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PSP Gets Involved In Upskirt Shenanigans

Saturday, May 31, 2008

PSP Gets Involved In Upskirt Shenanigans
Thu May 29 2008
By Brian Ashcraft

A deputy head of a Nagoya technical college has been arrested for supposedly using a PSP and PSP camera peripheral to look up the skirt of a 19 year-old female. On the 27th, the 59 year-old college administrator was apparently caught using the PSP Chotto Shot peripheral on the Nagoya Kintetsu train line. He has been arrested under anti-stalking legislation. The above TV news reenactment describes how the crime is believed to have gone down.

スカート内盗撮で59歳副校長を逮捕 [nikkansports via my game news flash]

Source: Kotaku

Labels: Nintendo, Nintendo DS, psp, PSP Chotto Shot, Sony, upskirt

posted by Perimbean @ Saturday, May 31, 2008 0 comments

Sony 40GB PlayStation 3 as Blu-ray Disc player

Sony 40GB PlayStation 3 as Blu-ray Disc player
Skrevet av Melissa J. Perenson
29.05.2008

From the outset, the PlayStation 3 has billed itself as more than just another game console. And this machine lives up to its promise: It's one of the most capable Blu-ray Disc players available today. The 40GB PS3 (US$400, as of 4/24/08) has built-in gigabit ethernet and is one of the few Blu-ray players that supports BD-Live (Profile 2.0) content that can be delivered via the Internet. It also supports Blu-ray BonusView, for playing back picture-in-picture content.

From the outset, the PlayStation 3 has billed itself as more than just another game console. And this machine lives up to its promise: It's one of the most capable Blu-ray Disc players available today. The 40GB PS3 (US$400, as of 4/24/08) has built-in gigabit ethernet and is one of the few Blu-ray players that supports BD-Live (Profile 2.0) content that can be delivered via the Internet. It also supports Blu-ray BonusView, for playing back picture-in-picture content.

The PS3's movie playback experience is best if you start from scratch, inserting a disc into the front-loading slot as soon as you power up the unit. It took just 3 seconds for a test disc to physically load into the unit itself, followed almost immediately by the PlayStation 3 startup music. The screen then blacked out, and the movie came up. Total elapsed time from disc insertion to the start of the film: a respectable 24 seconds.

The PS3 doesn't come with a separate remote control for video playback, so I had to use the game controller to navigate through movies, and that required two hands. (Sony does sell a dedicated remote control, for an extra $25; with this remote, the Blu-ray playback experience should be exponentially smoother.)

You'll want to buy the remote: Using two hands to control basic functions like play, fast forward, and rewind was both ungainly and imprecise; I missed not having dedicated buttons for such common features.

To navigate up, down, left, or right within the disc menus, you can use either the PS3 controller's directional pad or the left analog stick controller. You press X to select options and to activate play. The O button lets you exit the Blu-ray player, the square button brings up the disc's pop-up menu, and the triangle button gives you a handy, transparent-overlay on-screen menu that pops up on the left side of the screen. This menu provides quick access to certain settings, and awkward access to dedicated, software-based playback controls (buttons for fast-forward, rewind, play, and stop, for example)--which you need, since the game controller lacks such dedicated controls.

Trying to perform certain operations, such as precise fast-forwarding, was particularly frustrating. The fast-forward steps ahead at 1.5X, 10X, 30X, and 120X, and you must press the X button to cease moving forward. Stepping forward frame by frame is even more awkward: No option clearly exists for this, but you can press the controller's X button to pause playback and then use the analog stick or the right and left arrows on the directional pad to advance a frame at a time.

Unfortunately, you'll have to experiment to figure all this out: The manual included with PC World's PlayStation 3 test unit provided no clues on how to use the controller's buttons for movie navigation. I had to dope out the responses via trial and error, and frequently found several paths to the same operation. This could be either confusing or convenient, depending on your perspective and on how comfortable you are using the controller to navigate the interface.

I found the pop-up info display elegantly designed--unobtrusive, yet easily readable. (The easiest path to this display: Press the Select button in the middle of the controller.) It's a good thing that the display is a pleasure to read, because you'll be invoking it a lot: The pop-up is the only way to figure out where you are in the disc, since the PlayStation 3 console lacks an LCD screen such as those commonly found on DVD and dedicated Blu-ray Disc players.

In the PC World Test Center's jury evaluation, the PlayStation 3's video quality proved to be average. On its own, it looked good, but compared with our top Blu-ray Disc models, such as the Philips BDP7200/37, the PS3's video seemed to lack contrast, detail, and dimensional depth.

Nevertheless, the PS3 remains quite a deal if you want to play high-def Blu-ray movies and aren't wedded to getting a stand-alone home-theater-style device. Even factoring in the cost of the remote, you're getting a versatile, reasonably priced Blu-ray Disc player that can handle all of the latest BonusView and BD-Live content. Plus, you could use the machine to play games, browse pictures, and surf the Web, too.

Source: IDG

Labels: Blu-ray, Philips, PlayStation 3, PS3, Sony

posted by Perimbean @ Saturday, May 31, 2008 0 comments

Tom Clancy's EndWar Xbox 360 Beta Sign-Ups

Tom Clancy's EndWar Xbox 360 Beta Sign-Ups
The Beta will take place for 3 weeks in June and July, and will be available in English only
11:37 May 30th, 2008

Ubisoft today announced they are accepting applications for the upcoming beta test for the Xbox 360 version of Tom Clancy's EndWar, a new brand in the Tom Clancy series of video games scheduled for release on next-generation consoles in fiscal year 2007/2008. This beta test will feature 3 maps and be playable exclusively online in 1v1 and 2v2 matches. To apply for this beta test, you will need to be an Xbox Live Gold Member, with a broadband internet connection, and 3 GB of free space on your Xbox 360 Hard Drive.

Source: GamersHell

Labels: EndWar, Microsoft, Ubisoft, xbox 360

posted by Perimbean @ Saturday, May 31, 2008 0 comments

Tom Clancy's EndWar Xbox 360 Beta Sign-Ups

Labels: EndWar, Microsoft, Ubisoft, xbox 360

posted by Perimbean @ Saturday, May 31, 2008 0 comments

Pro Evolution Soccer 5 launched for PSP

Pro Evolution Soccer 5 launched for PSP
Posted on May 28, 2008 09:37:43 AM

Pro Evolution Soccer 5 has proved itself as one of the most fantastic soccer games. It is a wonderful game, which develops sportsmanship in you. You get a chance to show your soccer skills in front of the large crowd at international stadiums while competing with teams from different countries. Pro Evolution Soccer 5 for the PSP has been improved a lot as compared to its older versions. It offers you more realistic games to play and faster paced action. 57 national sides and 136 club teams are available for playing. So, you can always choose from a variety of players to showcase the real sportsman in you.

The game has been designed keeping in mind the all the PSP’s technical specifications. It is developed in a way, which gives you exceptionally clear graphics and ultimate acoustic quality. All the players are now more tactful, skilled and intelligent with improved passing and sprinting skills. This will let you experience the real time pressure on your shoulders while defending or smashing the ball into the opponent’s goal. Not all the players are equally skilled; in fact each player is different from the other. So, you will have to think strategically before selecting players for your team. The PES 5 on PSP also lets you to challenge the teams on other PSPs within a certain radius via its wireless connectivity. This will let you know your actual ranking in the soccer world. A lot of game statistics are provided to assist you in decision-making. You can also save the replays of the most remarkable matches. Six different leagues and a variety of Cup tournaments are included to encourage you to fight for the next level. The most exciting thing is that the PES 5 on PSP can be linked to PES 5 on PS 2, so that you can exchange the game data such as player and teams. Konami has really put a lot of efforts while innovating the Pro Evolution Soccer 5.

Labels: Konami, PlayStation, Pro Evolution Soccer, psp, Sony

posted by Perimbean @ Saturday, May 31, 2008 0 comments

Street Fighter IV confirmed for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC

Street Fighter IV confirmed for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC
Wed, 28 May 2008 04:02p.m.

Capcom have announced that they are in development of Street Fighter IV and that it will be released on the Sony Playstation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360 and Windows-based PCs.

The Street Fighter series made a huge impact on the video gaming world and spawned hundreds of similar games.

Capcom says Street Fighter IV "continues this tradition of excellence with a return to the classic 2D Street Fighter fighting action mixed with new characters, amazing visuals, and next-generation fluid gameplay."

