This just in from the G4:

OK Go's music videos can become such impressive viral hits because Internet video can be embedded pretty much everywhere. You don't have to visit OK Go's website, it's just there. That's the same for music and photos, too. Heck, it's true of pretty much every form of media that's not video games. InstantAction is proposing a solution: the embeddable video game.

I saw InstantAction about a year ago while still working for MTV News. At the time, InstantAction was mostly a portal for powerful, modern-looking games to run through a browser. I asked them whether the games could ever be embedded like YouTube. The technology didn't exist a year ago, but the team said it was possible. Earlier this week, however, InstantAction showed me what I was hoping for in working form and I'm convinced it could change games and how we all discover them.

The moment it clicked? When I watched CEO Louis Castle (whose name might ring a bell - he used to head Electronic Arts' now-closed Blueprint studio and co-founded Westwood Studios) embed LucasArts' The Secret of Monkey Island remake into an actual Tumblr blog and start playing the game a few minutes later through the blog. Upping the ante, Castle demonstrated the same concept, except it was Assassin's Creed running through his Facebook account. Assassin's Creed through a Facebook account.

I was already imagining being able to write stories and embed the games I was talking about into the story. That's not the point of InstantAction, but it's an exciting byproduct of the tech.



Ubisoft hasn't signed onto the venture yet, but LucasArts has.

"LucasArts is using the InstantAction platform for online distribution of The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition, which is launching soon," said the company in a brief statement.



There are two ways the games are made playable. Castle's steam has partnered with David Perry's OnLive competitor Gaiaki to allow for instant streaming of select games. When InstantAction launches on March 25, the Gaikai technology won't be there just yet, but it's coming in the near future. When it's there, the game will default to checking whether bandwidth is capable of streaming the game instantaneously. If your connection can't handle it, however, it simply starts downloading the game files in the order that will let you start playing as soon as possible. In the case of The Secret of Monkey Island, it was up and running in a few seconds, allowing you to start playing while the rest of the game downloads in the background (it took about 5-10 minutes for Assassin's Creed to download enough data to start playing). There's even a progress meter showing the download in real-time. If you happen to rush through the game and access an area it hasn't downloaded, the game will pause and catch up.

There's much more to InstantAction, especially as it relates to how publishers can take control of the distribution of process of games in relation to brick 'n mortars like GameStop and Wal-Mart, but the biggest takeaway for me was the embedding. It's as effortless as YouTube, too. The HTML code is waiting underneath the game. InstantAction says publishers will dictate if a game can be embedded (and restrict where it can't be embedded), but hopefully most will let gamers go wild with that one.

OnLive has a launch date. InstantAction is later this month. These technologies are moving from potential to real-world applications. Here's hoping they're as exciting to use as they are to talk about.

Have something to share? Sitting on a news tip? E-mail me. You can also follow me on Twitter.

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This just in from the G4:

If you're a SOCOM fan, it's been an exciting last few hours. Less than a week after Zipper announced that it's returning to the franchise for the first time in five years, Sony announced that SOCOM: US Navy Seals 4 will feature PlayStation Move support. More importantly, it meant that the publisher showed it off in action. And, of course, Sony had some new screens to deliver.

Head over to the screenshot gallery if you want to see more!

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This just in from the G4:

Sony revealed a whole lot today at GDC 2010, along with the PlayStation Move motion control technology. One of the most interesting tidbits involved a fighting game called Motion Fighters, which allows you to get in a good workout while working over an opponent with a fight club ethic that puts you in the back alley to brawl with friends and neighbors.

Here, now, are the first screenshots from that game. Go to the Motion Fighters gallery and have at it.

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This just in from the G4:

Among the many titles on display during GDC, few are nabbing the spotlight quite like Mafia II. We got a glimpse of it during the show, and our very intrepid Editor-in-Chief Adam Sessler interviewed members of the team, including Director of Creative Production, Jack Scalici. Scalici offers plenty of insight into the ways that the team has worked to depict the world of Mafia II, from the post-World War II 1940s through the prosperous 1950s. Check it out below!

Watch Larger Version | Watch HD Version

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This just in from the G4:

During their press conference today at GDC, Sony unveiled their motion controller for the first time and revealed that the contraption would henceforth be know as...PlayStation Move.

Here, we humbly present to you the first promotional pictures of the PlayStation Move in one of our fabulous photo galleries. Check them out.

The Move seems eerily reminiscent of the WiiMote. The Sub-Controller only furthers that comparison, because it looks like a Wii nunchuck, sans wires. What do you think?

Even if you don't concur with my official analysis, I think we can agree that all anyone wishes for in life are some color changing balls and a game controller that doubles as a giant Everlasting Gobstopper.

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This just in from the G4:

I have a feeling a lot of PlayStation 3 owners will be playing PlayStation Move-enable game collection Sports Champion when it launches. This is total speculation, but it could be that Sony plans for the title to be as ubiquitous as Wii Sports was when Nintendo's motion system launched.

Anyway, check out this gallery for a look at some of the different games Sports Champion will feature.

