Fable 2 episodic experiment deemed ‘massively successful’ by Molyneux
Mar/100
At the tail end of our GDC interview with Lionhead’s Peter Molyneux, we remembered one more question we simply had to know: How well did Fable 2’s episodic experiment go? We’ll refresh your memory: Last August, Molyneux announced plans to release Fable 2 as a series of five downloadable “episodes,” with the first one given away and the subsequent four priced at $10 each.
Molyneux’s response: “That was hugely successful. There were something like over half a million. I think it was 600,000 downloads of the first episode, which was very, very cool.” Of course, the first episode was free so how was the conversion rate? “It was a much higher than a normal conversion rate,” Molyneux smiled. “Massively, massively successful, and I really love this relationship, which is much more sliced into episodes with consumers.”
Of course, knowing where we were going with this particular line of questioning, Molyneux preemptively offered an answer.”But we’re not announcing whether that’s coming out in this release,” he said, tossing a smile towards the attentive PR people behind me.
Fable 2 episodic experiment deemed ‘massively successful’ by Molyneux originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Fable 2 episodic experiment deemed ‘massively successful’ by Molyneux
Help Protect Your Children with the CEOP Enhanced Internet Explorer 8
Mar/100
Do you want to make Internet Explorer safer and more helpful for you and family? Then join us as we look at the CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre) enhanced version of Internet Explorer 8.
Setting CEOP Up
We chose to install the whole CEOP pack in order to have access to complete set of CEOP Tools. The install process will be comprised of two parts…it will begin with CEOP branded windows showing the components being installed…
Note: The components can be downloaded separately for those who only want certain CEOP components added to their browser.
Then it will move to the traditional Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install windows. One thing that we did notice is that here you will be told that you will need to restart your computer but in other windows a log off/log on process is mentioned. Just to make certain that everything goes smoothly we recommend restarting your computer when the installation process is complete.
In the EULA section you can see the versions of Windows that the CEOP Pack works with.
Once you get past the traditional Microsoft install windows you will be dropped back into the CEOP branded windows.
CEOP in Action
After you have restarted your computer and opened Internet Explorer you will notice that your homepage has been changed. When it comes to your children that is not a bad thing in this instance. It will also give you an opportunity to look through the CEOP online resources.
For the moment you may be wondering where everything is but do not worry. First you can find the two new search providers in the drop-down menu for your “Search Bar” and select a new default if desired.
The second thing to look for are the new links that have been added to your “Favorites Menu”. These links can definitely be helpful for you and your family.
The third part will require your “Favorites Bar” to be visible in order to see the “Click CEOP Button”. If you have not previously done so you will need to turn on subscribing for “Web Slices”.
Click on “Yes” to finish the subscription process.
Clicking on the “CEOP Button” again will show all kinds of new links to help provide information for you and your children. Notice that the top part is broken down into “topic categories” while the bottom part is set up for “age brackets”…very nice for helping you focus on the information that you want and/or need.
Looking for information and help on a particular topic? Clicking on the “Cyberbullying Link” for example will open the following webpage with information about cyberbullying and a link to get help with the problem.
Need something that is focused on your child’s age group? Clicking on the “8-10? Link” as an example opened this page.
Want information that is focused on you? The “Parent? Link” leads to this page. The “topic categories & age brackets” make the CEOP Button a very helpful and “family friendly” addition to Internet Explorer.
Perhaps you (or your child) want to conduct a search for something that is affecting your child. As you type in a “search term” both of the search providers will provide helpful suggestions for dealing with the problem. We felt that these were very nice suggestions in both instances here…
Conclusion
We have been able to give you a good peek at what the CEOP Tools can do but the best way to see how helpful it can be for you and your family is try it for yourself. Your children’s safety and happiness is worth it.
Links
Download the Internet Explorer CEOP Pack (link at bottom of webpage)
Note: If you are interested in a singular component or only some use these links.
Download the Click CEOP Button
Download Internet Safety and Security Search
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Help Protect Your Children with the CEOP Enhanced Internet Explorer 8
February NPD: Xbox 360 and BioShock 2 sales heat up
Mar/100
BioShock 2 seems to have had something to do with the boost, with the Xbox 360 version topping the software charts (and the PS3 version absent from the top ten). Other notable software milestones: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is now the third best-selling game of all time, and Just Dance seems to have made a better pact with Satan than even Dante’s Inferno did. See the software top ten after the break.