The game will feature a range of new characters alongside the return of the original World Warriors: Ryu, Ken, Guile, Chun Li, E. Honda, Blanka, Dhalsim and Zangief.

While the controls will use the traditional six button system, Capcom are promising a revolutionised combat system including focus attacks, super combos and an 'ultra combo system'.

Source: TV3

Labels: Capcom, Microsoft, PlayStation 3, PS3, Sony, Street Fighter IV, xbox 360

posted by Perimbean @ Saturday, May 31, 2008 0 comments

Nintendo Partners with McDonalds in Japan

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Nintendo Partners with McDonalds in Japan
Download DS demos while you wait for your nuggets.
by John Tanaka
May 27, 2008 - Nintendo began today in Japan a trial run of a new service that gives DS owners access to downloadable content in a couple of new places: in fast food chains and on the train.

The company kicked off the Nintendo Spot service today in cooperation with McDonalds and NTT Broadband Platform. This new service gives DS access to downloadable content without the need for extra hardware or registration. The trial program runs at McDonalds restaurants in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward and Suginami Ward until June 30, and on the Tsukuba Express train line until December 28.

The McDonalds service gives users access to a special McDonalds home page that was designed specifically for the system. Accessible from this home page is information about the chain's products and campaigns.

Users also have access to the DS Download Service, complete with DS demo downloads. Four titles have been made available from the start, including DS Bimoji Training and Bokura ha Kaseki Horida. In addition, from May 30 to June 19, those who access the service will be able to download a special Pokemon Diamond & Pearl Pikachu which comes with the "Present" skill pre-learned.

The Tsukuba Express version of the Nintendo Spot service is a bit more advanced. In addition to the DS Download Service, users can access NTT Broadband Platform's Wi-Fine wireless internet service for news and other content. The connection can be used both in the 20 stations between Akihabara and Tsukuba and on board the train as well.

The only catch for using the service is that DS owners will have to download a Nintendo Spot Viewer program to their system. This download takes place automatically on location, although in the case of the Tsukuba Express service, the download can only be made in stations, and not on the train. The browser disappears once the system is powered off.

Source: IGN

Labels: McDonalds, Nintendo, Nintendo DS

posted by Perimbean @ Tuesday, May 27, 2008 0 comments

The state of the next-gen video game console

Monday, May 26, 2008

The state of the next-gen video game console
Posted by Daniel Terdiman
May 21, 2008 4:00 AM PDT

With the release Monday of Wii Fit, the exercise game that some video game analysts have predicted could become one of the best-selling titles of all time, it was Nintendo's turn to dominate headlines related to the so-called next generation of consoles.

The Xbox 360 became the first next-gen console to sell 10 million units in the United States.

The "next-gen" era began in November 2005 when Microsoft launched its Xbox 360 and then really kicked into gear a year later when Sony and Nintendo pulled back the wraps on the PlayStation 3 and Wii, respectively.

Being big business--video game sales in the U.S. alone in 2007 were $9.5 billion--everyone has been wanting to declare the generation's winners and losers since pretty much the first day all three consoles were on the market.

Doing so, of course, is a tricky proposition because console generations last for years, and sales ebb and flow according to a number of factors. But one thing that seems clear is that past success or failure is not a guarantee of future performance. And so while plenty of armchair quarterbacks have already written the results of the next-gen console wars, industry experts say the final results could turn current assumptions on their heads.

Here's where we are today: Nintendo has shocked the world with its Wii, bringing millions of new mainstream gamers into the fold with its innovative motion-sensitive controller, low price, and fun, easy-to-use games. The Wii was presumed the generation's sure third-place entry and now is seen as its winner.

Similarly, with the expected loyalty of more than 120 million PlayStation 2 owners, Sony's PlayStation 3 was expected to be the next-gen winner, especially with a built-in Blu-ray player and incredible graphics courtesy of its Cell processor. Yet, the PS3 is generally seen as next-gen's loser, due to high prices, the resulting lackluster sales, and the perception of a paucity of killer games for the platform.

The Xbox 360 was expected to be a solid runner-up, but instead, it hit 10 million U.S. units sold first, dominates the list of must-have titles, and has seen its online component, Xbox Live--with more than 12 million users--become the class of the genre.

Too early to tell
But this is indeed a marathon, not a sprint. Previous console generations have had five-year cycles, but the next generation looks like seven or more.

"I think that the landscape still has a lot of change to go," said Michael Pachter, a video game analyst with Wedbush and Morgan. "Where we're at is still really early in the cycle."

According to Pachter, price is the one issue that could most drastically alter the next-gen console landscape.

Currently, the Wii costs $249--if you can find one--and top-end Xboxes and PS3s cost $349 and $399, respectively.

To Pachter, that's too much to ever attract PS2-like sales numbers.

"Consumers just have this image that consoles cost $199 or less," he said.

Pachter predicted that between now and the 2009 holiday season, both Microsoft and Sony will cut the prices on their consoles.

He expects Sony to slash $50 off the price this year and again next. That would mean a $299 PlayStation 3 for the 2009 Christmas season.

That could also mean the PS3 might finally start to give Sony the sales it has hoped for.

The PS3 was expected to be the next-gen winner based on the huge number of PlayStation 2 owners, but the new console stumbled out of the gate and is currently in third place.

In a report issued earlier this year, IDC analyst Billly Pidgeon projected sales numbers for the three next-gen consoles, through 2012.

Pidgeon suggested that by 2012, the PS3 will lead the pack, with more than 107 million units sold worldwide, while the Wii will be just behind, at nearly 107 million units.

In the shorter term, however, IDC suggested that the Wii is poised to be the dominant console, most likely overtaking the Xbox this year in total sales.

"Our forecast calls for the Wii outshipping the Xbox 360 and the PS3 through 2010," Pidgeon wrote.

To some, the big shock in Pidgeon's report is that the Xbox 360 will have fallen far behind by 2012, with just over 40 million units sold.

To Pachter, these predictions have the ring of truth.

"I think Microsoft has an image issue," said Pachter. "They've branded themselves as the hard-core gaming rig, and I just don't think that the hard-core audience is that big. Thirty or forty million, but not 120 million. I think they're going to keep capturing the hard-core, but they're never going to appeal to family, and Sony's always going to appeal to family."

Microsoft clearly disputes this conclusion.

To Aaron Greenberg, director of product management for Xbox 360 and Xbox Live, there are already stats demonstrating that the Xbox 360 is attracting broad appeal. One, he said, is that there are already 16 Xbox 360 titles with a million or more units sold in the United States, compared with eight for Wii and only two for PS3.

"Being first to market was a big advantage for us," Greenberg said, referring to Xbox's year head-start. "It allowed us to become the default platform for third-party (publisher support). We've got 12 million users for Xbox Live, the largest game lineup, and the most exclusive titles."

Microsoft, of course, has a stake in promoting the sense that the console wars are over before they really begin, but the numbers don't necessarily support that idea.

According to research firm NPD, through April 2008, Microsoft had sold 10.08 million Xbox 360s in the United States, Nintendo had sold 9.51 million Wiis in the U.S., and Sony had moved 4.29 million PS3s.

But despite the Xbox leading the pack so far, the Wii clearly has the momentum. It sold 714,000 Wiis in April in the U.S., compared with just 188,000 Xboxes and 187,000 PS3s.

"We can say we're pleased with the way consumers of all kinds have responded to the Wii," said Denise Kaigler, Nintendo of America's vice president of corporate affairs. "Everyone continues to have great experiences with their family and friends. Plus, NPD says that no video game system in history has sold so many so quickly."

Bumps in the road
Despite its amazing success so far, Nintendo has had trouble meeting demand for the Wii. So its sales could even be higher.

The Wii was not expected to appeal to very many people but it has been a sensation, opening up the video game industry to a large number of new players and selling out wherever it is sold. It is now expected to take over the next-gen sales lead in the U.S. in a matter of months.

Microsoft, too, has had bumps in the road. It also had console shortages and a very widely discussed series of problems with Xboxes breaking down.

But most agree that Microsoft's answer to its quality problems has been a case study in responsiveness.

"You have to give them a ton of credit," said Pachter, referring to Microsoft's offer of three-year warranties for Xbox 360s. "They didn't back away from it, and they didn't try to blame it on anybody else."

