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What a year 2006 was for the video game industry huh? We saw system launches, blockbuster AAA titles and quite a few broken promises. It seems that now more than ever, the internet and gaming magazines are filled with rumors and "unconfirmed truths." What are you to believe? Never fear gaming public, the Rumor Patrol is here!
Wii-Blade?
We start with a rumor regarding two franchises that could quite possibly be heading to the Wii for their next installment.:Reportedly, the good folks at Square Enix , Nintendo and Disney have agreed to feature the next Kingdom Hearts title on the Wii. No word on if the PS3 will see the game or not, but can Sony lose another big name franchise?
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The other franchise? NiGHTS Into Dreams. Now I know what you're saying, the rumor of a NiGHTS sequel has been started for nearly every platform, but this one actually may have some merit. Japanese Development Studio G.rev recently posted a release list of upcoming Wii games, with an entry simply listed NiGHTS towards the bottom. Far from a conformation, but a good sign none the less. The actual list can be seen here
Kickin' ass and chewing bubble gum on the Xbox 360?
FPS fans rejoice! Maybe. Rumors are running rampant (are there any other kind of rumor? Do they ever run slowly) that Duke Nukem Forever could be on its way to the Xbox 360. The title, 10-years-in-the-making is stirring up quite the fuss on the internet due to a job posting at Gamasutra.com by developer 3D Realms. The posting is for enviornment artists and programmers to work on PC and Xbox 360 titles. No harm no foul right? It gets jucier – the post goes on to ask that applicants have a "passion for making a playing over-the-top action games."
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While it could mean a new franchise, the posting comes hot off the heels of a comment made by 3D realms President George Brouusard that Duke Forever is entering the "polishing stage." I encourage anyone reading this to apply for the positions, we may see the game before the next century.
Back to the Shire?
This one might not stay as a rumor for a while. It's being heavily reported that EA has pulled the plug on the production of the widely anticipated Lord of the Rings RPG: The White Council. No word on why, or a comment from EA Reps. In the game, players would have been able to choose their role as a man, elf, dwarf or hobbit and explore massive open environments, with the ultimate goal of becoming a hero allied to the White Council – where they would encounter series regulars like Gandalf and Elrond.
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Bye Bye Blu Ray?
We've all heard about the laundry list of problems the PS3 is facing. In fact, if you believe everything you read on the internet, the PS3 is an evil demon hiding in its chrome casing, waiting for the perfect moment to spring out at you and cause you cancer, while pouring sugar in your gas tank and ruining the ozone layer. In reality, it's an impressive piece of gaming technology that has been hindered by a number of mistakes. It now seems that Sony is trying to fix those mistakes before it's too late. It is being reported that a new "family friendly" version of the PS3, with no Blu-Ray player which is expected to retail at a lower price than the PS3 currently retails for. What is unknown is whether this new model will replace the lower-end PS3 currently on the market, or be a third SKU.
Until next time!