While this is off topic, we have an article up on our new Gadgets blog that is really stinkin' cool. A friend of QJ.NET invited us to help him mount twelve 30-inch Dell flatscreen monitors to his wall, and it was a blast. Above you can see an image of the finished product, and man is it sweet! Powered by 6 top-of-the-line video cards, and three 1000 watt power supplies, this thing is a beast. Click on the Read link below for the full article and step-by-step.

EDIT: Here is a link to an update that we made to the article, where we answer many of the users' questions and have a video. Check it out!

Just a quick note, we have updated our CMS (Content Management System) today, and will continue to upgrade to a new build every Tuesday until we have it exactly how we want it. For those of you who missed it, we recently moved from our old CMS (blogger.com) to a custom built one that our programmers have been working on for the last few months. Most of the changes and fixes were to the back end, but here's a few of the changes you guys will notice on the front end:

- Comment formatting is much easier to read (please comment below to help us test!)
- Comments now displayed in alternating colors (still working on getting the right color schemes)
- Fixed "Site Links" boxes on each site
- RSS bugs should be fixed
- Polls should be fixed
- Added "digg this" feature
- Fixed many of the weird characters appearing in older articles
- Tons of back-end fixes

We still have a huge list of fixes and changes and feature additions that our team is vigorously working on, including optimizing the layout (we know that the right two columns are a bit cluttered and bland). We'll keep you posted every tuesday on the updates, thanks for visiting to QJ.NET!

source: gamespot


Annual survey shows Microsoft making mindshare headway with Japanese gamers, but still trailing Sony by a wide margin.

TOKYO--Despite a disappointing showing in Japan with the original Xbox, it appears that Microsoft is making progress in establishing a presence with gamers in the Far East. A survey of Tokyo Game Show 2005 visitors indicated that interest in Microsoft's Xbox 360 was higher than the Nintendo Revolution.

The report was conducted by the TGS host Computer Entertainment Suppliers Association (CESA), which found that 23 percent of surveyed visitors said they were looking forward to picking up the Xbox 360. While that figure doesn't come close to that of Sony's PlayStation 3, which caught the interest of 70 percent of surveyed showgoers, it did beat out Nintendo's Revolution, which only garnered interest from 20.9 percent of those surveyed.

CESA's report neglected to mention that the Xbox 360 was the only playable next-generation console during TGS 2005, which could well have factored into the survey's results. Another likely influence on the figures was Nintendo's unveiling of the gyroscopic Revolution controller during a TGS keynote speech.

The survey also revealed other figures that reflect the taste of Japanese hardcore gamers (or at least, the kind interested enough to visit a game show). When asked which currently available game machines they wanted, the top three picks were all new handhelds. The PSP ranked first with 35.7 percent of the surveyed gamers hoping to purchase it, followed by the Nintendo DS (13.7 percent) and Game Boy Micro (9.7 percent).

Nearly 60 percent of the surveyed visitors said that the body colors of game consoles are a "very" or "fairy" important factor. With multiple answers allowed, the top color of choice was black at 47 percent, followed by white (26.9 percent) and silver (23.5 percent). Surprisingly, color models based on old consoles such as the Famicom weren't too popular, with only 10.2 percent reporting an interest in them.

Another peek at Japanese gamers' attitudes toward the next generation of systems came earlier this year with a July survey conducted by marketing research company Infoplant. That survey showed 60 percent of polled Japanese gamers were most looking forward to the PlayStation 3, with 8 percent most eager for the Revolution, and only 2 percent reporting greatest interest in the Xbox 360.

CESA's TGS 2005 survey was taken from a sample of 1,084 visitors between the ages of 10 to 49 (male: 80.4 percent, female: 19.6 percent). Detailed figures are available in CESA's TGS 2005 visitor's survey report, which is available at the organization's official site.

The President of IEMA (Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association), Hal Halpin, has responded to the proposed Federal Videogame Regulation, being spear-headed by Senators Clinton and Lieberman. The IEMA represents 29 of 30 of the gaming industry?s top retailers, dedicated to serving their business interests.

?The impetus for this piece of legislation appears as fundamentally misguided as it is fatally-flawed. The IEMA retailers committed voluntarily to a self-regulatory enforcement system substantially similar to the motion picture business, which the very same legislators hold up as the "Gold Standard." While our success rates may not be as consistently high as movie theatre owners, it is important to note that they are leveraging a system which, through decades of reinforcement, has become a part of the collective unconscious.

We are making significant and tangible progress and have successfully implemented policies and procedures in each and every member company store across the country in just two year's time. We have also replaced valuable in-store signage with ratings education information displayed at the point of merchandising and/or the point of sale. And while we acknowledge that the "human factor" will always be our greatest challenge (making sure that parents and store-level staff are as committed to the same end as retail corporations), we are convinced that we have done our part. The Government has not and should not involve itself in determining what movies to watch, what music to listen to, or what games to play.

In addressing the aforementioned "greatest challenge" we all face, we have repeatedly asked for Local, State and Federal politicians to leverage the power and support networks that they respectively bring to help educate their constituents, our customers, to use the existing ratings systems and make knowledgeable and informed purchasing decisions on behalf of their children. Our mutual concern should be focused on empowering parents - first and foremost - and politicians can put themselves in a position to help us in a meaningful and legally-responsible way by working with the businesses already committed to the same goal.

-Hal Halpin, pres., IEMA?

Thanks for the heads up, Sean.

Source: NintendoRevolution.ca

Recently 1up gathered a group of game developers together for a roundtable discussion on the Nintendo Revolution. Among the various topics discussed, the group explored the idea of Nintendo moving away from “fun” mini games like the Mario Party, and moving in the direction of full length games with the help of the new controller.