Sony's problems, of course, have been the most well-chronicled.

Sony was originally expected to follow its dominance with the PS2 into the next generation.

Instead, from the get-go, the PS3 was seen as being far too expensive at $599, built-in Blu-ray player or not.

Sony acknowledges the problems, but argues that the PS3 is finally ready to turn the corner.

"There were two main barriers to entry (to the PS3) for consumers: cost and content," said Patrick Seybold, director of corporate communications for Sony Computer Entertainment America, "and we have addressed both of those. We reduced the price...and we demonstrated an exceptional lineup of products that certainly separate PS3 from the rest of the industry."

But another problem for Sony has been the perception that there aren't very many must-have games available for the PS3 and that cross-platform titles sell better on Xbox. Hits like Grand Theft Auto IV, Assassin's Creed, Guitar Hero III, Electronic Arts' Madden football, and other cross-platform games seem to sell better on Xbox than on PS3, and the biggest PS3-only successes have been MotorStorm and Resistance: Fall of Man.

The Xbox 360, by comparison, has had a series of such hits, including Halo 3, Gears of War, and BioShock, which is being turned into a movie.

Similarly, new games like Fable II, Gears of War 2, and Halo Wars are coming exclusively to Xbox 360.

But PS3 owners can look forward to Metal Gear Solid 4 and Little Big Planet, both games that are expected to sell a lot of copies, and probably drive additional sales of the console itself.

Wii Fit, in the meantime, is expected to be the kind of game that appeals to a very wide audience.

"I think it's going to attach about a one-third rate to all Wiis," Pachter said.

But of course, the Wii has had its share of hit games, including Super Mario Galaxy, which was impossible to find last Christmas, Mario Kart Wii, and Boom Blox, Steven Spielberg's first game under his partnership with Electronic Arts.

So what happens now?

One thing seems evident: This is a good time for the video game industry. According to NPD, the whole business is booming, with $5.47 billion in sales through April, up 31 percent from $4.18 billion a year ago.

No one knows, of course, if Pidgeon's analysis of the future of the consoles will play out, but even if it does, it shows that all three console platforms have a strong future.

"I think what's most exciting for the entire industry is the amazing growth we've been witnessing," said Greenberg. "The biggest entertainment launches are now in the games industry...We feel pretty bullish. We feel this year will be the biggest year in video games history."

On June 10, Geek Gestalt hits the highways for Road Trip 2008. I'll start in Orlando, Fla., and visit many of the South's most interesting destinations. Stay tuned, and be sure to keep up, both now and during the trip, with what I'm doing on Twitter.

Source: Cnet

Labels: Microsoft, Nintendo, PlayStation 3, Sony, Wii, Wii Fit, xbox 360

posted by Perimbean @ Monday, May 26, 2008 0 comments

Sony Bundles up Metal-Blue PSP for Madden

Sony Bundles up Metal-Blue PSP for Madden
May 21, 2008 | by Nick Mokey

Sony's Madden 09 Bundle

Madden 09 will get its own PSP bundle, including a metallic blue PSP, when it's released late this summer.
If PSPs decked out with graphics from Star Wars, Spiderman, and God of War haven’t tickled your sports-loving fancy, perhaps Sony’s latest attempt, a Madden-themed system, will be just the ticket. Sony announced on Wednesday that the August release of Madden 09 on PSP will bring with it its own PSP bundle with a metallic-blue PSP and other goodies.

The package will include the special-edition PSP system, a copy of Madden NFL 09, a voucher to download Beats for free from the PlayStation store, a 1GB Memory Stick Pro Duo card, and the movie NFL: In Just One Play on Universal Media Disc. The movie, hosted by NFL receiver Chad Johnson, showcases legends including Randy Moss, Reggie Wayne, Larry Fitzgerald, and more.
When it’s released on August 12, the bundle will sell for $199.99, which Sony claims is $60 cheaper than buying up each piece separately.

Labels: Madden 09, psp, PSP slim, Sony

posted by Perimbean @ Monday, May 26, 2008 0 comments

Schoolkids learn with Nintendo

Schoolkids learn with Nintendo
Published: 23 May 2008

A JUNIOR school has become the first in the country to use Nintendo games to teach kids.
Pupils were given handheld consoles which they use for 20 minutes a day.

The games test mental agility with maths puzzles and logic games.

Teacher Dawn Hallybone, of Oakdale School, in South Woodford, Essex, said: “Their progress is amazing — and they work in silence.”

The consoles will be passed on to other schools.

Source: The Sun

Labels: Nintendo, Nintendo DS

posted by Perimbean @ Monday, May 26, 2008 0 comments

Pirated copies of the Xbox 360 version of Grand Theft Auto IV has hit the Internet

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Pirated copies of the Xbox 360 version of Grand Theft Auto IV has hit the Internet by a group named iCON which has released the pirated version of GTA IV

The full pirated Xbox 360 copy of GTA IV was distributed by the group is proclaimed to be the PAL build with a total size of 6.32 GB. Moreover, rumors are circulating that a leaked NTSC version could be ready within a day or two.
By: Ben Thompson
Apr 24, 2008, 9:36 AM EDT

A group named iCON has released Xbox 360 pirated versions of Grand Theft Auto IV which are popping up on a variety of torrent Web sites.

There has yet to be any confirmation that this is the real full retail build of the game.

The full pirated copy of GTA IV was distributed by the group is proclaimed to be the PAL build with a total size of 6.32 GB. Moreover, rumors are circulating that a leaked NTSC version could be ready within a day or two.

This is surely not going to please Rockstar, even though the group stresses that gamers should "go and buy this one!"

The release also stresses, "Don’t play this game while connected to Xbox Live till next week!"

Meanwhile, Best Buy Canada and Xbox Canada are joining forces for the launch of Grand Theft Auto IV with a midnight madness theatre experience.

Customers will find themselves involved in themed interactive activities and will experience the hard life of Liberty City first-hand as they wait to get a copy of what's predicted to be the video game with the most first week sales in history.

The full pirated Xbox 360 copy of GTA IV was distributed by the group is proclaimed to be the PAL build with a total size of 6.32 GB. Moreover, rumors are circulating that a leaked NTSC version could be ready within a day or two.

Source: HalfLifeSource

Labels: Grand Theft Auto 4, Microsoft, NTSC, PAL, xbox 360

posted by Perimbean @ Sunday, May 25, 2008 0 comments

Wii Fit buyers can also hit slopes with We Ski game

Wii Fit buyers can also hit slopes with We Ski game
May 24, 2008 04:30 AM
MARC SALTZMAN

Those geniuses at Nintendo didn't just sell you a Wii Fit last week, that collection of fitness routines and mini-games for the Nintendo Wii console. The Wii Balance Board included with the disc can also be used with some video games.

For example, Namco Bandai's just-released We Ski ($29.99; rated "Everyone") is a simple yet fun skiing game for the Nintendo Wii that supports the Wii Balance Board peripheral, which looks like a bathroom scale.

In the single-player modes, players can stand on the wireless doohickey and use their body to shift weight as they navigate down the hill. Up to four players can hit the virtual slopes on the same television as well, though gamers will need to use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers to slalom down the mountain.

We Ski includes more than a dozen runs ranging from the simple bunny slopes to the most challenging Black Diamonds cliffs. Other activities include freestyle challenges, race modes, moguls and a ski school for beginners.

Last week in San Francisco, Electronic Arts demonstrated how the Wii Balance Board will be used in the upcoming Skate It skateboarding game, due out this fall for the Nintendo Wii.

Penny for your thoughts: Seasoned gamers who miss point-and-click adventures with humorous dialogue will find plenty of both in Hothead Games' Penny Arcade Adventures Episode 1: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness (rated "Mature"), created by Mike "Gabe" Krahulik and Jerry "Tycho" Holkins, and veteran designer Ron Gilbert (The Secret of Monkey Island).

In this Vancouver-made first instalment, players set out in the pulpy 1920s world of New Arcadia to solve puzzles, interact with wacky characters (many of whom will be familiar to devoted Penny Arcade followers) and fight baddies in turn-based role-playing game-like fashion.

Available for $21, the first episode can be downloaded from playgreenhouse.com (to play on the PC) or via the Xbox Live Arcade service (to play on the Xbox 360) for 1,600 Microsoft Points.