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This just in from the G4:

As you might have noticed, Mafia II is one of the hottest games coming out of GDC. We previewed the game recently, and Adam Sessler also interviewed the Director of Creative Production. In this video, he goes one on one with Senior Producer Denby Grace, who provides some insight into how 2K's game is coming along. Want to know more? Take a look!

Watch Larger Version | Watch HD Version

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This just in from the G4:

LucasArts has revealed that Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge: Special Edition is officially a go. The publisher just confirmed the game via the screenshot to the right that was just posted on Twitter. The game is scheduled for release on PSN, XBLA, Mac, iPhone, PC.

LucasArts also announced that Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition will be coming to Mac and PlayStation Network sometime soon.

These updates seem to be rolling at a steady pace, so all you Monkey Island lovers should keep your eyes and ears open.

Source: LucasArts

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This just in from the G4:

Sony’s GDC 2010 press conference included a video montage of some of the upcoming titles that will include PlayStation Move motion control support. One of the games that appeared ever so briefly during the presentation was a game called The Shoot. Not much is known about the game at this point, but it appears to involve participating in various movie scenes and meeting scene-specific challenges.

While we wait for Sony to drop some new details, head over to our slick new The Shoot photo gallery to get a sense of what this PS Move title brings to set.

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OnLive, the games on demand distribution service, is slated to launch on June 10 of this year. Gamers can stream their favorite titles by way of a browser add-on for computers or a small device for use with television sets.

"This marks a huge milestone for both OnLive and the interactive entertainment landscape as a whole, changing the way that video games are developed, marketed, accessed and played," said Steve Perlman, Founder and CEO of OnLive. "We are opening the door to incredible experiences for gamers and enormous opportunities for developers and publishers."

Starting on June 17, 2010, the OnLive Game Service will be available to early registrants throughout the 48 contiguous United States. The initial offering will be supported by a $14.95 monthly service fee, which will provide access to an ever-increasing library of high-end, new-release, instant-play game content without the need to purchase expensive PC gaming or console systems.

Loyalty programs, such as multi-month pricing, and special offers will be announced by the start of E3. For starters, OnLive is announcing an exclusive, pre-registration offer, wherein the first 25,000 qualified registrants will have their OnLive $14.95 monthly service fee waived for the first three months of service. During this special three month introductory period, full versions of games will be available for purchase or rental on an à la carte basis. For important details regarding the OnLive Pre-registration special offer visit www.onlive.com/special1.

The OnLive service will feature streaming games to your PC, Mac, or television, cross-platform multiplayer, spectator abilities, clip capturing abilities, and more. Launch titles have not yet been finalized, but a few of the revealed titles include: Mass Effect 2, Dragon Age Origins, Assassin's Creed II, Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands, Borderlands, and Metro 2033.

More details can be found at the OnLive website.

Sony, during their GDC 2010 conference, have revealed that their upcoming motion wand controller is now officially named "PlayStation Move."

Prices for the Move start at about $100 (USD) for a PlayStation Move starter kit. Included in the kit will be the controller, the PlayStation Eye camera, and a game yet to be disclosed. Also shown off during the event was a PlayStation Move Sub-controller, a nunchuck like device that features an analog stick.

Here is a brief run-down of a few of the games demonstrated during Sony's event today.

Among the demonstrated titles was a mini-game compilation called "Sports Champion," which includes a gladiator game where players dual-wield two PlayStation Moves--one representing their shield, the other their swords--and table-tennis.

Another game, "Move Party," combined the PlayStation Eye's video feed with the PlayStation Move to actually players and their surrounding environment into the game. For example, a mini-game in which players must smash the virtual bugs in their real-life playing area. Other "Move Party" mini-games shown during the event included shape-tracing, hair cutting, and one where players bounce falling baby chicks into a nest.

A Move-enhanced version of LittleBigPlanet was shown, with one player using the Move to manipulate environmental objects--removing obstacles, placing and moving objects to assist jumps--while the other controlled LBP's Sackboy with a regular controller.

Another on-stage demonstration showed a fighting game, "Motion Fighters," in which players dual-wield two Moves to punch, put opponents in headlocks, and so forth.

With more details to come on the Friday podcast at the EA Sports Football World, a little birdie has already mentioned about an upcoming St. Patrick's day tournament for FIFA 10 Ultimate Team.


The tournament will be both online and offline and will be worth "considerably more coins than in the previous tournaments" played to date. Yes, if you've been on the fence about enjoying Ultimate Team, there's no better time than right now to pick it up and join in on the fun!

EA Sports has recently released a new trailer for 2010 FIFA World Cup that showcases gameplay, national pride, and the excitement of the sport of Football.


Check out the game's official website and prepare for the game's release in April!

Expanding on the Wii MotionPlus controls introduced in last year's title, the Wii version of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 sets the bar even higher. EA Sports has released a new trailer for the game that first shows the improvements made to last year's controls, while the second half showcases the "Tour Pro" controls.


Be sure to continue reading to see a profile of LPGA golfer, Paula Creamer. She discusses how she felt about being in PGA Tour 11 and what it was like to do motion capture work.

Capcom has released a brand-new trailer for Mega Man 10. Check out some of the new goodies that gamers can expect when Mega Man blasts his way back onto your consoles later this Month.