Ubisoft have announced that they will be waving goodbye to paper manuals.

Those little staple-bound booklets which we always found tucked inside video game boxes, are being ‘binned’ in favor of in-game digital guides for all Ubisoft future PS3 and Xbox 360 titles starting this fall. The first title that will incorporate an all-digital manual will be the holiday release, Shaun White Skateboarding.

“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,” said Laurent Detoc, president of Ubisoft North America.

They will also be introducing an eco-friendly case made of 100% recycled materials. Ubisoft has gone green with its logo, too.

A spokesperson said that these in-game digital manuals will provide “multiple benefits” for the player, including “easier and more intuitive access” to game information as well as providing a “more robust manual.”

They stated also, that “While the company will save money on paper, it’s unclear if these costs will be offset by the labor of the development team to create a more robust game manual within the game.”

They also said they will not be offering downloadable versions of the manuals for players to print out and also did not clarify if older titles will be “upgraded” to include digital manuals.

Statistics show that most people don’t bother to read the manuals these days, with all the tutorials and beginner levels included in games. It has been found that if you need help, you are more likely to consult Games FAQ’s than the paper instruction booklet.

The way we learn to play video games has drastically changed since home gaming began.

(PS: If you are feeling nostalgic, Vimm.net has a growing archive of old video game instruction manuals.)

Will you miss the paper manuals?   Would you go to the manual or Games FAQ’s ?

Let me know below…

WETA, Halo and the Xbox 360!

Microsoft is celebrating 1 million consoles sold in Australia and New Zealand with a limited time custom Xbox 360 system auction promotion, offering up some of the most dazzling systems ever seen.

The auction, dubbed “Konsoles for Kids,” is an effort to raise money for the David Peachey Foundation, to help promote the development of the indigenous youth in Australia.

And when a Hollywood special effects master sits down and whips up a custom Xbox 360 console, this is the end result.

Specially designed and built by Oscar-winning, Richard Taylor from WETA Workshop (the team that did special effects in the LOTR movies and who were also down to work on the aborted Halo movie).

This truly unique console, – which is part Xbox 360, part diorama, – shows that if your 360 is going to die, it may as well die having its guts spilled all over the floor by a diving Master Chief.

Featuring the iconic Master Chief figure propelling himself across the air and blasting through the console with his UNSC battle rifle, this is a must buy item for any Halo fan.

The Halo Xbox is part of a range of other one-of-a-kind consoles put up for auction by Microsoft Australia to celebrate the 360 passing the million-sold mark in Australia

Other auction items include a crystal-covered console containing over 11,000 Swarovski stones and a bunch of Xbox 360 consoles with celebrity autographs (and the relevant celebrity’s face airbrushed on the side).

There some pretty interesting airbrush paintjobs of Russell Crowe and Kelly Rowland, complete with signatures; also Jamie Oliver; Kim Kashashian; Elle MacPherson; Slash; Jennifer Hawkins have got involved.

It’s on eBay right now, but bidders should know that Xbox 360s are region locked. Functional restrictions aside, it’s one amazing piece of art.

Will you be bidding on this item?

Let me know below…

Just read an interesting article listing ‘The top 5 Xbox 360 games that PS3 owners want’ and these were the games listed:

Mass Effect 2: is arguably the best RPG so far this generation and a game that PS3 owners wish they had, with its futuristic settings, complex narrative and fluid gameplay. This is a product that Xbox 360 product manager Aaron Greenberg is known to be very proud of.

The plot of Gears of War 2 may be simple, but the amount of polish put into this game is truly outstanding and shines through with every aspect of the game. With improved controls and more diversity in gameplay than the first Gears of War, Cliff Bleszinski’s 2^nd in the series sets an example of what shooters should deliver.

Regarded as 360’s flagship exclusive, Halo 3 is the third title in the Halo series and concludes the story arc from its predecessors. Its multiplayer offerings are sublime in delivery and feature a range of content all soaked in quality. This is certainly a title that is desired in the PlayStation 3 library.

Survival/horror games are somewhat a commonplace in gaming these days, but there is no denying that Left 4 Dead 2 is one of the best cooperative experiences so far this generation.

Ubisoft’s Splinter Cell: Conviction has sparked endless speculation across the web and with a clear lack of stealth games in recent years, we know that PS3 owners have been crossing their fingers for this title to be offered on their console.