Good times roll for Rock Band: One of the finest debut albums in rock history will soon be available to play in MTV Games' Rock Band.

Available Tuesday, The Cars' 1978 self-titled album can be downloaded in its entirety, which includes a handful of new-wave classics like "Good Times Roll," "My Best Friend's Girl," "Moving in Stereo," "Just What I Needed" and "You're All I've Got Tonight."

Each track will be available for $1.99 per track (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) or $14.99 (1,200 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for the album.

This is the second full-length album available for download in Rock Band, after Judas Priest's Screaming for Vengeance. With the addition of The Cars album, Rock Band now offers more than 170 songs included with the game or as downloadable add-ons. More info is at www.rockband.com/dlc.

Source: The Star

Labels: Nintendo, Rock Band, Wii, Wii Fit

posted by Perimbean @ Sunday, May 25, 2008 0 comments

Wal-Mart To Offer $100 Gift Card With 40GB PS3 Purchase

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Wal-Mart To Offer $100 Gift Card With 40GB PS3 Purchase
22 May 2008
Ben Dutka

Ooooh, deals! Everybody likes a good sales deal, and while they usually drop in around the holidays, it seems Wal-Mart will be offering a seriously big bonus for anybody who picks up a PlayStation 3 during the first week of June.

If you check out this thread over at the PS3Forums, you'll notice that Wal-Mart will hand out a $100 Blu-Ray gift card when you purchase a 40GB PS3 between June 1 and June 7. Now, we're not entirely sure if a "Blu-Ray" gift card limits your buying to Blu-Ray movies or games, but it's still $100 worth of stuff...who's going to refuse that? Considering we're a ways away from Christmas, this may be one of the best deals you can find, unless you're planning to pick up one of those snazzy Metal Gear Solid 4 PS3 bundles. Of course, you have to bear in mind that you're not getting a hundred bucks off your purchase, but you should be able to pick up a couple new games and only have to pay about $30 total. And by now, the PS3 has been out long enough where you'll have plenty of great options for those two games.

This hasn't been officially confirmed and probably won't be until that leaked flyer comes out for the Memorial Day weekend. But we see no reason to disbelieve this one.

Source: PSXExtreme

Labels: PlayStation 3, PS3, Sony, Wal-Mart

posted by Perimbean @ Saturday, May 24, 2008 0 comments

BioShock will Make it to the PS3!

BioShock will Make it to the PS3!
May 23, 2008
by Techtree News Staff

Rumors of BioShock making it to the PS3 have finally been confirmed with the game now set for release on the PS3 by the end of this year.

Though not much is being said about how the game will be different from its Xbox 360 and PC versions except for the fact that it might include some graphical improvements. PS3 owners would only be happy to hear that the game, which was a huge success for Xbox 360 and PC, is now headed to their console.

The news has been confirmed by EGM (Electronic Gaming Monthly) -- the July issue of the magazine, which also carries the first screen-shots and information about the game.

About the game: BioShock is a first-person shootern (FPS) game set in 1960; players get to don the hat of plane crash survivor Jack who must explore an underwater objectivist-dystopian city 'Rapture', and live through attacks by the mutated beings and mechanical drones that populate 'Rapture'.

For the BioShock-inclined, you can read our review of the Xbox 360 version of the game here.

Source: TechTree

Labels: BioShock, PlayStation 3, PS3, Sony

posted by Perimbean @ Saturday, May 24, 2008 0 comments

Alone In The Dark PS3: "End Of 2008"

Alone In The Dark PS3: "End Of 2008"
Ben Dutka
23 May 2008

It's one of the most promising games of the year, but PlayStation 3 owners have been wondering if they'll ever see it.

Alone in the Dark has been getting some awfully good press lately, and it has been confirmed for the Xbox 360, Wii, PS2, and PC. It's scheduled for a June release, but this is where PS3 owners go, "hey, where's our version?" Well, the nasty rumor is that the PS3 version has been canceled, but we can clear that up right now: according to what Sony's Phil Harrison told GameTrailers, we can expect to see it "by the end of the year." Now, this is well behind the other versions, of course, but at least it's better than nothing. And besides, with that size time gap, perhaps PS3 owners can look forward to extras the other versions won't have. Hopefully, this will be one of the very last examples of a PS3 version lagging way behind, as more and more developers are starting to use Sony's platform as the lead console for their projects.

We'll still be waiting for a release date, but for now, we can say that Alone in the Dark is indeed still coming to the PS3. Stay tuned for more details as they become available.

Source: PSX Extreme

Labels: Alone In The Dark PS3, PlayStation 3, PS3, Sony

posted by Perimbean @ Saturday, May 24, 2008 0 comments

PSP still rules Japan hardware charts

PSP still rules Japan hardware charts
Sony handheld sells twice as many as DS
23 May 2008

The latest hardware figures from Japan are in and – cover me in syrup and call me Shirley – the PSP hasn't moved from the top of the charts.

News came in yesterday that Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G had reclaimed the number 1 position in Japan's games chart after a brief spell as second biggest selling after Mario Kart Wii, so it's not too surprising to hear the console is still doing massively well alongside it.

Anyway, for the week ending May 18th, PSP sold 70,536 units. In second place is Wii with 41,572 and third comes DS with 34,905. All sales are down on the previous week when the consoles sold 89,884, 67,308 and 51,228, respectively. We don't know why. Perhaps there was a good series on Japanese telly that week.

These latest figures show there's still a pretty wide gap between PSP and Nintendo's two consoles. What will it take to close it? Obviously a Nintendo game that proves as popular in Japan as the two-million selling Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G would be a good start, but we're not sure one is imminent any time soon.

Source: PocketGamer

Labels: Nintendo, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable, psp, Sony

posted by Perimbean @ Saturday, May 24, 2008 0 comments

Greenpeace finds hazardous chemicals in PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Greenpeace finds hazardous chemicals in PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii
Posted: 20 May 2008 by Adam Vaughan

Not content with prising open the iPhone in its hunt for toxic components, Greenpeace has dismantled the three big games consoles to see what unpleasant materials they contain. The resulting report, Playing Dirty, is out today. The upshot: the PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii didn't break any laws, but -- as you'll discover -- they do contain dubious and arguably unnecessary chemicals.
The research reveals that the three together contain a mixture of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), phthalates, beryllium and bromine. Bromine and beryllium are mainly a health issue for workers during disposal and recycling, while phthalates have the unwelcome honour of being linked to sexual reproduction problems -- especially in male mammals. Not something that gaming geezers will want to hear.
While Greenpeace points out all three are making an effort, the results from the charity's research centre at the University of Exeter show all three console makers could be cleaner. Here's how they fare up.

PS3

The PS3's motherboard gets the once-over
-- Contained some bromine-free circuit boards -- the only console tested to receive that honour
-- But it also had the highest level (13.8 per cent) of bromine in a single component, the fan housing
-- It contained PVC, but not as much as the Xbox. The report points out the differences in PVC weren't huge

Xbox 360

The Xbox 360 motherboard in the grip of Greenpeace's scientists
-- The only console which Greenpeace found DiNP phthalates in -- bad news. They were found in the AV cable
-- It had the highest concentration of any phthalates -- 27.5 per cent of a type called DEHP in a power cable coating
-- It also contained more PVC than the Wii and PS3
-- On the plus side, the housing materials had lower levels of brominated materials

Wii

The Nintendo Wii as you've never seen it before
-- Phthalates were much lower than in the PS3 and 360 -- unlike the other two, they didn't exceed EU laws limiting phthalate levels in toys
-- It also had the least amount of PVC overall
-- None of its electrical contacts contained Beryllium -- both the 360 and PS3 did
If you've got the time, the full report makes for interesting reading and is available here. The report's certainly a turnaround for Nintendo, which Greenpeace previously ranked bottom on its eco efforts because of a failure to disclose information.

Souce: SmartPlanet

Labels: Microsoft, Nintendo, PlayStation 3, PS3, Sony, Wii, xbox 360

posted by Perimbean @ Wednesday, May 21, 2008 0 comments

Nintendo Wii makes Yamauchi Japan’s richest

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Nintendo Wii makes Yamauchi Japan’s richest
Monday, May 12, 2008

Soaring sales of Nintendo’s Wii game machine have made former Nintendo chairman, Hiroshi Yamauchi Japan’s richest man, worth $7.8 billion, Forbes magazine said in its annual rankings. The net worth of Yamauchi, 80, jumped $3 billion in the past year — boosting him from third place to surpass property tycoon Akira Mori, Japan’s richest man last year, the magazine said.

