Gizmodo: namco

Zeebo Cheap 3D Game Console Launched, Gets Actual Publishers Support

Jesus Diaz — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 09:30:01 EDT

Just when you thought nothing could happen in the console gaming world beyond Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft, here comes the cheap and cheerful Zeebo and launches in Brazil with actual titles from some big labels:

We are excited to partner with Zeebo on their visionary and ambitious global gaming initiative. The evolutionary combination of fast 3G wireless digital distribution and a simple yet elegant business model will open up new avenues to reach gamers directly with some of our top titles such as Street Fighter Alpha.

That corpospeak blurb is from Takeshi Tezuka, general manager of Mobile Contents Development at Capcom. Color me surprised. And Namco and THQ are also publishing titles. Apparently, the idea of distributing games easily—via the free 3G connection of the Zeebo—to millions of poor kids in emerging countries is an attractive proposition for these powerhouses.

I'm all for it. [Crunchgear]

Robot Wild Animals Are Way More Adorable Than Elmo Live

Elaine Chow — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 02:15:00 EDT

In case you've got a niece or nephew that's hankering for an Elmo Live, but you personally can't stand the strangely frightening little muppet, why not get them animatronic wild animals from Japan that are, in my opinion, much cuter. Made by Bandai Namco, these cuddly robots react to petting and hugging, make cute baby animal sounds and fall asleep, emitting gentle snores, if you ignore them for five minutes. Comes in Lion, Panda, Polar Bear and Snow Leopard flavors for roughly $50 each from Walmart. [Walmart via Impress]

100,000 Apple iPhone SDKs Downloaded So Far

Wilson Rothman — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 08:54:24 EDT

Apple says that over 100,000 iPhone software development kits have been downloaded since its celebrated unveiling on March 6, not a week ago. The announcement below is atypical of Apple: following the standard chest-puffing from execs such as worldwide marketing SVP Phil Schiller, you'll find exec quotes from Namco, NetSuite, PopCap, Rocket Mobile, Six Apart and THQ—I suppose in alphabetical order by company. It's more wind, to be sure, but from the feel of this announcement, it's almost as if Apple had planned to support third-party development all along. Whatever the case, we're looking forward to the resulting apps, both legit and, well, under the table.

iPhone SDK Downloads Top 100,000
CUPERTINO, California—March 12, 2008—Apple® today announced that more than 100,000 iPhone™ developers have downloaded the beta iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK) in the first four days since its launch on March 6. The iPhone SDK provides developers with the same rich set of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and tools that Apple uses to create its native applications for iPhone and iPod® touch.

"Developer reaction to the iPhone SDK has been incredible with more than 100,000 downloads in the first four days," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "Also, over one million people have watched the launch video on Apple.com, further demonstrating the incredible interest developers have in creating applications for the iPhone."

Apple also previewed the new App Store, a breakthrough way for developers to wirelessly deliver their applications to every iPhone and iPod touch user. Developers set the price for their applications—including free—and retain 70 percent of all sales revenues.

Leading developers such as AOL, Electronic Arts, Epocrates, salesforce.com and Sega have already demonstrated amazing applications using the SDK, and developer response continues to be phenomenal with more developers embracing the platform.

"The iPhone SDK gives us the tools we need to create powerful iPhone applications and is an important part of our overall mobile strategy," said Rick Jensen, senior vice president, Small Business Group at Intuit. "We're excited that the iPhone expands the ways our customers can solve key financial tasks wherever they might be."

"We're very excited about Apple's new SDK and reaching every iPhone user through the new App Store," said Scott Rubin, vice president, Sales and Marketing, Namco Networks. "We can't wait to show off great new versions of arcade classics like PAC-MAN and Galaga that use the revolutionary features of the iPhone and iPod touch."

"Apple's tools have provided our development team the flexibility to make the SuitePhone application richer and deeper," said Luke Braud, vice president, Software Development, NetSuite. "NetSuite is excited at the opportunity to give every iPhone customer access to their critical business data anytime, anywhere."

"Apple's become an important mobile game platform with the iPhone SDK," said Jason Kapalka, co-founder and Chief Creative Officer, PopCap. "The new SDK gives us the tools to innovate and reinvent games like Bejeweled, Zuma and Peggle. With the new App Store we can reach every iPhone and iPod touch user on the planet."

"Seventy percent of the retail price is hands-down the best deal out there in mobile. It's simple and motivating for developers," said Wayne B. Yurtin, president and CEO, Rocket Mobile, Inc. "We can't wait to get our first iPhone applications on the revolutionary App Store."

"Six Apart pioneered the mobile blogging experience with an iPhone-optimized blog service," said Chris Alden, CEO, Six Apart. "We're taking it to the next level with our native iPhone application for TypePad that's already in development."

"The iPhone is the mobile platform game developers have been dreaming of," said Scott Zerby, vice president, THQ Wireless. "We're looking at how we can use the iPhone's innovative user interface to create new game experiences for our big brand entertainment partners that consumers love."

Pricing & Availability
The free beta iPhone SDK is available immediately worldwide and can be downloaded at developer.apple.com/iphone/program. The iPhone Developer Program will initially be available in the US and will expand to other countries in the coming months. A QuickTime® video of the iPhone roadmap event is available to view at www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/iphoneroadmap.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.

Nintendo '80s Arcade Cabinet

Brian Lam — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 21:00:40 EDT

Costco's selling this Nintendo classic arcade cabinet. Since you can get Mario Bros. Donkey Kong and DK Jr variations on Game Boy, what you're actually paying $3000 for is the orange paint and amazing cabinet art. Twin joysticks, and a 19 inch monitor round out the 250-pound pre-8-bit-era game machine.–Brian Lam

Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr. and Mario Bros. Arcade by Namco [Costco, thanks Jason]

Real Life Pacman (Kind of)

Travis Hudson — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 12:45:13 EST

Namco and Bandai showed off this project at IREX 2005 this year. It is a little too farfetched to be a real toy on the market, but nevertheless it's pretty cool. It is a scaled up PacMan map that features a robot PacMan along with Pinky, the pink ghost. The robot is controlled by you, as you play the actual video game on a television screen. Just when you thought Namco had managed to milk every single cent out of the PacMan franchise they pulled out something else that is pretty sweet.

Robot PacMan (IREX 2005) [Akihabara]