Innovative new hardware and software are needed to drive growth in the console market, according to Robin Kaminsky, Activision's former executive vice president of publishing.

Writing in an opinion piece for IndustryGamers, she said today's traditional games market "is in trouble", pointing to US industry sales in July, which were the lowest on record since October 2006. "Many believe digital sales and the economy are the core drives of the decline. I believe a lack of innovation - actual stagnation in game development - is the real culprit," Kaminsky wrote.

"For traditional games to grow, I believe a new generation of consoles is needed, consoles with real innovation and the resulting onslaught of new IP and innovative gameplay. Ideally these consoles will bring a breakthrough on how games are played or what kind of game experience can be delivered.

"It cannot be just bigger, more complex games or yet higher definition graphics," she added. "The industry, both traditional publishers and the console makers themselves, need something different in the next cycle... In an industry where new, innovative and fun is key there is no future in more of the same."

Kaminsky, who previously oversaw all studio and product development at Activision, went on to outline her hopes for the next generation.

"The next generation of consoles and games should recognize that consumers are mobile and active, value the player regardless of where and when they play, consider short and long play sessions, optimize both hardcore and casual games, embrace button/controller led play and new interfaces, enable content to evolve so games are dynamic not static, encourage alternative payment approaches like free to play, that drive more users to try the game, alongside the traditional buy it to play model, drive increasingly social and community driven experiences, and perhaps even allow play across devices regardless of manufacturer or form factor."

Last month, Kaminsky and former SCE Worldwide Studios boss Phil Harrison joined the board of Dave Perry's cloud-based game streaming service Gaikai.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...ision-veteran/ ...

Sony has released this week's list of new content on the EU PlayStation Store.

This week's headliner is Street Fighter III: Third Strike Online Edition. An arcade-perfect, feature rich version of Capcom's classic fighting game.

Other goodies include the original Dead Space, which is now available as a digital download, as well as demos of NHL 12 and Warhammer 40k: Space Marine.

Here's the full list.