Nintendo’s Wii, with its motion-sensing controller and quirky games that attract casual users, has far outsold rival game machines such as Sony’s PlayStation 3 and Microsoft’s Xbox 360 since its launch in 2006.

Shares of Kyoto based Nintendo have more than tripled in the past two years, boosting the value of the company to around $79 billion, and the fortune of Yamauchi, who owns 10 percent.

Mori, whose Mori Trust is one of the Tokyo’s biggest landlords fell to second spot with a net worth of $7.7 billion, the magazine said. Kunio Busujima, the 83-year-old founder of pachinko gambling machine maker Sankyo Co Ltd (4568.T), was third with a net worth of $5.4 billion, Forbes said. A new arrival to Forbes’ Japan 40 Richest List is a 32-year-old Kenji Kasahara, who created social networking site Mixi (2121.T), Forbes said. reuters

Source: DailyTimes

Labels: Nintendo

posted by Perimbean @ Wednesday, May 14, 2008 0 comments

Sony: PS3, PS2, PSP Not Competing With Nintendo Or Microsoft

Monday, May 12, 2008

Sony: PS3, PS2, PSP Not Competing With Nintendo Or Microsoft
Sat, 2008-05-10 18:54

When it comes to their last gen, next-gen, and handheld offerings, Sony does not belief that their competition comes from either Microsoft or Nintendo.

Instead, they have a broader philosophy of who they're competing with.

“I think that PS3, PS2 and PSP are all entertainment platforms so I feel that our competition is not Microsoft or Nintendo, but basically any form of entertainment that is competing for the consumers’ attention,” SCE president Kaz Hirai said in an interview with MCV.

“So we need to make sure we offer the most compelling entertainment – not videogame but in in general. I can’t speak for their strategy but I like to think that we’ve got a very well balanced portfolio with PS3, PSP and you can’t discount the PS2.”
Sony's also quite proud of the fact that PlayStation 3 has taken the lead over Xbox 360 in the SCEE territories.

Source: PS3News

Labels: Microsoft, Nintendo, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PS2, PS3, psp, Sony

posted by Perimbean @ Monday, May 12, 2008 0 comments

Xbox 360 65-nm 'Jasper' GPU slated for Aug.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Xbox 360 65-nm 'Jasper' GPU slated for Aug.
Published: May 9, 2008 3:05 PM PDT
by Marcus Lai

Taiwan-based publication CENS.com this week said that Microsoft Corp. is planning to employ a new 65 nanometer graphics chip code-named Jasper in the Xbox 360 console.

The report claims that production of the new chip began in Apr. at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Inc., and Nanya PCB Corp.

The chip is set to be in consoles by Aug. of this year.

The 65-nanometer GPU would replaced an existing 90-nanometer chip, said to be a cause for excessive heat in the hardware.

Microsoft in July 2007 began offering a new three-year warranty for the Xbox 360 following a high rate of hardware malfunction complaints.

In Dec. 2006, the company extended its warranty for the Xbox 360 from 90 days to one year after consumers complained that launch systems purchased malfunctioned.

The Xbox 360 held as the No. 2 console with more than 260,000 units sold for the month of Mar. according to NPD Group Inc.

Source: PunchJump

Labels: 65-nanometer, 90-nanometer, GPU, Microsoft, xbox 360

posted by Perimbean @ Sunday, May 11, 2008 0 comments

Microsoft Says 60% of GTA IV Sales Were on Xbox 360

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Microsoft Says 60% of GTA IV Sales Were on Xbox 360
By Max Brenn
14:49, May 9th 2008

As the time goes by, new figures about the GTA IV sales have started to emerge. After Rockstar officially announced that their masterpiece sold 6 million units in the first week (with 3.6 million copies in its first day) now it is time for another episode from the Microsoft versus Sony show.

The two companies have been engaged in a marketing battle since the beginning of the year, trying to use the release of GTA IV as a promotion mechanism for the sales of their consoles.

Analysts have forecasted that the new game will definitely boost console sales, but while some of them said Xbox 360 will surely outsell PS3, others were willing to bet their money on PS3.

However, after some vague official statement, Microsoft’s marketing blog now has new information on the status of the GTA IV battle.

According to GameScoreBlog, the success of GTA IV has led to an increase of 54% week-over-week for Xbox 360’s sales.

Quoting data obtained from retailers, Microsoft claims that more than 60% of all GTA games sold in the first week were the Xbox 360 version. This is good news for Microsoft’s team that works to promote Xbox 360.

GameScoreBlog notes also, based on the same information from retailers, that GTA IV is attaching strongly to new console sales, with roughly 40% of new consoles selling with a copy of the game.

However, while GTA IV is shaping up to be a real success for Xbox 360, it is not as radical as expected. In the first days after the launch, Aaron Greenberg, director of product management for Xbox 360 and Xbox Live, estimated based on the same data from retailers that the Xbox 360 version of GTA IV is outselling the PS3 version by a margin of two to one. Compared to those claims, the new data seem a little bit more realistic.

Microsoft’s Xbox 360 has an important argument over PS3, as the company has signed a deal with Rockstar to provide some exclusive content of GTA IV to Xbox owners. There are few details about this exclusive content, but Microsoft said it would add hours of gameplay.

And speaking of Xbox Live, GameScoreBlog revealed some details about GTA IV’s success on this service.

GTA IV has scored a new record on Xbox Live. In the first week, more than 2.3 million people played Grand Theft Auto IV and the game is now the number one played game on Xbox Live.

Gamers have unlocked more than 12 million achievements worth over 100 million gamerscore points in GTA IV. It has set a new record for time played, with the average gamer spending more than four hours playing the game on LIVE in the first week alone.

Source: eFluxMedia

Labels: Grand Theft Auto 4, GTA 4, Microsoft, PlayStation 3, PS3, Sony, xbox 360

posted by Perimbean @ Saturday, May 10, 2008 0 comments

Wii Fit on course to break sales records

Wii Fit on course to break sales records
By Andy Bloxham
Last Updated: 3:21AM BST 10/05/2008

Designers at Nintendo have been "amazed" at the popularity of the game, which involves balancing, stretching, aerobic exercise and even yoga.

In just two weeks since its launch on April 25 it has sold 338,000 units, according to figures from Chart-Track, the official body that monitors computer games sales.

However, high street retailers expect the game’s popularity to outperform even traditional home exercise devices like exercise bikes, cross trainers and even celebrity-endorsed exercise DVDs.

Jim Batchelor, commercial director at Woolworths, said: "The popularity of Wii Fit is phenomenal and we believe it will only get bigger as more and more people discover it.

"It has already become the fastest-selling home fitness tool and we expect it to surpass the sales of any fitness DVD or piece of fitness equipment that Woolies has ever sold."

The initial figures were enough to make it the eighth-best launch in computer history but its appeal is wider than just those in the gaming world.

Dawn Paine, marketing director of Nintendo UK, said: "We’ve been amazed by the different types of people that have purchased Wii Fit, many of whom are people that have literally never played a video game in their life."

Jim Clark, senior technology analyst at consumer behaviour experts Mintel, said: "What the Wii Fit does is allow you to start getting into exercise without having to get over what is, to some, the daunting barrier of exercising in public with strangers, whether that’s an aerobics class or a dip in a pool."

Source: Telegraph

Labels: Nintendo, Wii, Wii Fit

posted by Perimbean @ Saturday, May 10, 2008 0 comments

Sony drops new wave of downloads to PS3 store

Sony drops new wave of downloads to PS3 store
Published: May 9, 2008 8:49 AM PDT
by Marcus Lai

Sony Corp.'s U.S. game division on Thurs. released a new wave of downloads to the Playstation Store for the Playstation 3 hardware.
New downloadable games and add-on content include Rocketmen: Axis of Evil, PixelJunk Monsters Encore, new Rock Band tracks, and the Guitar Hero III: Muse Track Pack.

New game demos include the Haze demo, The Bourne Conspiracy demo, and the GRID demo.

Additionally, new game videos include the WipEout HD Trailer, the Playstation 3 “What You Need” Video, Mirror’s Edge Gameplay Trailer, Mercenaries 2 Payback Trailer, The Wheelman Trailer, TNA iMPACT! Gamers’ Day Trailer.

