports citing the March issue of UK publication Edge Magazine, Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima has an idea for a rather bizarre zombie-themed massively multiplayer game. In his hypothetical online world, players bitten by zombies would lose all control--except camera control--of their characters.

"At that stage they become undead and can't control their character--all they can do is modify the camera angles. They'd see their character attacking humans and have to pay just to watch!" Kojima explained. "The only way they could end it is by opening another account, hunting themselves down and killing themselves. Of course, the problem is that your second character can get bitten as well."

In particular, when it comes to zombies, Kojima is primarily fascinated by the idea that "you can turn people just by biting them." Unfortunately, due to what he sees as a current overabundance of video games featuring the living dead, he is unlikely to act on his plans in the near future. That said, if at some point he feels the market could support his design, he will take the design "very seriously."

Capcom today sent word that, like so many other Xbox 360 multiplayer games, Lost Planet: Extreme Condition will be augmented with several new downloadable maps. A total of seven new maps are due over the coming months, split up into three map packs (presumably of two maps each) as well as the Battleground map first included in the Lost Planet Collector's Edition.

March 9 will see the release of the first pack, which will include the maps Radar Field, a construction zone featuring a large radar apparatus, and Island 902, which contains numerous small interconnected islands and underwater areas. It will be sold on the Xbox Live Marketplace for 400 Microsoft Points ($5). Capcom sent over screenshots of both Radar Field and Island 902.

No specific release plans or price points for the other packs were revealed today, though it was noted that Battleground will be a free download when it is made available.

Koei sends word that Omega Force's tactical action game spinoff Samurai Warriors 2 Empires has gone gold for PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360. The game is on track to ship to North American retail shelves on February 28, 2007. We've also got some recent screenshots of the Xbox 360 version of the game.

In an update posted today on the official Bungie site, the company has addressed various frequently asked questions regarding the upcoming Halo 3 (X360) beta test. Most of the information has been previously released in various forms.