Is online gaming coming out of the bedroom and into the boozer? We went along to a pub in North London to investigate the new ‘Barcraft’ trend that began in Seattle and has spread throughout North America and Europe. Landlords are turning off the footy and streaming tournaments of strategy blockbuster Starcraft II instead.

Hundreds of fans packed out the Assembly House pub in Kentish Town last weekend for a marathon two-day viewing session. They watched pro players compete in the Major League Gaming Starcraft II tournament held in Providence, Rhode Island. At stake was a $50,000 first prize and a serious buff to their reputations.

Competition among elite Starcraft II players is fierce, with top-ranking gamers such as Huk, Idra and Leenock performing upwards of 300 in-game actions every minute. But putting in the hours to master the game can reap great rewards, with the best players earning hundreds of thousands of pounds in prize money and endorsements.

Barcraft London organisers say convincing pubs to show their sport wasn’t easy. They approached 40 establishments in the capital before they found one willing to put Starcraft II on their plasma screens. But the landlord who said yes is reaping the benefits — he says Starcraft fans are better behaved and stay longer than fans of other sports. Since Starcraft tournaments are screened free of charge, he can also avoid licensing fees.

But what is it about Starcraft II that makes it such a popular spectator sport? How do the pub’s regulars react when they stumble upon hundreds of fired-up fans screaming at a computer screen? And should traditional sports be worried about this new trend? Find out all this and more by watching the video. You can hear more on this week’s CNET UK podcast, where we’ll be discussing the future of digital sports.

And if you want to attend or set up a Barcraft event in your area, you can contact the organisers on Facebook or Twitter. Let us know what you think down in the comments, or over on our own Facebook page.

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Tecmo Koei has confirmed that Dynasty Warriors 7: Xtreme Legends will be releasing November 15th in North America and on the 18th in Europe as a PS3 exclusive.

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The latest Slim PS3 news: As the Cannes film festival gets into its second week, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe is preparing to launch a new highbrow film service for the PlayStation 3.
Called MUBI, and already available for PCs, the online service will be bringing a collection of over 300 films to the home console ranging from Jacques Audiard (director of Read My Lips and The Beat My Heart Skipped) to Franco Zeffirelli (Brother Sun, Sister Moon; Jesus of Nazareth).

The auteur output of Pedro Almodóvar, the Coen brothers, Jean Luc Godard, Takeshi ‘Beat Takeshi’ Kitano, and Gus Van Sant are also being touted as likely candidates for the service’s console debut.

MUBI also has a strong community aspect, encouraging viewers to discuss the films they’ve seen with each other and recommend new cinematic experiences to friends and MUBI members.

The company have also managed to tie up online distribution rights for various pieces of world cinema which have not yet been released on DVD, including Martin Scorsese’s World Cinema Foundation that specializes in restoring neglected films.

The MUBI service is tabled for an autumn launch, expected to coincide with the availability of new Wii-like motion controllers for the PlayStation 3, and helps to associate the machine with an aspirational lifestyle – as does Sony’s links with 3D TV.

CEO Efe Cakarel confirmed to PlayStation Europe that launch territories will be the UK and Ireland; France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Gibraltar and Andorra; Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg; and Australia and New Zealand. Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark are also expected to be brought onboard before the service goes live.

Efe also revealed that short films are to cost £1 and feature length works £3 for UK users. The MUBI website currently prices shorts at €2 and features at €4.

Meanwhile, Microsoft is also preparing a marketing effort to promote and expand the multimedia and social capabilities of the Xbox 360, which has been able to link up with Facebook, Twitter and Last.fm since November 2009.

In North America, the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo Wii can all be used in conjunction with a Netflix subscription in order to stream a wide range of films. For European users, the MUBI deal works to bolster the existing PlayStation Video Store which provides more mainstream movies to North America, Oceania, and some European countries.

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Following continued dismay over its DRM policy, Ubisoft wants to let everybody know that it’s really a nice publisher, one that cares a lot about the environment.

Today the French publisher confirmed that it’s so concerned about its carbon footprint that it will be scrapping traditional paper manuals and instead offering in-game digital manuals for all of its future PS3 and Xbox 360 titles.