In general, all agreed that the Revolution has great potential for full-length games, opening up all new possibilites to gamers.

“I see the potential for serious full-length games. For example, one of the most common ideas is using the analog stick to run through the hallways of an FPS while shooting enemies with the controller, or "pointer" as I've seen it called,” said Tom Fulp of Behemoth.

The group all agreed that as with any new concept, there is going to be a period of adjustment with figuring out what will work and what wont.

“I think the learning curve will map roughly similar to that of game designers learning to design for the DS touch screen. At first the device will seem gimmicky as designers start out creating some simple applications. But as they get used to the mindset of developing for the Revolution controller, you will start to see more sophisticated game designs. For developers, programming the controller shouldn't be all that challenging. Now, coming up with a great game design -- that will be challenging!” explained Karthik Bala of Vicarious Visions

In reference to the idea the controller can be used for games such as sword fighting, Eric Holmes of Radical said “I am also sure that some of them will suck in some capacity, just because it's going to take time, effort and mistakes for people to figure out if and how it can be done in a fun way”.

All the developers agreed that Nintendo is moving in the right direction with innovations such as the new controller. As well, all understand that the Revolution will no doubt go through a period of fine tuning. For the revolution to be a success, game developers will have take the initiative to create games that capitalize on not only the new controller, but the all features the Nintendo Revolution will offer.

RevoGaming has heard from inside sources t  hat IBM has completed production of their “Broadway” processor that will power the Nintendo Revolution.  Keep in mind that Nintendo has not yet made an announcement, so this is still classified as a rumor:

RevoGaming has heard from sources inside the development community that IBM has finalised the Broadway processor and is showing it to developers.

The details come from two different sources inside the development community. One source revealed the information to RevoGaming around three weeks ago, whilst the other revealed it to us a few days ago. We were waiting for a word from another development insider before we would report it.

Apparently, the "Broadway" processor is finished, and IBM has shown plans and a prototype to Nintendo. After some discussion, it has been shown to select developers. One source said that the processor was a dual-core one, whilst the other would not reveal any technical information.

Both sources would not talk about ATi's "Hollywood" graphics chip or any other internal Revolution components. The names of the sources cannot be revealed at their request, nor the developers they work at.

There is no official word from Nintendo, so this should still be classified as a rumour.

I just got my first E3 email for 2006, I am not joking. Be it known that Nintendo has definitely locked in May 9 for what appears to be the unveiling of the Nintendo Revolution. It possible that the unveiling could happen before E3, but the thing that is positive is that come the big show, Nintendo will be talking a whole lot about the Revolution.

The event, slated for Kodak Theater (home of the Academy Awards) will be May 9 at 9:30 a.m.
Here?s the official email detail:

Save the Date for Nintendo

You?re probably just starting to plan your time for 2006. With a mere 165 days to go (give or take), it?s time to start thinking about next year?s E3. Nintendo is most certainly thinking about it. So pencil us in. You?ll hear all the incredible details about Nintendo?s upcoming games and hardware, including our next home console, code-named Revolution. You won?t want to miss it. See you there.

WHAT: Nintendo?s E3 Media Briefing

WHEN: Briefing begins at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 9, 2006.

WHERE: Kodak Theatre (home of the Academy Awards), Hollywood & Highland Center, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028

WHY: You know why.

(Via Kotaku)

The 5th edition of the Developers and Publishers matchmaking business convention will take place on December 5-6-7, 2005 and will be back to "Le Palais des Congrs de Lyon”
Many publishers have already confirmed they will be in Lyon next December:

• 1C
• 10Tacle
• 2K Games
• 505 Game Street
• Activision Value
• Atari
• Auran Games
• Big Ben
• Buka Entertainment
• Capcom, Codemasters
• CDV Software
• Deep Silver
• Dreamcatcher
• Elektrogames
• Digital Jesters
• DTP, Eidos
• Electronic Arts
• Focus Home Interactive
• Frogster Interactive
• HIP Interactive
• Kemco, Konami
• Logrus, Majesco
• Micro Application
• Microsoft
• Mindscape
• Namco
• NcSoft
• Nintendo
• Nobilis
• O~3 Entertainment
• Oxygen Interactive
• Pan Vision
• Paradox Interactive
• Playlogic
• Reef Entertainment
• Sega
• SG Diffusion
• Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
• THQ
• Ubisoft
• Valcon Games
• ValuSoft
• Virgin Play
• Vivendi Universal Games

And many more to come!

Here is the full draft program.

Are developers embracing Nintendo’s Revolution? 1Up asks that and many other questions of several game developers in a recent feature. While the new “free style” controller will force developers to rethink how they traditionally developed video games for the next-gen console, it will also be a catalyst for innovation.

Some argue the new technology will be underestimated like Nintendo’s hugely successful DS portable was. Others ask: Is a controller what makes people buy a console in the first place?

Enter playable games…Read the full article [here].

(Via Kotaku)

Source: Joystiq

Nintendo have recently been granted a patent with the catchy title “Game information storage medium and game system using the same”, which may be related to the Revolution. The patent details the operation of an emulator and storage system embedded within a different system, and sounds suspiciously like the Virtual Console features touted to be part of the Revolution.

This patent implies a number of things, including the fact that the Revolution may have no dedicated hardware for emulation of older systems—also, since character selection comes before the game starts, new characters may be available to revitalise old games. By supporting emulation with “no unnecessary re-coding”, we may see much better backwards compatibility with the Revolution than the first of the next-gen consoles, the Xbox 360, has managed.