NPD Group Inc. in Apr. reported that the PS3 sold 257,120 units in Mar. U.S. sales to rank as the No. 5 video game hardware for the month.

Current key titles for the PS3 include Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, Grand Theft Auto IV, and Konami Corp.'s upcoming Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots in June.

Source: PunchJump

Labels: Grand Theft Auto 4, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, PS3, Sony

posted by Perimbean @ Saturday, May 10, 2008 0 comments

Nintendo's Wii Fit Campaign Is Targeted To Women

Nintendo's Wii Fit Campaign Is Targeted To Women
by Laurie Sullivan, Thursday, May 8, 2008 5:00 AM ET

Women shape the focus in Nintendo North America's latest campaign for Wii Fit, the fitness game scheduled to hit streets on May 19. Events, marketing and advertising will support the release.

A microsite, wiifit.com, is filled with sample videos, interactive demos, and instructional downloads on how the game works, says Eric Walter, public relations manager for Nintendo North America. "Right now, we're really focusing on women," he says. "The game is both for men and woman, but we think it will really appeal to working moms."

Moms might want to stroll through Merchant's Gate, the main entrance to Manhattan's Central Park, on launch day to relax under the shade trees and take Wii Fit for a spin. Nintendo plans a day-long event, co-sponsored with the American Heart Association.

For every person who steps onto Wii Fit, Nintendo will donate $5 to the American Heart Association--up to $25,000 total--along with a separate $25,000 to support efforts aimed at helping Americans live healthier lifestyles. Walter expects about 5,000 people to attend the event. Celebrity trainers Ashley Borden and Harley Pasternak will support the event by answering questions about fitness and demonstrating the game.

Advertising efforts, including TV and print ads, begin within the next two weeks. A flip-card type ad will line subway walls in Manhattan to give the illusion of movement for about two or three minutes as trains whiz by. Ad wraps on taxi cabs and buses are set to appear in the Big Apple, too.

Los Angelenos will see an entire side of a building dedicated to promoting Wii Fit. A billboard ad on Sunset Boulevard should appear within the next two weeks, along with ads in bus shelters throughout the United States.

Wii Fit aims to appeal to all consumers, but Walter believes women, more than men, tend to appreciate exercises based on yoga and aerobics. The game, which promotes fitness, sports a Wii Balance Board resembling an aerobics stepping board. A Body Mass Index, a standard measure of body fat based on height and weight, and other tools help to keep tabs on daily progress.

Wii Fit offers more than 40 activities and exercises with the categories aerobics, balance, strength training and yoga. Players earn fit credits that unlock additional exercises and activities within categories. Wii Fit also tracks the activities done the most and puts them into a favorites file.

Source: MediaPost

Labels: Nintendo, Wii, Wii Fit

posted by Perimbean @ Saturday, May 10, 2008 0 comments

EA reveals new fitness game with Wii Fit board support

EA reveals new fitness game with Wii Fit board support
By Andrew Webster | Published: May 08, 2008 - 09:20AM CT

Just a day after unveiling EA Sports Freestyle, EA Sports president Peter Moore has revealed one of the two unannounced games planned for the label. Though still unnamed, the new title will be a fitness game that will make use of the Wii Fit balance board.

But Moore promises the game will deliver a different experience than Nintendo's Wii Fit. "I need to have a point of difference," Moore said. "We also need to make sure we're delivering something that's truly exercise. I'll call [Wii Fit] more eastern fitness, where it senses weight and balance, like Tai-Chi. It's more about holistic fitness. I don't think the board is going to take a pounding. We need to look more at western fitness in which I can actually be moving and start to sweat a little bit, and that's what we're working on right now."

While very few specifics have been revealed, Moore did say that one of the key aspects to the game will be an emphasis on fun. "It can't feel like a workout," he explained. "The team has to figure out, how do I smile while I'm doing this?... We need to distract people and not make this exercise feel like work, but like they're having fun. So mini-games, things where you're actually laughing out loud, that's the stuff we're working on."

It looks like the balance board peripheral is going to see some significant third-party support. But, since every owner of a balance board is also an owner of Wii Fit, EA's excercise simulator will have to be significantly different in order to overcome that.

Source: ars technica

Labels: Nintendo, Wii, Wii Fit

posted by Perimbean @ Saturday, May 10, 2008 0 comments

PS3 GTA fixed, Rockstar says sorry

PS3 GTA fixed, Rockstar says sorry
Thursday 8-May-2008 10:31 AM Patch fixes PS3 lock-ups, apology issued

Rockstar has released a patch that plugs the crash-causing holes in the PS3 version of GTA IV, and has issued a statement to "apologise for the inconvenience".

The patch, now available to download directly from the internet (your PS3 will need to be connected, obviously) fixes issues related to Gamespy's servers.

According to Rockstar, it "prevents Gamespy's servers from being overloaded and therefore reduces the impact on those servers that were causing the game to stutter and lock up."

So, as well as stopping the freezing, you should also actually be able to get a game online.

Rockstar says it'll be keeping a close eye on things from here. "We continue to monitor the performance of the game both on and offline and will provide further updates as necessary," it told CVG.

"We want to assure everyone that, together with our hardware partners, we continue to strive to give our fans the best possible interactive entertainment experiences possible. This update will ensure that everyone will experience Grand Theft Auto IV the way it was intended.

"We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused."

We forgive you.

Source: CVG

Labels: Grand Theft Auto 4, GTA 4, PlayStation 3, PS3, Sony

posted by Perimbean @ Saturday, May 10, 2008 0 comments

Xbox 360 sales jump 125% because of GTA 4

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Xbox 360 sales jump 125% because of GTA 4
By James Orry - 07/05/2008 - 1:34pm GMT

Microsoft is confident that gamers prefer the acclaimed title on its platform.

Microsoft is celebrating a GTA 4 victory in the UK, with over 100,000 more units of the game having been sold in week one for Xbox 360 than PlayStation 3. Chart-Track data reveals week one sales of the game totalled 514,000 units on Xbox 360, compared to only 413,000 units on PS3.

"Grand Theft Auto IV has done phenomenally well this week with Xbox 360 version outselling PS3 in our stores," said Gerry Berkley, Trading Manager at Woolworths. "Xbox 360 console sales have seen a big uplift off the back of Grand Theft Auto IV launching. It's clear our customers see Xbox 360 as a great console for this incredible game."

Microsoft also notes that GTA 4 is now officially the most-played game on its Xbox LIVE service, with more than 9.7 million hours of online multiplayer logged and more than 31 million hours of GTA 4 game time overall.

Microsoft has also taken a swipe at its competitor, pointing out that the Xbox 360 is the only console that "renders Liberty City in all its 720p high-definition glory" - the PS3 version is reported to render the game at 640p.

"In the past week since the release of 'Grand Theft Auto IV', the bar has been set even higher for what the growing entertainment medium of gaming can deliver in the way of immersive, living worlds and exciting social experiences," said Chris Lewis, Vice President, Interactive Entertainment Business, Microsoft EMEA. "Today it has become clear that consumers are finding Xbox 360 the best way to experience Liberty City and we expect this trend to continue, especially with exclusive 'Grand Theft Auto IV' episodes coming to Xbox 360 in the Autumn. 'Grand Theft Auto' has a new home on Xbox 360, and consumers are discovering how our platform can enhance the experience like no other."

Source: VideoGamer

Labels: Grand Theft Auto 4, GTA 4, Microsoft, xbox 360

posted by Perimbean @ Thursday, May 08, 2008 0 comments

Sony considering external PS3 hard drive?

Sony considering external PS3 hard drive?
07 May 2008, News by Rob Purchese

SCEE boss David Reeves has admitted he is unsure if Sony will stick to offering only the 40GB PS3 unit.

Speaking to Eurogamer, he hinted towards the possibility of introducing official external hard drives as he delivered his vision of consumer storage choice.

"We launched with 60GB and to reduce the price we went to 40GB. We're not sure we want to stay with that configuration of hard drive, and I think what you're going to see in the future is maybe consumers can choose," Reeves told Eurogamer.

"The PlayStation will stay the same, but consumers can choose whichever size of hard drive they want. They can now, or course, because it's not a proprietary hard drive."

"It might be that we will offer the possibility for people to have a bigger hard drive, but they have that option now. But it does not mean that we have anything in the works to introduce a different model or bigger hard drive built in," added Reeves.