Ubisoft maintains the change will benefit gamers with easier and more intuitive information, resulting in a “more robust manual”.  The French publisher also highlights the ecological damage these game manuals do.  According to internalresearch, Ubisoft claims that:

“Producing one ton of paper used in Ubisoft’s game manuals consumes an average of two tons of wood from 13 trees, with a net energy of 28 million BTU’s (equivalent to average heating and energy for one home/year), greenhouse gases equivalent of over 6,000 lbs of CO2, and wastewater of almost 15,000 gallons.”

The publisher refused to reveal whether or not there’s a financial benefit to switching trees for bandwidth however.

“Ubisoft is often recognized for making great games, but it’s a special privilege to be the industry leader at saving trees,” a chuffed Laurent Detoc, president of Ubisoft North America claimed. “Eco-friendly initiatives are important to the global community and introducing in-game digital manuals on Xbox 360 and PS3 is just the latest example of Ubisoft’s ongoing commitment to being a more environmentally conscious company.”

Even Olympic Gold medalist Shaun White got into the action, claiming: “It’s pretty cool that Ubisoft is making a conscious effort to go green with its new video game packaging”.

“I’m excited for my new skateboarding game to come out and stoked that it will be the very first Ubisoft game to be part of their green packaging initiatives.”

The ultimate question, however: does anybody actually read them?

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After months of rumors, weeks of leaked retail flyers and days of Japanese news, the Xbox 360 price drop is now officially happening in North America. As of 5 September, the 120GB Elite will be $399 (224), the new-ish 60GB 360 — successor to the 20GB Pro — will be $299 (168), and the hard-drive-less Arcade will be $199 (112).

The new price point makes the bottom-end model of Microsoft’s console the cheapest current-generation console on the US market, undercutting the $249 (140) Nintendo Wii by $50 (28).

“I’m not at a point where I can say we’re going to beat Nintendo,” Don Mattrick, senior vice-president of Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment division, told BusinessWeek. “[But] We will sell more consoles this generation than Sony.” His sentiments were shared by IDC analyst Billy Pidgeon, who told the magazine, “I expect the 360 to remain in second place this generation. But it’s going to be close.”

IDC predicts 2008 will end with the Xbox 360 beating the Sony PlayStation 3 in lifetime-to-date international sales, 27.7 million to 24.2 million, respectively. That feat is made less impressive, though, by the fact the Xbox 360 launched in November 2005 — a year ahead of the PS3, which has been beating the 360 in monthly NPD sales. IDC has both consoles being drubbed by the Wii, which it predicts will have sold a staggering 44.5 million units by year’s end.

Microsoft has not yet announced a price drop for the Xbox 360 in the UK or Europe.

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An old Nintendo Entertainment System and five games soared to more than $13,000 on eBay after it was learned that an ultra rare game was included in the lot. It would appear from the sale description that the seller, a North Carolina woman, had no idea that a coveted NES collector’s item was mixed in with the lot. The bid jumped from $13 to $6,700 in just one day. The NTSC version of Stadium Events from Bandai America, Inc. is regarded as one of the more rare games for purchase in North America, with fewer than 10 copies rumored to exist. Slim-PS3 is updated several times every day with the latest Free PlayStation news and reviews.

Stardock has heard the clarion call of its fans, and have taken the positive step of unleashing the complete Sins of a Solar Empire experience in the form of Sins of a Solar Empire – Trinity. As you can tell, Trinity is a word that is normally associated with the number 3, and will see this bundle include the original award-winning real-time strategy PC title from Ironclad Games alongside the two game-changing micro-expansions, Entrenchment and Diplomacy. Sins of a Solar Empire – Trinity will be available in retail stores across North America as well as through the digital download channel Impulse – regardless of which version you choose, it will still cost you $39.95 a pop.