Special Offer Selection
Trial & Unlock (PS3)
Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike Online Edition (£11.99/€14.99) Availability: Not available in Italy
Hamilton's Great Adventure (£7.99/€9.99)
Backbreaker: Vengeance (£11.99/€14.99) Availability: Not available in Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, India, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, Ukraine, or UAE
Crazy Machines Elements (£7.99/€9.99) Availability: Not available in South Africa
Full Games (PS3)
Disney's Cars 2: The Video Game (£47.99/€59.99) Availability: Only available in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden
Dead Space (£15.99/€19.99)
Arkedo Series: 01 - JUMP! (£1.59/€1.99) Availability: Not available in Australia or New Zealand
NEOGEO Station (PS3)
-Baseball Stars 2 (£7.19/€8.99)
minis (PS3 and PSP)
Revoltin' Youth (£1.74/€1.99)
Doodle Fit (£1.74/€1.99)
Demos (PS3)
NHL 12 Availability: Not Available in India, Portugal or Spain
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine (Single Player Demo) Only available in Germany for Plus Subscribers
PES 2012 - Pro Evolution Soccer Rating
Add-On Game Content (PS3)
Dead Block - More Dead to Block Map Pack (£2.39/€2.99)
Brink
-Fallout And Spec-Ops Combo Pack (£1.19/€1.49)
-Brink Doom/Psycho Combo Pack (£1.19/€1.49)
EyePet - Lucky Dip Styling Pack: Rain 1 (free)
Dragon Age 2
-All-Class Item Pack II Bundle (£3.99/€4.99) (contains the following content also available separately)
-Mage Item Pack 2 (£2.39/€2.99)
-Rogue Item Pack 2 (£2.39/€2.99)
-Warrior Item Pack 2 (£2.39/€2.99)
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3
-'True Dynasty Warrior Gundam... May Your Life Be Eternal' (£0.79/€0.99)
-'Final Trial Against the Giants' Extra Mission (£0.79/€0.99)
-'Humankind and Gundams' Extra Mission (£0.79/€0.99) Availability: Not Available in New Zealand
Magic the Gathering: Duels of the Planewalkers 2012 - Foil Conversion "Ancient Depths" (£0.79/€0.99)
Motorstorm Apocalpyse
-Eurogamer Racing Truck (free)
-Games Radar Superbike (free)
-Glowing Wheel Rims Pack (free)
-Summer Livery (free)
Rock Band Network
-Demons with Ryu - Emmure (£0.99/€1.49)
-Epic Symphony In A Flat Minor, Third Movement: Zero Hour - Van Friscia (£0.59/€0.79)
-Give It Up! Give It Up! - His Statue Falls (£0.99/€1.49)
-River Of Glass - Rishloo (£0.59/€0.79)
-Zombies!! (Coming Out Tonight) - Ultra Saturday (£0.59/€0.79) Availability: Not Available in Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, India, Israel, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Poland, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, South Africa, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE
Rock Band 3
-Incubus Pack 01 (£2.49/€3.99) (contains the following songs also available separately)
-Adolescents (£0.99/€1.49)
-Pardon Me (£0.99/€1.49)
-Wish You Were Here (£0.99/€1.49) Availability: Not Available in Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, India, Israel, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Poland, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, South Africa, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE
Yoostar2
-500,000 Bucks (£1.39/€1.75)
-Take Off Your Hat (£1.39/€1.75)
-Re-Entering Earth'S Atmosphere (£1.39/€1.75)
-From The Desk Of Tony Montana (£1.39/€1.75)
-Yoo Are The Light Of Zartha (£1.39/€1.75)
-Child, You Always Knock Me For A Loop (£1.39/€1.75)
-Sleep Tight, Daddy (£1.39/€1.75)
-Shut Up And Pick Your Weapon (£1.39/€1.75)
-I'M In Way Over My Head (£1.39/€1.75)
-All Hail K! All Hail J! (£1.39/€1.75)
-I Coulda Been A Contender (£1.39/€1.75)
-It Is A Good Day To Die (£1.39/€1.75)
-A Pandacide (£1.39/€1.75) Availability: Not Available in Belgium, India, Netherlands, Portugal, Russian Federation and Ukraine
White Knight Chronicles II
-Black Knight Ticket (free)
-Dragon Knight Ticket (free)
-Moon Princess Ticket (free)
-Sun King Ticket (free)
-White Knight Ticket (free)
Worms 2: Armageddon
-Retro Pack (£2.99/€3.59)
-Time Attack (£2.99/€3.59) Both available at 15% off for Plus subscribers
Avatars
Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike
-Akuma
-Alex
-Chun-Li
-Dudley
-Elena
-Gill
-Hugo
-Ibuki
-Ken
-Makoto
-Necro
-Oro
-Q
-Remy
-Ryu
-Sean
-Twelve
-Urien
-Yang
-Yun All available @ £0.20/€0.25 each
Themes (PS3)
Studio Themes
-End Of Anarchy Dynamic Theme By Check Morris (£2.39/€2.99)
-Peaks And Flow Dynamic Theme By Jeffrey Bowman (£2.39/€2.99)
-All You See Is Rbg Static Theme By Roya Hamburger (£1.59/€1.99)
-Feeding Time Dynamic Theme By Matthew Green (£2.39/€2.99)
-Elements Static Theme By On Repeat (£1.59/€1.99) All 20% off for Plus Subscribers
Games
-Bane Of Yoto Dynamic Theme (£1.59/€1.99)
Abstract
-Dynamic Abstract Background Theme 2 (£1.59/€1.99)
-Dynamic Jazz Session Theme (£1.59/€1.99)
Nature
-Dynamic Calm Lake Theme (£1.59/€1.99)
-Dynamic Swimming Pool Theme (£1.59/€1.99)
Sci-fi/Fantasy
-Alpine Assassin (£1.99/€2.49)
-Dragunov Theme (£1.25/€1.59)
-Gold Tiger Mp5 Theme (£1.25/€1.59) ...

