Wii: 3.19 million sold worldwide
Sunday
The Nintendo Wii is looking to be the holiday sales leader this year. In a about 2 months with Wii has sold almost half of what the Xbox 360 did in a full year. The Wii also doubled the Playstation 3 sales so far since launch.Can the Wii maintain once the novelty has worn and the hype is gone? Only time will tell.
Watch the video here
posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/31/2006 10:32:00 AM,
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Home Theater Magazine : Talks Playstation 3
1080p Gaming and Blu-ray galore.
It's just so beautiful. I realize that's a pretty shallow initial evaluation of Sony's much-hyped super-fun-happy-smile machine, the PlayStation 3. But the lines are so bold, the shape is so commanding, and it's all just so�shiny.
Of course, it's what's inside that counts, and, in this case, that would be the imposing new Cell Broadband Engine, which Sony developed in collaboration with IBM and Toshiba. The Cell engine features a mind-blowing eight processors working in parallel-a main CPU, plus seven Synergistic Processing Units. It's 40 times as powerful as the PlayStation 2's processor, performing 208 billion floating-point calculations per second.Read More
posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/31/2006 10:11:00 AM,
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LCD-TV Market Expected To Cool, But Still Hot
Manufacturers are expected to increase supply and decrease price of large televisions.The global market for liquid crystal display televisions is expected to remain hot next year, despite some cooling in sales, a market researcher says.
LCD-TV shipments are expected to rise by 57% next year to 62.5 million units, compared with 39.7 million units that shipped this year, iSuppli says. This year, sales rose 95% from 2005.
The slowdown is expected to be even more pronounced in terms of revenue, as manufacturers compete on price. Factory revenue would increase by 20% next year to $53.5 billion, up from $44.7 billion this year, according to iSuppli. Next year's projected increase represents a drop of 56 percentage points compared with 2006, when revenue soared 76% over 2005.
"Regardless of the slowdown, the LCD-TV market remains in a phase of explosive growth, mainly due to booming sales of large-sized sets," iSuppli analyst Riddhi Patel said in a statement.
Read More
posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/31/2006 09:55:00 AM,
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True Console Demand Test
With all the hoopla we have been hearing concerning which console will win the next-gen console war we decided to do a little research of our own. We sorted through the most common next-gen console "search keywords" on overture search network , the largest on the net, and came up with some numbers for you to chew on. "Keywords" are what web surfers type into search engines when looking for something specific, the higher the number the more popular the search.
Please keep in mind that this data is for the month of November 2006. I will be posting December 2006 data in a couple of days once the month is complete.
playstation 3
1915443 (Number of Searches)
wii
1859226 (Number of Searches)
xbox 360
1047189 (Number of Searches)
Please keep in mind that these are November numbers and that they are "probably" reflecting the crazy get rich off eBay selling Playstation 3 schemes. The December numbers will give a more accurate picture of the true search popularity.
Please post your comments. If you are not a member of HDGameNews.com you may post using the anonymous user id. Let the debating begin!
Don't forget to bookmark us to check back in a couple of day for the December data.
Wasted Rage
posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/31/2006 08:37:00 AM,
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Playstation 3 (60Gb) discounted to $450 by Sony.
Saturday
Here is a way to pick up the premium Playstation 3 for a $150 discount. Sony rewards is offering the $150 card credit after your first purchase.The catch is of course you have to apply for their credit card.
For those of you on the fence about which console to buy this brings the price of the PS3 to within $50 of the Xbox 360.
Read More
posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/30/2006 02:13:00 PM,
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Kojima: no more back-to-the-wall for Snake?
Quite interesting. Xgrayninja posts in the IGN Boards what he claims are snippets of an interview between Gamepro and Hideo Kojima, but we can't seem to find the said interview at GamePro (exclusive to the GamePro mag, maybe?). According to one snippet, the centerfold-quality "back-to-the-wall" stealth pose Snake pulls in prior outings is gone. Hideo, elaborates:
"(The signature Snake pose) rarely happens on the battlefield. Nobody is cool enough to hide like that. By eliminating this move, it's more like real life. Snake can hide behind something, then sneak a peek and shoot. There are more actions to it, and it's smoother that way."
There would have been some use for a back-to-the-wall, like, you know, up on a ledge only a foot's length in width, or when you're trying to squeeze through a gap as narrow as Snake is fat (which is to say, not at all). If all this is true, then we're wondering how Snake's gonna handle these situations. We could go over ALL the screenshots of MGS4 since it was first announced, to look for one instance of back-to-the-wall, but besides being time-consuming, it doesn't cover for the possibility that Kojima Productions might have changed or deleted that move since then.
