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Iwata: only 35% of Wiis are online, 20% of DS

Nintendo has never been known for fully embracing online gaming, and the Wii trails a distant third behind the PS3 and Xbox 360 when it comes to playing online — despite being the top selling console. Nintendo’s Satoru Iwata has revealed numbers on online connectivity, saying that 35% of Wii consoles are online and only 20% of Nintendo DS consoles.

Furthermore, Iwata said that those numbers will decline if the company doesn’t “take aggressive action” on the online front — which it of course plans to do. All we can say is; it’s about damn time!

Star Trek Online shipping on February 2

Star Trek Online has finally received a release date: February 2, 2010. The Star Trek based MMO is currently in closed beta to subscribers of Champions Online, and will receive an open beta in the upcoming months. The game allows you to join either the Federation or the Klingons as the commander of your own starship, go on missions and engage in combat with other ships.

PC version of Modern Warfare 2 to support only 18 players

Well, this seems like the final nail in the coffin for PC gamers who are looking to get some decent multiplayer action on Modern Warfare 2: it seems that the PC version, already stripped of dedicated servers, will have the same multiplayer player count as the console counterparts: 18 players, or 9 vs. 9, developer Infinity Ward revealed.

Clearly another disappointment for the PC crowd, as 64 players have been the standard for most games, from Counter-Strike to Battlefield (even Modern Warfare 1 supported at least 32 players). It’s pretty much conclusive that Modern Warfare 2 PC version will simply be a port of the console editions, and as ports from consoles to PCs go, they’re always inferior.

China bans WoW

The Chinese publisher NetEase, which has been running World of Warcraft in the country, has been ordered by the General Administration of Press and Publications (GAPP) to stop charging players and to block further signups for the game. GAPP, which recently shut down as many as 200 MMOs, cited “illegal behavior” in WoW, while China’s Ministry of Culture has said the GAPP’s ban was “inappropriate”. Seems like politics will be digging deeper into this issue.

Uncharted 2 gets Halloween update

Developer Naughty Dog has patched Uncharted 2, fixing a number of issues ranging from display issues to multiplayer connectivity issues (you can read the full change log here). The developer has also announced a “first ever Double Cash Weekend,” which started at 11:00 AM PST today, and continues until 11:00 AM PST on November 2, and will give double cash (just like double XP in COD 4), to players during the time. Players can then spend the money on upgrades etc.

Borderlands review

Borderlands has been a highly anticipated title since it was re-announced earlier this year, with an all new look. And the stylish, sell-shaded look might look like the main attraction for this sci-fi shooter, but there’s a lot more to be had in addition to that; lots of action, aliens, and especially, lots of guns.

The story of Borderlands is somewhat weak, but it’s more than made up for by the slick presentation and the four playable main characters, each with their own style and personality. The game takes place on the planet Pandora, where human have flocked to in order to mine and cash in on large mineral deposits. However, the settlers discover that the planet is actually not that wealthy, and instead of minerals, aliens are the real treat. That’s where you come in… More »

Battlefield Bad Company 2 Limited Edition details

Instead of crafting the usual press release announcing the Limited Edition Bad Company 2 details — well, they actually did, but anyways, DICE has released a new trailer detailing the unlocks that will come with purchase of the Limited Edition Bad Company 2 game, which will otherwise have to unlocked by, you know, playing the game.

BioShock 2 Capture The Sister trailer

Altec Lansing releases “stage gig” speaker

Good news to all the Guitar Hero and Rock Band fanatics, speaker-maker Altec Lansing has released the “Stage Gig”, a single speaker that sits at the bottom, facing the playing bad, just as if you’d have if you were a real musician, performing on a stage. But since you’re not on a real stage, and since you’re holding plastic guitars in your hands, you might wanna shed $100 for another plastic attachment that emits sounds of your fake plastic band right on your face.

Aion takes top spot on US sales chart

The somewhat we–received MMO Aion, NCSofts latest in a long line of MMOs, has sold very well, despite the fact that it’s the first NCSoft MMO in a while to have a paid subscription service. The top 10 best selling PC games, according to NDP:

1. Aion
2. The Sims 3
3. Champions Online
4. World Of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King Expansion Pack
5. Aion Collector’s Ed
6. Mumbo Jumbo Assortment
7. The Sims 2 Double Deluxe
8. World Of Warcraft: Battle Chest
9. Reel Deal Slots Treasures Of The Far East
10. World Of Warcraft

APB closed beta begins

Realtime Worlds has commenced closed beta testing for APB, the upcoming MMO crime game, as the first batch of invites have been sent out to the lucky ones. There’s no details on what the beta includes, but we suspect it’ll test a wide variety of game mechanics — that’s what betas are for, anyways.

If you haven’t received an invite, don’t worry, as you can still apply for the beta here.

Modern Warfare 2 server petition reaches 100,000 signatures

People are really upset about Modern Warfare 2’s lack of dedicated servers. How upset? We’ll, an online petition has attracted over 100,000 signatures — in fact, it’s at almost 110,000 right now.

PC gamers are showing their disappointment, where the biggest game of the year, and the biggest multiplayer experience of the year, will be without dedicated servers, and will only feature the system that’s used on consoles.

You can view (and sign) the petition here.

DICE pokes fun of Modern Warfare 2’s server issues

Ah, there’s always place for a little joke here and there. Following the disappointing announcement that Modern Warfare 2 PC version won’t have dedicated servers, DICE executive producer K.M. Troedsson was quick to point out on his Twitter:

Dedicated servers FTW. What ever secures a better online experience is a given for us

Yep, we agree: dedicated servers are always FTW. You can follow K.M. Troedsson twitter page here.

Modern Warfare 2 for PC won’t have dedicated servers

Ouch! Infinity ward dropped the bomb on PC gamers when it announced that the PC version of Modern Warfare 2 will inherit the same gameserver/matchmaking system of the consoles, essentially meaning that dedicated servers are a no-go. The game will rely on Infinity Ward’s own, proprietary system called IWNet, instead of, like virtually every other PC multiplayer shooter shooter, offering players to set up their own servers. This is bad news for PC gamers indeed, let’s hope it doesn’t turn into a trend.

SOCOM: Confrontation DLC pack announced

Sony has announced a new DLC pack for the year-old SOCOM: Confrontation multiplayer shooter. The DLC, titled “Cold Front”, will retail for $15 and will include two new maps plus three old maps that have been remade, in addition to new characters, weapons and a new progress system. The DLC will also include new music and new Eastern European setting, complete with a new special forces group: the Russian Spetsnaz.