In the year of its release, Sins of a Solar Empire was awarded dozens of Real-Time Strategy Game of the Year accolades as well as the overall PC Game of the Year award from IGN.com. The game provides a seamless transition between epic strategy and tactical combat modes, a galaxy of intriguing aliens, powerful starships, and colossal planets that come to life with stunning 3D graphics, unparalleled sense of scale, and a cinematic musical score. Explore and conquer nearby planets as one of three factions: the Vasari, the TEC or the Advent and play for domination of the galaxy. Players will explore distant solar systems by applying brute force, cunning strategy, elegant diplomacy, economic mastery, and researched technology. Launching alongside Trinity and completing the Sins of a Solar Empire experience is Diplomacy. Diplomacy is the second and final micro-expansion for fans that already have the original game. In addition to adding 30+ new technologies to research and a faction “status” that allows parties to see what other factions think of them, Diplomacy also adds a new envoy cruiser that can transport peace-seeking parties to negotiate a truce, trade pacts or treaties which can change the entire balance of any given game.

If you’re into politicking at home and at the office, then this seems to be your cup of tea, as it will take a pretty cunning mind to be able to check out just how well your conniving spirit is able to work in the virtual world.

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After September 22 but before December 21, that’s when you’ll see the PlayStation 3’s spiffy new motion controller on store shelves, says Sony. In a press release issued late last night, the company revealed its wand-based motion control peripheral for the PS3 will ship this fall in Japan, North America, and Europe with ready-to-play software. (Note to Sony: It’s just ’software’, ’software titles’ is technically double-dipping.)

“We have decided to release the Motion Controller in fall 2010 when we will be able to offer an exciting and varied line-up of software titles that will deliver the new entertainment experience to PS3 users, ” said Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Kazuo Hirai in the press statement.

“We will continue to work to have a comprehensive portfolio of attractive and innovative games for the Motion Controller, not only from SCE Worldwide Studios but also from the third party developers and publishers, whom we have been working closely with. We look forward to soon unveiling the exciting software line-up that further expands and defines the PS3 platform as the ultimate entertainment system for the home.”

Microsoft’s ‘no controller’ motion sensing alternative, dubbed Project Natal, is due to ship by the end of the year, probably in November, placing it head-to-head with Sony’s product.

As expected, you’ll need the PlayStation Eye camera to use the double-wand system. The Eye’s been available for years, of course, and retails for $40 today. It’s also arguably the most underutilized, prematurely released official Sony peripheral in existence, so unless you’re hip to play Eye of Judgment (a totally decent card game, by the way) I’d wait to pick one up until they’re discounting it later this year, or, you know, bundling it with the PlayStation Arc.

Hold up, the PlayStation Arc? What the heck is that?

If you buy VG247’s claim, raised ‘on good authority’, a Sony insider says that’s what the motion controller’s actually named. You know, Arc. Like the plasma bolts spit from a Tesla Coil.

Interestingly, Sony says–my emphasis–that it will “vigorously promote the Motion Controller as the de facto controller of the PS3 platform along with the DUALSHOCK series controller.”

Translation: The Arc–I mean Tentatively Labeled Motion Controller Wand Duo PlayStation Accessory Thingy–gets to ride up front with the big boys. No lounging in the backseat or huddling in the trunk with neglected peripherals like the Eye, or the forlorn SIXAXIS accelerometer.

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The latest iteration of the Call of Duty franchise has smashed many records along the way since its release pretty recently, outdoing even movies when it comes to total gross, making some people wonder just which industry would be more lucrative assuming one makes it big, so to speak. But I digress – the Call of Duty: World at War map pack bundle is already readily available in North America, where owners of the Xbox 360 will be able to enjoy it on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for 2,000 Microsoft Points, while folks rocking to the Sony PS3 can always get the Call of Duty: World at War map pack bundle for $24.99 over the PlayStation Store.

The bundle from developer Treyarch and Activision Publishing, Inc. features the complete collection of nine multiplayer maps and three co-op Zombie maps from Call of Duty: World at War Map Packs 1-3. Fight through war-torn Berlin in “Nightfire,” battle through the jungle and waterfalls of “Banzai,” and defend an armored island in “Battery.” Zombies and Hell Hounds attack in “Verruckt” (Zombie Asylum), “Shi No Numa” (Zombie Swamp), and “Der Riese” (Zombie Factory). Survive against the onslaught of Zombies with the help of Perks-a-Cola machines, Monkey Bombs, and the powerful Wunderwaffe DG-2.

Expect Call of Duty: World at War map pack bundle to arrive in Europe for our friends across the Atlantic next January 7th, which means they can’t enjoy the title in time for Christmas. What are the video games lined up on your side that you intend to complete during this holiday season?

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