Read More
posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/30/2006 01:13:00 PM,
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5 out of 7 gamers hate the Playstation 3?
Friday
Yesterday we posted an article on Digg.com concerning our observations of Playstation 3 sales. Apparently the topic is so heated a flood of traffic slammed our website like a Mac Truck. We received a great deal comments and emails from gamers across the world mostly negative.Based of the general feedback it seems that the Playstation 3 is losing ground and mind share in the console war.
Read the HDGameNews.com comments Here
posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/29/2006 10:55:00 AM,
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It is hard to beat the Wii60 experience.
The combination of Xbox 360 with a Nintendo Wii can become a gaming Nirvana for some, has the Sony crown been dislodged? With new value packs and the addition of the HD DVD drive for the Xbox 360, coupled with the sheer enjoyment of the Wii experience, it may be that the PlayStation 3 will find it difficult to settle into a market niche.
Sure there is the loyal PlayStation fan base, and those that see the PS3 for its obvious advantage bullet points over the other machines.
Hard drive capacity.
Back catalogue of excellent games.
Cutdown Linux capabilities.
Blu-ray drive.
Sheer power, yet to be exploited by game developers. This will most likely be fully exploited by the development of exclusive PlayStation titles.
In the gaming sphere however, for the bulk of punters the argument will come down to the gaming experience.
As it stands at the moment, Sony are up against two competing consoles that (for the a similar price point) can boast a years head start on high definition gaming, and a unique play mechanism (wii-mote) that is quite simply fun.
Read More
posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/29/2006 10:48:00 AM,
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The PlayStation 2 Still Rocks
Sony's PS2 is likely to outsell newer consoles such as the PS3—not just this year but nextby Kenji Hall
In December video game maker Square Enix Co. began running prime-time TV ads in Japan featuring battle scenes from its new adventure game Seiken Densetsu 4, or Legend of the Sacred Sword. Every 30-second spot ended with a familiar logo: PlayStation. But the game isn't played on Sony Corp.'s (SNE) new PlayStation 3 console. It's for the PlayStation 2.
This might seem an odd time to launch an ad blitz for a game designed for the PS2, which has been around since 2000. The PS3, after all, was just introduced this fall and offers richer graphics with more lifelike action. But despite all the hype surrounding the PS3, its predecessor is likely to outsell it for two more years. "The PS2 will have legs well into 2008," says Michael Pachter, an analyst at Wedbush Morgan Securities in Los Angeles. And while Nintendo Co.'s Wii console is getting most of the industry buzz, and the Xbox 360 from Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) has racked up big sales in its year on the market, some say the PS2 might even beat out each of those offerings in 2007. "The PS2 probably has the capacity to sell more than any other gaming" console, says Simon Jeffrey, chief operating officer at game maker Sega of America (SGAMY).
Read More
posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/29/2006 10:39:00 AM,
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Nintendo merger tops list of the stupidest Apple rumors
A very unlikely -- though always persistent -- Apple/Nintendo merger took the top spot on Cnet's list of the most ludicrous Apple rumors of all-time. Other than the fact that both companies make a lot of money and currently have an unusual fetish for glossy white products, the thought of such a merger is completely baseless, existence of Pippin or not. We hope this honor buries the idea of an Apple/Nintendo hook-up once and for all, but knowing both rabid Apple and Nintendo fans, we doubt it.Read More
posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/29/2006 10:24:00 AM,
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5 out of 7 Playstation 3 consoles remain unsold days after being received in stock at my local Gamestop
Thursday
Unconfirmed reports are starting to trickle in about Playstation 3 consoles sitting on store shelves for extended periods of time before being sold. I know from personal experience I was in my local Gamestop on Tuesday, (the day after Christmas), the store was absolutely packed to the rim with customers. There were two 60 Gig Playstation 3 consoles sitting in plain view right behind the counter with at least five others in stock. It seemed nobody was interested at all.I just contacted the store again and it seems that 5 out of the 7 are still there two full days later. Why is this? Is it the price? Are people scared of defective units? Is the Wii just too appealing?