More zombie hordes are on their way to Home, but not before the service goes offline tomorrow for maintenance.

EU users won't be able to log into the service from 8am BST tomorrow, when it will go down for an unspecified duration. But once it comes back online, Sony says a zombie attack will be imminent.

"We have unconfirmed reports of a second wave of zombies ravaging the once peaceful island resort of Banoi this week as the undead virus continues to thrive," says the PS Blog. "It is as yet unknown how far the virus has spread throughout PlayStation Home and authorities advise stocking up on the weaponry now available at the local store before leaving the area."

Elsewhere in the update, you'll find a new Sodium-themed Silicon Lounge in the Lockwood Publishing store, new Alice Cooper items in the AAA store, paintball outfits and more.

Hit up the PS Blog (link below) for loads more info on that. But don't expect anything on Sony's EU plans for the Home overhaul it announced for US earlier this week. That update goes sadly unmentioned.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...zombie-attack/ ...

Japanese PS3 sales rose almost 50 per cent last week following the introduction of a price cut, although the console remained the nation’s third best performer behind 3DS and PSP.
Having enjoyed a massive spike following its own markdown on August 11, 3DS managed to hold its lead during the week ended August 21, although sales fell from 196,077 units to 105,639.
PSP sales were flat week-over-week at 40,000 units, while PS3 sales rose from 20,000 units to just shy of 30,000. No other system crossed the 5,000 sales mark.
On the software front, former chart-topper Everyone's Rhythm Heaven for Wii returned to number one, ahead of Monster Hunter Diary for PSP and Kirby Mass Attack for DS.
PS3 title Super Dimensional Game Neptune mk2 and PSP gameGrowlanser IV Over Reloaded were new entries at numbers four and six respectively, with 3DS release Super Pokemon Rumblesandwiched between the pair.
01. Everyone's Rhythm Heaven (Nintendo)
02. Monster Hunter Diary Poka Poka Felyne Village G (Capcom)
03. Kirby Mass Attack (Nintendo)
04. Super Dimensional Game Neptune mk2 (Compile Heart)
05. Super Pokemon Rumble (Pokemon)
06. Growlanser IV Over Reloaded (Atlus)
07. The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of time 3D (Nintendo)
08. Wii Sports Resort (Nintendo)
09. Let's Make A J.League Pro Soccer Club! 7 Euro Plus (Sega)
10. Toriko Gourmet Survival (Namco Bandai)

http://www.next-gen.biz/news/japan-p...cent-price-cut
...

Sony updated PlayStation Home in the spring of this year, and gave its virtual world multiplayer support and better graphics. Evidently that update wasn't quite what Sony wanted, so the company will roll out a complete redesign of the community this autumn to make it easier for folks to connect with desired content. The revamped Home lets users find games by exploring several themed districts (Action, Adventure, Sportswalk and Pier Park) with their digital doppelgängers. Sony's saying the changes will make PlayStation Home itself a game, so maybe it's time for Second Life to start shaking in its boots. Denizens of Sony's digital world can get more details in the PR below.http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/24/sony-redesigns-playstation-home-makes-it-the-game-outside-the-g/ ...

Sony will reposition PlayStation Home as a hub for social games, VentureBeat reports.
The process will be led by a redesign this autumn, which will introduce new features and areas to help users find games and facilitate play.
"This is a giant leap in the evolution of the platform," said PlayStation Home director Jack Buser. "We are going to 'up level' games as the heart of PlayStation Home. This means that Home itself is going to become a game. The first things you see when you get into Home are games."
When it launched in 2008 Home was positioned as a virtual world, but the rise of social networks and social games since then has prompted Sony to rethink its strategy.
The central plaza will be replaced by an area called The Hub, where users can check an activity board to for missions in MMO-style "meta-games" that take place within Home. Users will also be able to create custom events for their social groups.
Outside of The Hub, Home will now have themed areas for different game styles and genres. These will include Sportswalk, the Adventure District, and the Action District.
Sony will also update its core client to provide a more streamlined experience, with separate tracks for new, returning and regular users.
Buser claims that 23 million PlayStation 3 owners are currently registered in Home, with the average visit lasting around 70 minutes.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...ocial-game-hub
...

