THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 Technology28 Gamaing launches

with 12 characters LOS ANGELES: and Link will low you to enhance the overall expe- be among the first characters coming rience,” said Fils-Aime. “It’s a different to “.” Nintendo announced Friday approach from Activision and Disney, that 12 characters will initially be part of which is more to unlock something in Environmental its upcoming toy-game franchise set for the game. You’re going to want to have release later this year. In addition to the your ‘amiibo’ figure because it’s going to “Pokemon” and “Legend of Zelda” leading allow you to enhance your skills, upgrade men, the starting line-up will include Ma- your character and take the experience rio, , , , over to a friend’s house.” disasters , , Fox McCloud, , Nintendo first unveiled “amiibo” at the the “ Fit” Trainer and the Villager from Electronic Entertainment Expo in June. “Animal Crossing.” The company plans to release more fig- The figures in the “amiibo” toy-game ures over the next year and include “ami- line will each cost $12.99 and work in ibo” functionality in future games, as well tandem with several of the Japanese as compatibility with its handheld Nin- gaming giant’s upcoming titles, be- tendo 3DS system. ginning with “Super Smash Bros.” “We The Kyoto, Japan-based company is wanted to make sure that the breadth of hoping the figurines will help boost its characters we had for the initial ‘amiibo’ bottom line and sales of its beleaguered line-up supported the fan favorites, as Wii U console, which has been on the rise well as showcase the variety of people since the May release of “ Kart 8.” Nintendo speaks to - from kids to adults,” Despite the success of the latest install- Nintendo of America President Reggie ment in the cartoony Nintendo racing se- SEATTLE: In this photo provided by Nintendo of America, fans dressed in costume pose for a photograph, while waiting in anticipa- Fils-Aime said in an interview. “For ex- ries, Wii U sales still trail behind the Play- tion to play the action-packed Wii U game Hyrule Warriors before its September 26 launch as part of an off-site event during PAX ample, you’ve got a character like Marth Station 4 and One consoles from Prime 2014. —AP Photos from the ‘Fire Emblem’ series. We thought rivals Sony Corp and Microsoft Corp. “Call exposing Marth to a wider collection of of Duty” and “Assassin’s Creed” publishers consumers through ‘amiibo’ made a ton Activision and Ubisoft Entertainment re- of sense, but, of course, we had to have cently said they wouldn’t bring the new Mario, Princess Peach and Donkey Kong installments of those popular series to in that initial line-up, as well.” the Wii U later this year. Similar to Activision’s “Skylanders” “In the end, I want the very best of and “Disney Infinity,” the characters’ vir- every single publisher’s content on our tual histories will be stored on the plastic platform,” said Fils-Aime. “We believe figures and transmitted through the Wii we’ll get there as we grow the install base U GamePad, the controller for the Wii U of the system. Make no mistake: The con- console that features a touch-screen and sumer knows they can get high-quality near field communication (NFC) capabili- games on the Wii U console. That’s why ties. Unlike the Activision Blizzard Inc and our business is up almost double over Walt Disney Co franchises, the “amiibo” last year.” Nintendo will be showing off figures will work with several games from upcoming games like “Super Smash different genres and won’t be required to Bros,” “Hyrule Warriors” and “Captain SEATTLE: In this photo provided by Nintendo of America, from left, SEATTLE: In this photo provided by Nintendo of America, Morgen play the games. Toad: Treasure Tracker” at PAX Prime, a Uyq Nguyen poses with Andrew Hosking, dressed as Ganondorf, at Gage, left, dressed as Saria, slashes through hundreds of enemies “Our vision is to have these ‘amiibo’ four-day celebration of gaming that kicks an off-site event during PAX Prime 2014.— AP Photos while playing Hyrule Warriors, during PAX Prime 2014.—AP Photos figures be your playable friends that al- off Friday in Seattle.—AP