Please post your comments on why you think this is. If you are not a member of HDGameNews.com you may post using the anonymous user id. We really want to know from gamers as to why this is happening.
posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/28/2006 10:21:00 AM,
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GEARS OF WAR WINS ANOTHER "GAME OF THE YEAR" AWARD
Gears of War just keeps racking up the "game of the year" awards it seems. I know Cliffy B must have received a nice bonus this year.Read More
posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/28/2006 09:48:00 AM,
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Rumor: Best Buy is sitting on your New Year PS3
Posted Dec 28th 2006 8:25AM by Alexander SliwinskiAccording to unofficial Best Buy sources, stores are sitting on their PS3 shipments since 12/21 for a flyer advertisement being released New Year's Eve (12/31) stating they have a minimum of 25 60GB units per store. Our sources have the number at around 40 per store currently -- but it can be more in some locations. One source, using Best Buy's Retek Store System (RSS), says some stores have 60 units. We will continue to follow this story as more information comes in.
The Best Buy source who sent us the internal memo -- originally sent 12/18 and a portion of which you see above -- does apologize for the grammar in the email received from his Retail Supply Chain Manager regarding this New Year's Eve PS3 sale. We'd remove the "rumor" tag from this post if the grammar of our email evidence didn't send up red flags. If the information does pan out we are happy for those getting a PS3 on New Year's Eve and we shake our heads at the atrocious use of the English language by this Best Buy manager. We say again that this is still a rumor, but might helpexplain why those eight PS3s are just sitting in a Best Buy cage instead of being sold.
Read More
posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/28/2006 09:36:00 AM,
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**UPDATE Xbox Live Server Crash
Update**Xbox.com Support has recently posted this message regarding the status of Xbox Live:"Xbox Live is currently experiencing issues with Matchmaking. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and Thank You for your patience."It appears some Gamers are currently unable to play on the Multiplayer side of XboxLive. You can still sign in and play single player,however some people are reporting issues with playing GOW single player. It was not a planned downtime and Major Nelson the Xbox Live Director Of Programming Posted this comment on his blog regarding the issue "I am on it...the XOC team is working on it. It will be fixed soon." No word on how long this may take and it appears they called in the XOC team as this is definitely a unexpected server downtime. The XOC team stands for (Xbox Operations Center). More information on the XOC : ....
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posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/28/2006 09:11:00 AM,
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Gran Turismo HD Concept Impressions
Wednesday
by Anoop GantayatSony's big year end gift for those who put up with long lines and a sparse lineup of launch titles to become an early adopter of the PlayStation 3 arrived to the Japanese PlayStation Store on Saturday night at midnight, right on the dot. And as a surprise bonus, the US store received the demo at the exact same time.
That's right, in case you haven't already, log on to the PlayStation Store with your PS3 and start downloading the 630 megabyte demo, because it's already live!
Read More
posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/27/2006 12:29:00 PM,
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The First White PS3
If you want a Playstation 3 thats different from Bob Smith next door here is your solution. Own the first white Playstation 3 on the market. This thing is impressive!See it Here
posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/27/2006 12:07:00 PM,
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Xbox 360 vs PlayStation 3: Back to the Drawing Board
Compare the strengths and weaknesses of the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.For those still on the fence as to which console to by this may be of help to you in your decision.
Read it Here
posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/27/2006 11:14:00 AM,
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GEARS of War vs. Resistance Fall of Man
For all of you gamers out there wondering which game is the best your questions have finally been answered. Here is a side by side comparison of both games. The video is broken down into different categories that will allow you to vote on each comparison point such as graphics, weapons and vehicles etc etc. At the end of the video you will be able to see the final tally to see who wins this mighty match up.Let the voting begin!
See the Video Here!
posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/27/2006 10:45:00 AM,
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Gran Turismo HD Concept Now Available For Free From The PS3's Playstation Store
Monday
Here is a video of the impressive looking Gran Turismo HD Concept Demo. Now, if only it were more than just a demo. Give us the goods Sony and stop with the promises and teasing.
posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/25/2006 11:06:00 AM,
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Five New Virtual Console Games Now Available on Wii Shop
Written by Rivithed
Monday, 25 December 2006
Nintendo released five classic Virtual Console titles on the Wii Shop today. Old school gamers will reminisce when they played on their NES with Super Mario Bros. and experienced Mode 7 in the side-scrolling SNES game, Super Castlevania IV. Younger gamers will get to experience when timing meant everything in gaming with shooters such as R-TYPE.