Sony DADC has signed collaboration agreements with Cinram and Cert Octavian to operate interim warehouse locations after its Enfield warehouse burned down during the London riots.
Around 80 per cent of Enfield's products are now stored and distributed from Cert Octavian's Hoddesdon site, while the rest will be handled by Cinram in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. All of the Enfield staff will remain employees of DADC.
"Our staff members have been incredibly supportive, often working extended hours to make a fast contingency solution happen as quickly and smoothly as possible," said Darren Houghton, managing director of UK distribution
Sony DADC also reports that effects on customers was limited.
"By utilizing a multi-site approach, it guaranteed that not a single order or EDI (= Electronic Data Interchange) was lost, and all IT systems and services were up and running and not affected by the fires," explained Houghton.
The fire on August 8 destroyed property worth in excess of £30 million. The site handled distribution of Blu-rays, DVDs and CDs.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...f-london-riots
...

via http://thatotherdev.com/2011/08/21/t...-2-v0-3-–-ps3/
Here is another updated version of They Do Not Die. This new update Most notably features destructible walls and the ability to save the game state. Game saves are fairly large and consequently rather slow to create and load but that will improve over time.
I’m still undecided about what the subtitle should be so keep posting any ideas you have. Right now I’m leaning towards going with Collateral Damage (suggested by Griffunt) or Life After Death (suggested by Annelies)
On a less obviously related subject does anybody know how to go about measuring the passage of time with millisecond precision (or near enough to it for it to be usable when calculating the frame rate) when developing for PS3 with PSL1GHT?
What has changed:
You can save the game at any time and obviously also load that save.
The on screen text now scales so it no longer fills an overly large portion of the screen at low resolution.
In addition to your gun you now have a rocket launcher.
Rockets explode when they are shot, hit a person or hit a wall.
Explosions destroy walls, push people back and hurt people.
You can now run which consumes energy.
Shooting momentarily prevents energy from regenerating.
If you try to consume energy when you have none left then you will instead lose health.
The speed that your health regenerates at directly correlates to how much energy you have.
The screen (specifically the edges of it) turn red when you are low on health.
The world is more densely populated.
PS3 controls:
Left analog stick = Move
Right analog stick = Aim
L1 = Shoot the rocket launcher
R1 = Shoot the gun
L3 = Run
Select = Save
Start = Load
Links:
Download the PS3 version ...

Via http://thatotherdev.com/2011/08/20/s...ll-v0-1-–-ps3/

Here is something “new” that I have been playing with. It’s sort of a continuation of a browser based demo I made when HTML5 was the cool new thing and I was still messing around with JavaScript and an HTML5 canvas for the first time.
Currently there is some green stuff that falls down and you can rotate the world to make it fall in a different direction and in doing so you can get the green stuff to navigate the world. There is a built in level editor.
It is just a toy at the moment and a roughly constructed one at that. I will probably do a bit more work on it and make it into a game but I don’t know when. I’m not really considering it a very high priority. If you think it’s interesting and want to see it improved upon sooner rather then later then let me know.
PS3 controls:
Left analog stick = Move the camera
L1 and R1 = rotate the camera and the direction of gravity
L2 and R2 = zoom the camera in and out
X (in the editor) spawn a wall (hold and drag to scale)
Circle (in the editor) spawn a something (hold and drag to scale)
Square (in the editor) spawn slime
Triangle (in the editor) delete the most recently spawned thing
Links:
Download the PS3 version ...