You can plug external hard drives into the PS3 using a USB cable attachment, as Reeves pointed out, as well as buy 2.5 inch SATA (laptop) hard drives and swap them with the one inside your console.

The key in all of this for Sony is simplicity, because it knows that works. It also has a very low system failure rate and is in no rush to upset it.

"We've played the games with the hardware, with different hard drives and things like that, and we want to keep it very, very simple. We know that works," said Reeves.

"We've got a very, very low return rate on the machines that are out; we've got a great supplier, so we'll keep that simple. We're just going to play the tunes with the games, both at retail and online."

Source: EuroGamer

Labels: PlayStation 3, PS3, Sony

posted by Perimbean @ Thursday, May 08, 2008 0 comments

Sony PS3 outsells Xbox 360 in Europe says Sony

Sony PS3 outsells Xbox 360 in Europe says Sony
Posted on Wed, 7 May 2008 07:43:29 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Sony held the PlayStation Day Conference in London yesterday. One short key message from the event is that the Sony PS3 outsold the Xbox 360 in Europe.

Apparently the Sony PS3 has outsold the Xbox 360 since October 2007. Sony sold 5 million PS3 consoles across Europe.

As reported in March the Sony PS3 outsold the Xbox 360 in February in the U.S. as well. The Xbox 360 hit back in March though.

It is a nice win for Sony in Europe, despite no mentioning of the currently untouchable Nintendo Wii.

Source: I4U

Labels: Microsoft, PlayStation 3, PS3, Sony, xbox 360

posted by Perimbean @ Thursday, May 08, 2008 0 comments

Iron Man

Iron Man
11:29 - 06 May 2008

Price: £49.99

Format: Xbox 360 (also on PS3, PS2, PC, PSP, Wii and DS)

Age rating: 12+

IRON Man has never been one of Marvel Comics' most popular superheroes, always playing second fiddle to the likes of Spider-Man and the X-Men. He isn't even a superhero, if we're being pernickety, as he's got no special super powers other than a suit of armour that bristles with advanced weapons systems. That said, he's managed to rack up five decades in the comic book business and he's now a star of his very own film and videogame.

The game draws much of its inspiration from the new film adaptation. The plot is essentially the same and Robert Downey Jr lends his vocal talents to the proceedings for added authenticity. In fact, at times, it's hard to tell whether your playing the game or watching the film as the special effects wizardry in both is excellent.

As you'd expect, you play the armoured avenger and can zip about a battlefield using your jet boots. As well as the power of flight you can also fire bolts of energy from your gloves and unleash a charged beam from your chest plate. Extra weapons such as grenades and rockets can be fitted before every mission for additional firepower.

In case you hadn't guessed, Iron Man is an action game in which you play a one-man army, capable of wrestling helicopters to the ground or catching missiles in mid-flight. You can redistribute power throughout your suit, shifting extra resources to thrusters, weapons, life support or your ability to smack a tank in the face. The difficulty levels, however, are considerable. Enemies will fire a constant stream of missiles and bullets in your direction and it's only by holding back and considering a strategy that you can possibly survive. It's often like fighting in a snow globe full of targets and there are always secondary tasks to fulfill, like defending civilians, while in the middle of an explosive firestorm.

Iron Man is no mindless blast, but it doesn't leave much room for cunning either. Still, there's no better feeling than racing after a squadron of jet fighters, locking on to them with your missiles and blowing them out of the sky.

Source: Saffron Walden News

Labels: DS, Nintendo, PC, PS2, PS3, psp, Sony, Wii

posted by Perimbean @ Thursday, May 08, 2008 0 comments

Nintendo Channel Launches in the US

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Nintendo Channel Launches in the US

The interactive guide to the world of Wii and Nintendo, the Nintendo channel, has gone live in the US.

Essentially it's a whole collection of promotional material and information for recently released and forthcoming games: trailers, documentaries, demo videos and future downloads.

According to Kotaku, Wiis in the US have been sent a lil' note to start up the Nintendo Channel process:

Nintendo Channel is an interactive guide to what's new in the world of Nintendo - now available for easy download from the Wii Shop Channel. Watch trailers, mini-documentaries, product demonstrations, and gameplay videos.

Browse the game guide pages to get information about your favorite games on Wii and Nintendo DS. You can even click to order games straight from your Wii, if you have the Internet Channel installed. Make sure your Wii is connected to the internet, and get started!

Source: Cubed3

Labels: Nintendo, Wii

posted by Perimbean @ Wednesday, May 07, 2008 0 comments

Microsoft again denies Blu-ray for the Xbox 360

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Microsoft again denies Blu-ray for the Xbox 360
Posted in Blu-ray by Darrin Olson on May 5th, 2008

It’s never as much fun to write an article to report on things that aren’t going to happen, but in this case we think this is something that should happen and we still expect it to, despite Microsoft’s denials.

What we do know is that Microsoft had an HD DVD player for the Xbox 360 which they put a stop to producing. We also know that rumors keep cropping up that Microsoft is going to work something out with Sony to bring a Blu-ray player to the 360, and Microsoft continues to squash them.

The latest comes from GamePro where Microsoft continues with the story that no Blu-ray player for the Xbox 360 is in the works.

Source: Slippery Brick

Labels: Blu-ray, Microsoft, xbox 360

posted by Perimbean @ Tuesday, May 06, 2008 0 comments

PSP Headset With Remote Control Package For Skype

Monday, May 5, 2008

PSP Headset With Remote Control Package For Skype
Written by Alexis Morgenstern
Saturday, 03 May 2008
Sony Computer Entertainment Japan (SCEJ) has announced a PlayStation Portable Headset with Remote Control bundle for the PSP Slim (PSP-2000). The remote control in this bundle features a black colored face to match the black on the PSP headset. It will be available in Japan for 3,800 yen starting June 19, 2008.

The good news is the PSP Headset bundle is listed to ship in the US next week, according to this product listing on Amazon.com. The bundle eliminates the need to buy the Sony PSP Headset (MSRP $19.99) and the PSP 2000 Remote Control (MSRP $29.99) separately to use it with the PSP's Skype, saving you $20. The PSP Headset Kit for Skype retails for $29.99. Sony Computer Entertainment America had previously said that a combo bundle would be available in the US. It may have been better to introduce this when Skype compatibility was released for the PSP back in late January with firmware update 3.90, but now's the time to go for it if you haven't already.

Press release:
Tokyo, May 2, 2008 – Sony Computer Entertainment Japan (SCEJ), a division of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) responsible for business operations in Japan, today announced that it would release "Headset with Remote Control"（PSPJ-15012）for the slim and light PSP® (PSP-2000) in Japan on June 19th, 2008 at a recommended retail price of 3,800 yen (including tax).

The sleekly designed ear hook headset helps to provide a comfortable and stable fit, applying a black color for remote control harmoniously arranged with headset. Adopting a flexible arm microphone allows users to easily adjust it to optimum speaking position in order to enjoy voice features incorporated in game titles(*1) as well as Skype™(*2) features in clear sound.
SCEJ will deploy various measures to meet users’ demand and vigorously promote the expansion of PSP platform as an innovative handheld entertainment system.

※1 To use Skype on PSP with the combination of this headset, Skype account, “Memory Stick Duo”, Internet connection are necessary. And PSP system software must be version 3.93 or later.

※2 This headset can be used for"TALKMAN"series and "P-kara "for P

Source: Gaming Bits

Labels: PlayStation Portable, psp, PSP slim, Skype, Sony

posted by Perimbean @ Monday, May 05, 2008 0 comments

What else has Nintendo got up its wizard-like sleeve?

Saturday, May 3, 2008

What else has Nintendo got up its wizard-like sleeve?
Not content with today's strong sales of the Wii console, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata. believes that the company needs to look to tomorrow and to do much more if it's to keep hold of its fan base.

Satoru Iwata is acutely aware that Wii could have peaked too soon and thus is devising a strategy to keep gamers keen.

"...even though they are appreciating our offers today, will get tired of them if we cannot provide them with new proposals before they get tired of them. If we can provide them with new surprises, they will continue to support Nintendo for longer, and if not, they will say in the near future, ‘That was Nintendo's peak.' So, we want to make sure we will do our job right," he told Develop Magazine.

