Going Green With New Video Game Cases
Dec/09BC
Source:IGN
Those who recently purchased some of this holiday’s biggest titles for Xbox 360, such as Left 4 Dead 2 and Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2, probably noticed something a little different about their game cases. The circular-style holes behind game discs and instruction manuals are not production errors. It’s a new effort by companies to become more environmentally friendly by reducing excess packaging materials.
Hong Kong-based case manufacturer Viva Group recently rolled style the new style of casing dubbed the ‘Eco-Box’ which significantly reduces CO2 production emissions. The Eco-Box is already being used by movie studios for DVDs, but now it has begun appearing in the videogames industry.
recently spoke with Kyle Sheppard, Manager of Business Development at Viva. He says this initiative to reduce packaging was actually driven by retailers and not game publishers.
“We have had success over the past two years converting the movie studios to the Eco-Box on a large scale and are now working with the various gaming platforms and game publishers on a similar transition for the games market,” Sheppard told IGN. “Retailers are demanding that the entertainment industry and product manufacturers reduce or eliminate the large and wasteful packaging that has become the standard over the last twenty years.’
“Wal-Mart even introduced a packaging scorecard with certain criteria that must be met, including reducing all packaging by 5% by 2013,” Sheppard added. “The Eco-Box already exceeds this goal for the entertainment industry.”
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Details On Sony’s PSPgo
Aug/09BC
Source: IGN.com
IGN - August 28, 2009 - Goodness gracious! The PSPgo is almost here! The time has come for Sony’s handheld system to enter the completely digital age and embrace the shimmering line we lovingly call “the horizon.”
As we approach the launch date for Sony’s next portable system, we wanted to compile a list of frequently asked questions regarding the PSPgo in case you haven’t kept up on the latest. Want to know how much it costs or what comes in the box? Well, we have the answers. Check below for all the information you could ever want — and then some — so you can be fully prepared for the system’s launch.
Do not, however, ask us to buy you a system. No matter how tragic your story, we cannot help you. But we can address your inquiries…
When is the PSPgo coming out?
The system will be available on Oct. 1, 2009 in North America/Europe and November 1st in Japan.
How much will it cost?
The PSPgo will retail for $249 in North America, 249 Euros in Europe/PAL territories and 26,800 yen (including tax) in Japan.
What does it come with?
In the box you’ll find the system itself, a proprietary USB cable and an AC adapter that plugs into the USB cable for charging via a power outlet.
Are there any bundles available?
Not for launch. Sony promises that there will be bundles available down the line, and considering how successful they’ve been for previous systems, it’s only a matter of time. But for launch, only the basic box with the system, proprietary USB cable and AC adaptor will be available.
Learn more…
Review: Batman: Arkham Asylum
Aug/09BC
Source: IGN.com
IGN - August 21, 2009 - It’s not often that I’m conflicted about a game. Don’t get me wrong, review scores are in the eye of the beholder so I’m sure there are plenty of times that you’ve read something I have written and not agreed with me. I mean that it’s rare for me to play a game during a demo and not have a solid idea of what the final product is going to be. I played bits of Batman: Arkham Asylum a few times before I finally got a copy to review, and I always found myself coming away with mixed feelings. I enjoyed the combat and attacking from the shadows, but the pacing seemed off and Batman’s movements seemed stiff. Could Rocksteady really pull everything together to deliver on one of DC Comics’ biggest franchises?