Prime gaming convention kicks off

SEATTLE: The Penny Arcade Expo is in full swing in in Seattle downtown Seattle. The fan-centric celebration of gam- ing began Friday at the Washington State Convention Center. The four-day long event is expected to be at- tended by 85,000 gamers and will include concerts, game tournaments, freebies and previews of upcom- ing titles. Tickets to this year’s 10th annual PAX Prime event sold out less than two hours in May. The inaugural PAX, named after founders Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik’s “Penny Arcade” online comic series, was first held in 2004 in Bellevue, Wash- ington, and attended by about 3,300 fans. During the next 10 years, the event took over the convention cen- ter and spawned similar events in Boston and Australia, SEATTLE: Hundreds of spectators fill an exhibition hall to watch a round of the League of Legends champion- as well as the upcoming PAX South event in San Anto- SEATTLE: Lois, 13 months, is photographed by her ship series video game competition, Friday.—AP Photos nio, Texas. mother Amanda, right, as she shows off her costume “If you live, breath and eat gaming, it’s really the of Chun-Li, from the video game Street Fighter, at the only place to be this weekend,” said Jonathan MacPher- Penny Arcade Expo, a fan-centric celebration of gam- Gamaing Review son, who traveled from Vancouver, British Columbia, to ing.—AP Photos attend the convention for his third time. He said he was most excited to try out “Evolve,” the upcoming four- versus-one multiplayer shooter from Turtle Rock Stu- dios. A few game creators used their PAX Prime panels on Friday to announce moves into the next generation ‘Sims 4’ aspires of gaming: PopCap Games said it was bringing the addictive pinball-inspired puzzler “Peggle 2” to the PlayStation 4 to greatness and fails on October 19. The game was previously only available for the and . “” de- LOS ANGELES: I knew I’d have dozen expansion packs. It’s been are totally fluid, whether you want velopers Edmund McMillen and Tommy Refenes teased issues with “The Sims 4” the mo- a successful formula for the quirky to stretch a Sim’s waistline or living a touch-screen-centric follow-up to their popular plat- ment I realized it wasn’t possible to life simulator series, one that now room.Unlike their predecessors, this form called “Super Meat Boy: Forever.” Team Meat said buy a dishwasher for the fabulous feels cruelly antiquated in the era breed of smarter, more emotional the game would be available for tablets and PCs. couple I’d created to live their vir- of downloadable instant gratifica- Sims are able to multitask and strive tion. Despite that monumental for various aspirations, ranging from “Saints Row” developer High Voltage Software re- SEATTLE: Video gamers play ‘Magic 2015 - Duels of tual little lives to the fullest in Oasis the Planeswalkers’ from Wizards of the Coast on both deficiency, this “Sims” is remark- finding a soul mate to becoming a vealed it was driving an edition of 2013’s “Saints Row 4” Springs, one of the game’s two idyl- ably more intuitive at the start. The best-selling author. When big aspi- to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles, as well as sides of a partition, in a booth at the Penny Arcade lic neighborhoods. The cost wasn’t Expo, a fan-centric celebration of gaming.—AP Photos developers at Maxis have made rations are achieved or more simple an expansion pack titled “Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell.” a concern. I was flush with Simo- it easier than ever to get a house- whims are fulfilled, Sims are now The next-gen crime romp is set for release January 27. leons - the game’s goofy currency hold up and running by introduc- granted points for much-needed re- Several publishers are giving PAX Prime attendees - from selling their novels and mas- ing streamlined tools to craft dys- wards, like the ability to skip meals hands-on time with upcoming games, like Ubisoft’s terpieces in the mail. VIt’s that the functional virtual cartoons, as well or get promoted more quickly at “Far Cry 4,” Insomniac Games’ “Sunset Overdrive” and oh-so-convenient appliance was as build their homes. The controls work.—AP Nintendo’s “Super Smash Bros.” On the show floor, a among dozens of features the de- space called the Indie Megabooth is showcasing titles velopers had left out of the latest specifically from independent developers, such as the edition of Electronic Arts’ virtual space shooter “Galak-Z” from 17-Bit. dollhouse franchise. Despite craft- “There’s an interesting personal element here that ing Oasis Springs’ next Jackie Col- you can’t get online,” said Zach Aikman, an engineer at lins and Damien Hirst, my couple 17-Bit who also organizes the Seattle Indies Expo a few was resigned to scrubbing their blocks away at the Melrose Market Studios. “You’re able dishes in a sink. It’s at that point to meet the developers and find out how their actual I knew “Sims 4” had let me - and personalities carry over into the games they make.” Alma and Jimbo - down. The gaming industry could use camaraderie this The problem with “The Sims 4” week following several reports of developers and other SEATTLE: In this photo taken with a fisheye lens, a (Electronic Arts, for PC, $59.99) is personalities in the gaming community being harassed group of friends from Edmonton, Alberta wearing that after nearly 15 years, “Sims” online. PAX Prime has posted policies against violence, hoods to promote the upcoming “Magicka 2” video fans are keenly aware of EA’s busi- This undated publicity photo released by Electronic Arts/Maxis shows harassment and illegal drug use. The convention’s or- game, play the Nintendo video game Super Smash model of later releasing a the video game, “The Sims 4.”—AP Photos ganizers declined to be interviewed for this story.—AP Bros.—AP Photos