Part of the potential problem could be that other companies are now producing wireless motion sensing peripherals, so Wii's unique feature may well become the norm. Nevertheless, Iwata believes that it's the games that make Wii stand out above the rest and he's keen to focus on that particular area to keep consumers happy.

"We are not concerned about what other companies may do but rather more concerned with presenting them with new ideas to our customers based on the prospect that our existing customers will surely get tired of the plays enabled by Wii Remote if we do not try to improve the experience. In other words, what matters to us is whether or not we can continue to constantly create and offer new surprises one after another, "

The initial excitement of playing Wii Sports soon disappeared for me as my Wii gathered dust waiting for a killer title to be released. So far we've had Legend of Zelda, Super Smash Bros Brawl, Super Mario Galaxy and more recently Mario Kart Wii and Wii Fit, but unless Nintendo continue to churn out these AAA titles people are soon going to get bored with waving their Wii mote to the tune of sub-standard games.

Iwata is right, Nintendo need to keep its thinking-cap firmly on its head.

Source: HEXUS

Labels: Nintendo, Wii

posted by Perimbean @ Saturday, May 03, 2008 0 comments

'Tiger Woods 09' Coming to PS3, Xbox 360, Wii and More; First Screens

Friday, May 2, 2008

'Tiger Woods 09' Coming to PS3, Xbox 360, Wii and More; First Screens
May 01, 2008

Electronic Arts has announced Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 09 will be coming to the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Nintendo Wii, Playstation 2 and PSP on August 26.

This time around, Tiger's personal coach Hank Haney has joined in to provide tips and insight with every stroke of the club. Haney will also chime in at the end of each round to let a player know how they've performed en-route to the FedExCup.

EA's GamerNet returns in 09 with several interface refinements and an all-new daily leaderboard and challenges customized to fit a a player's identified style.

Simultaneous play has finally come to online where up to 4 players can play a hole at the same time. This was a popular feature in the old Xbox Links series and should be a hit for faster online rounds in Tiger Woods 09.

Source: TheManRoom

Labels: Microsoft, Nintendo, PS3, Sony, Tiger Woods, Wii, xbox 360

posted by Perimbean @ Friday, May 02, 2008 0 comments

Players dump gyms in favour of Nintendo Wii

Players dump gyms in favour of Nintendo Wii
by Andrew Macarthy on May 1st, 2008 at 18:12

In a trend that shows just how influential gamers see the Nintendo Wii as a machine for exercise as well as gaming (or, indeed, both at the same time), a recent survey has revealed that many would consider cancelling their gym membership in favour of working out with their Wiis.

According to statistics from a survey conducted by TNS Technology, 20% of the 16 to 24-year olds questioned stated that they would consider ousting the gym from their lives; instead sticking to the sweat-inducing play of Wii Sports and Wii Fit instead.

Amongst other figures about the console’s positive social impact, the TNS survey also discovered that 66% of parents agreed that the Wii helps their 10 to 15-year old children get more exercise.

It’s all looking like a great set up Nintendo prepares Wii Fit (already a huge success in Japan and Europe) for its release in North America.

Source: Nintendic

Labels: Nintendo, Wii, Wii Fit

posted by Perimbean @ Friday, May 02, 2008 0 comments

Workout with the Wii at Westin hotels

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Workout with the Wii at Westin hotels
10:56 AM Thu, May 01, 2008

Fellow DMN reporter Suzanne Marta has a post up at our Airline blog about how the Westin chain of hotels is beginning to install Nintendo Wii video game consoles in its fitness rooms.

Any other cool hotel tech out there that you blog readers have seen recently?

I guess the most interesting technology I've seen at a hotel recently is the disconcerting "inclinator" at the Luxor in Las Vegas.

That thing still gives me the chills.

Source: DallasNews

Labels: Nintendo, Wii, Wii Fit

posted by Perimbean @ Thursday, May 01, 2008 0 comments

Train to be a doctor using your PSP

Train to be a doctor using your PSP
New e-learning tools create a wealth of possibilities for the console
by Kath Brice, 30/4/2008

Okay, so educational software isn't quite as high up there in terms of excitement as the announcement of a new Metal Gear game. But education is important, apparently, so we thought we'd bring you news from Nottingham-based e-learning company Atlantic Link, which has just just announced it has produced tools to allow its educational courses to run on PSP.

The company's MD Mike Alcock explains it all more succinctly than we could manage, so let's hear what he has to say: "The traditional problem with courses on the PSP is that they've never been designed for the smaller screen and are often shrunken versions of courses designed for viewing on PC screens.

"To tackle this," he continues, "we have enabled our software to author at the native screen size of a Sony PSP. Because the output of Content Point is Flash, the courses still contain all of the high quality and interactivity of Atlantic Link's usual output, but with the benefit of small screen design. Quizzes, games, activities, audio, video and Flash animations are all supported, giving users the richest possible course experience."

No specific courses have been confirmed for the PSP yet, but the company says the potential is massive and could result in tourist guides, language training, interactive museum guides and even medical training being made available for on-the-go use to PSP users.

Users will be able to save a course to memory stick and run it from there, or access their course directly from the internet. Whichever they choose, the course will fit their PSP's screen and be modified for the console's layout.

There's a sample of Atlantic Link's PSP e-learning here for those curious about how it'll look. We'll hopefully bring you more on this when software launches. That's if we haven't used it to train as vets by then, in which case we'll all be far too busy.

Source: PocketGamer

Labels: psp, Sony

posted by Perimbean @ Thursday, May 01, 2008 0 comments

Wii Fit Is on Fire

Wii Fit Is on Fire
By Alexandre Carst
16:56, April 29th 2008

Nintendo is definitely on the right track with its fitness title Wii Fit, as this week, the company’s product became the sixth fastest selling game of all time in the UK. This incredible popularity is anything but an isolated thing: in Japan, in the almost five months that have passed since the official release, more than 1.4 million copies of the game have been sold.

This is turning out to be quite a month for Nintendo: a few weeks ago in the UK, Mario Kart Wii became the eighth fastest selling game and in Japan, the blockbuster release managed to sell nearly 600,000 copies in only one week, clearly dominating the sales charts.

Wii Fit reportedly recorded no less than £16.3 million ($32.4 million) in revenues, coming in third in the charts right after Halo 3, which recorded £16.9 million ($33.6 million) and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, which had revenues of £24.2 million ($48.2 million).

Wii Fit is unlike anything out there as it can respond to the player’s weight and movement; it has special sensors that follow the player’s side-to-side and front-to-back movements in order to correlate the dynamics of the player's avatar. Activities that can be performed on Wii, while instructed by one of the two virtual trainers, include balance games, yoga, aerobics, strength training, and muscle-toning exercises. The package includes the Wii Balance Board and Wii Fit software.

Source: eNews

Labels: Nintendo, Wii, Wii Fit

posted by Perimbean @ Thursday, May 01, 2008 0 comments

4 Reasons Why Wii Ought to Anticipate a Price Cut

4 Reasons Why Wii Ought to Anticipate a Price Cut

It is looking more and more like Nintendo (NTDOY.PK) may have no option to make the Wii cheaper at retail, despite what Satoru Iwata says. Here’s why:

It has been at the same price for a long time now, during which it has become a lot cheaper to manufacture, especially with the volumes being churned out. Nintendo has been making a profit in every unit from the beginning, so there is plenty of room to drop the price.
The company is ramping up production to 25 million units a year. Initially these will just meet the backlog of demand, but once that is done it will need to use the price mechanism to shift them.
Nintendo's release schedule is looking very weak. Right now we have Super Smash Bros, Brawl, Mario Kart and Wii Fit. Then nothing mega and lots of shovel ware. Compare that with the PS3 and 360.
GTA IV. This is going to transform the balance in the market strongly in favour of the HD consoles. The Wii is going to look increasingly last gen.
To make the most money out of the Wii back catalogue of games, Nintendo needs as many platforms out there as possible. At a lower price it will sell more Wiis and milk it on the software.
The Microsoft Xbox 360 price cuts now make the Wii look very expensive. You get a whole lot more for your money with the 360.

So when is this going to happen? Q3 of 2008 is my best bet. But it could be a little later, depending on what the market tells Nintendo.

Source: SeekingAlpha

Labels: Microsoft, Nintendo, Wii, xbox 360

posted by Perimbean @ Thursday, May 01, 2008 0 comments

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