-DS: 613K
191K (45%)
-360: 422K89K (27%)
-Wii: 398K
68K (-15%)
-PS3: 360K83K (30%)
-PSP: 133K33K (33%)
-PS2: 102K60K (143%)
Continue reading February NPD: Xbox 360 and BioShock 2 sales heat up
February NPD: Xbox 360 and BioShock 2 sales heat up originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Windows Phone 7 won’t kill Zune HD – CNET
Mar/100
 Sydney Morning Herald |
Windows Phone 7 won't kill Zune HD
CNET The Zune HD is a strong music player. It's got a lot of features I wish Apple would add to its iPod and iPhone lineup, particularly wireless … Microsoft Almost Kills Zune HD Apps, Invites Devs To Look At Windows Phone 7 … Related AppleInsider articles: Zune HD2 already on the way? |
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Windows Phone 7 won’t kill Zune HD – CNET
Zune HD2 Is On The Way – GadgetCrave.com
Mar/100
 The Age |
Zune HD2 Is On The Way
GadgetCrave.com It looks like the Zune HD will be replaced by a predecessor later this year. According to a report on ZDNet, a Zune HD2 is coming, possibly as soon as late … Microsoft Almost Kills Zune HD Apps, Invites Devs To Look At Windows Phone 7 … Related AppleInsider articles: Zune HD2 already on the way? |
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Zune HD2 Is On The Way – GadgetCrave.com
View Maps and Get Directions in Google Chrome
Mar/100
Every so often we all need to look at a map for reference purposes or to get directions. If you are looking for a great quick reference app then join us as we look at the Mini Google Maps extension for Google Chrome.
Mini Google Maps in Action
While this may look like a rather basic map extension there is more to it than meets the eye at first glance. Here is the default view when you open Mini Google Maps for the first time. Things that we really liked about this extension were:
- Three different aerial views available (Map, Satellite, & Terrain)
- Three different viewing sizes available (and the extension remembers your chosen size)
- The ability to get directions in combination with a map
We decided to try each of the viewing sizes available…here you can see the “Medium Setting”. Notice that the scale stays the same but you get more territory included to view.
Then the “Large Setting”…which we infinitely preferred to the others. Once again look at the amount of territory included by default…very nice.
Switching over to the “Satellite View”…
Followed by the “Terrain View”.
For our first example we decided to peek at Vancouver, British Columbia. After zooming out a little bit we had a very nice looking map.
For the next test we asked for directions from Vancouver to Toronto. Both the directions and map turned out very well.
And just for fun we looked up Paris, France with the “Satellite View”.
Conclusion
If you find yourself needing to view a map or get directions often then the Mini Google Maps extension will be a very useful tool for you.
Links
Download the Mini Google Maps extension (Google Chrome Extensions)
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View Maps and Get Directions in Google Chrome
Zune HD 2 to be more like iPod touch, use WP7? – Electronista (blog)
Mar/100
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Zune HD 2 to be more like iPod touch, use WP7?
Electronista (blog) Microsoft's decision to drop the Zune HD from its XNA development kit may actually be hints at plans for its sequel, leaks indicated on Tuesday. … |
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Zune HD 2 to be more like iPod touch, use WP7? – Electronista (blog)
WP7 games to get Xbox stats; Zune HD games dead? – Electronista (blog)
Mar/100
|
WP7 games to get Xbox stats; Zune HD games dead?
Electronista (blog) However, Klutcher warned that the company is deprecating Zune and Zune HD development. While it will still be possible to make Zune games using XNA 3.1, … |
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WP7 games to get Xbox stats; Zune HD games dead? – Electronista (blog)
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BioWare designer talks about goals for Mass Effect 3
Mar/100
In a panel titled “Where Did My Inventory Go? Refining Gameplay in Mass Effect 2,” BioWare’s Christina Norman talked about the radical changes made to the second chapter in the Mass Effect trilogy. A key goal for Mass Effect 2 was to introduce “more satisfying combat,” with an “intense feel” missing from the first game. One of the admitted failures of the first Mass Effect game was the incongruity between its look and feel: it looked like a shooter, but it didn’t exactly play like one. With that in mind, Norman decided that the team needed to focus on rebuilding the combat in its entirety for Mass Effect 2. “BioWare is strong on RPG and story,” but “not so strong on shooter combat.” BioWare needed to rebuild its gameplay core, because the game’s “other features depend on shooter combat.”
The streamlined gameplay and GUI of Mass Effect 2 made it a huge critical success, but Norman pointed out some major criticisms from vocal members of the official BioWare forums. Threads titled “Mass Effect 2 is not an RPG” and “Gears of War with interactive dialogue” were highlighted as examples of fans disappointed by the strong shooting focus of the second game.
As with the transition from the first Mass Effect to the second, BioWare is taking these criticisms to heart for the third game, with Norman hoping the third will offer “richer RPG features” and “more combat options.” What we can probably expect less of is the mining mini-game, which Norman lamented “nobody liked.”
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BioWare designer talks about goals for Mass Effect 3