Since Microsoft’s Xbox 360 was introduced in 2005, Aaron Greenberg has reiterated on several occasions that the console is host to a plethora of great upcoming games as well as being able to boast of the largest library of titles on a current-generation platform.

Via playstationlifestyle

So which games would you include in this list?   And why?

Please let me know below…

Infinity Ward v Respawn Entertainment:

Following on from my previous post in which I told you about the development of Respawn Entertainment, Vince Zampella and Jason West have revealed that their first game will be a ‘big Summer blockbuster’.

Jason West has said: “Now that the team is in control of the games and brands, we can ensure that the fans are treated as well as they deserve.”

Although they didn’t go into any specifics on their new game or say if it would be similar to Modern Warfare 2, Jason West also had this to say on the matter:

“It’s premature right now. We’re focused on getting the team. We know we want it to be a big summer blockbuster, we want it to be something our fans will really enjoy, but there’s nothing specific yet.”

Meanwhile over at their old stamping ground; this week has found Infinity Ward less 6 employees. As well as West, Zampella, Francesco Gigliotti and Todd Alderman; now programmer Jon Shirling and designer Mackey McCandlish have left the company after a combined stay of 14 years.

But we have been assured by Infinity’s Community Manager Rob Bowling that morale at the company remains ‘high’.

Hmmm…  watch this space!

What type of game would you like to see from Respawn?

Let me know below…

The Xbox 360 has been no stranger to huge sales since its release in 2005. Over 39 million Xbox 360 consoles have been sold worldwide, with a collection of games that have changed console gaming forever. Some of the most graphically intensive games to date have been introduced for the Xbox 360.

These are the top 5 best-selling Xbox 360 games:

1. Halo 3: 10.93 Million

The Halo franchise is arguably the most successful gaming franchise to date, and if 11 million is not enough, there will be more offerings from Halo later this year.

2. Gears of War: 6.04 Million

Gears of War shifted the gaming sphere by bringing graphics never seen in a console system before and actually working like it should. With one of the best co-ops and online experiences, Gears of War revolutionized what we call today ‘next gen’.

3. Gears of War 2: 5.66 Million

This sequel was expected to sell well; it was improved and added content where the first game had come up short and then lived up to the name “Gears of War”.

4. Halo 3: ODST: 4.82 Million

The Halo franchise has sold and sold well; 4.82 million copies later, Halo ODST proves that this franchise is not dead.

5. Forza Motorsport 2: 3.99 Million

This realistic racing simulator has been the go-to racing game for all 360 owners.

OXM says, ‘Substantial franchise’ will return as Xbox 360 exclusive

Editor of Official Xbox 360 Magazine, Jon Hicks has revealed that their team are going to unveil the re-emergence of a “substantial franchise” as an Xbox 360 exclusive title in next month’s magazine. (Due to go on sale on May 14^th)

The next issue is set to reveal “three massive exclusives,” of which both Call of Duty 7 and Gears of War 3 seem to account for two. The last however, remains a mystery.

Hicks commented “It’s a very substantial franchise and it’s going to be a very big surprise. A good one though, we’re really looking forward to it.”

What would be your choice for the last ‘massive exclusive’?

Let me know below…

March Gaming Stats from NPD:

After taking the lead in the NPD Group’s monthly US game-console sales report for February 2010, the Xbox 360 has been overtaken in the March report by Nintendo’s Wii.

During March 2010 the Nintendo Wii console outsold the Xbox 360 by over 200,000 units.

During this month NPD reports that 557,500 Wii’s, 338,400 Xbox 360’s and 313,900 Sony Play Station 3’s were sold. Game hardware sales dropped 4% from the same period the previous year, from $457.1 million to $440.5 last month.

March 2010 software sales, including accessories and games, have all risen significantly. With video games sales at $1.52 million – a 6% rise; software sales rose 10% and accessories up 11%.

These were the top 10 games in March 2010:

1. God of War III (PS3)
2. Pokemon Soul Silver Edition (Nintendo DS)
3. Final Fantasy XIII (PS3)
4. Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (Xbox)
5. Pokemon Heart Gold Edition (Nintendo DS)
6. Final Fantasy XIII (Xbox)
7. New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii)
8. Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (PS3)
9. Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board (Wii)
10. MLB 10: The Show (PS3)