Here's the listing of the downloadable Wii Virtual Console games now available from the Wii Shop:
R-TYPE (TurboGrafx16, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points)
Street Fighter II: The World Warrior (Super NES, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points)
Super Castlevania IV (Super NES, 1 player, 800 Wii Points)
Super Mario Bros. (NES, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points)
Toe Jam & Earl (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points)
Read More
posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/25/2006 10:54:00 AM,
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WORST CONSOLE LAUNCH: PlayStation 3
This is no shock to the hardcore gamer out there, however I though it was news worthy due to the source which happens to be Foxnews.The Playstation 3 has been awarded the "WORST CONSOLE LAUNCH" launch according to Foxnews.com Contributing factors were listed as follows:
- Delays
- Limited launch numbers
"The result? Chaos among the clamoring masses and a bunch of mostly empty-handed gamers.
Sony still insists it will have a million units available by the end of the year, but it should have had that many on hand Nov. 17.
We're willing to overlook the $600 price, however, if only we could find one: it's still darn cheap for a Blue-ray movie player."
Other items of note are as follows:- BEST GAME: "Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion."
- BEST FIRST-PERSON SHOOTER: "Gears of War."
- BEST PORTABLE GAME: "Loco Roco."
- BEST GAME FOR THE OLDER CONSOLES: "Okami."
- BEST EXCUSE TO GET OFF THE COUCH: Nintendo Wii.
- WORST INDUSTRY TREND: Micropayments.
- WORST SPORTS GAME: "Torino 2006."
- WORST VIDEO GAME MOVIE: "Stay Alive."
posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/25/2006 10:21:00 AM,
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Xbox Live not Microsoft's killer app?
Friday
Posted Dec 22nd 2006 8:10AM by Blake Snow
Reuters suggest that Xbox Live may not be the killer app for the 360 as Microsoft both hopes and promotes as such. Popular analyst David Cole believes the Xbox platform so far has only appealed to "a solid base of hardcore gamers who are drawn to its first person shooters." He calls the Live user segment "small" noting that of the 6 million gamers that purchased Halo 2, only a third of those ventured online.
But that was two years ago, and Microsoft openly admits to a mere 10% Live adoption rate for the original Xbox. Furthermore, the company states that "more than 50 percent of all Xbox 360s are taken online," implying that online play is becoming a gaming necessity not just for the hardcore, but the casual as well.
Still, Cole remains unconvinced. He says, "Games that do not depend on Web play -- such as some roll-playing [sic] games -- are most important ... The key to the 360's overall success is what they'll offer consumers who don't go online."
Read More
posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/22/2006 11:21:00 AM,
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Microsoft extends Xbox 360 warranty to 1 year from 90 days
By Leslie WinesDec 22, 2006
Friday announced that it has extended the warranty for its Xbox 360 item from 90 days to one year from the date of purchase in the U.S. and Canada. Microsoft extended the warranty in these territories to be consistent with the standard one-year Xbox 360 warranty available in much of the world. In premarket electronic trade the stock was down 5 cents at $29.93.
Read More
posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/22/2006 11:13:00 AM,
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Paying for content already on the disc, the EVIL side of the Xbox Live Marketplace!
Written by Alien-SanThursday 21 December 2006 - 16:59:47
Neogaf member a Master Ninja has discovered that we are actually paying for certain Xbox Live Content that we already own... He has discovered that anything available for 108 KB is a "key" that unlocks content already on the DVD.
Check out the list below:
Content that you own but you are charged more! Totaling 3950 MS points or $49.38
Alaskan Adventures
Alaskan Bonus Pack 1 (100 points)
108.00 KB
Cabela's Safari
Safari Bonus Animal (150 points)
108.00 KB
Chromehounds
Total price of all downloadable parts keys (1800 points)
The keys are 108.00 KB each
College Hoops 2K7
2K ReelMaker for College Hoops 2K7 (400 points)
108.00 KB
LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
LEGO Star Wars Characters (200 points)
108.00 KB
Rapala Tournament Fishing!
California Delta Bonus Level (150 points)
108.00 KB
Samurai Warriors 2
Total price to buy horses and hire people not otherwise available (580 points)
The keys are 108.00 KB each
The Godfather
Favor Pack - 3 Favor Missions (250 points)
108.00 KB
Viva Pinata
Accessory Pack 1 (80 points)
Accessory Pack 2 (80 points)
Accessory Pack 3 (80 points)
Accessory Pack 4 (80 points)
The keys are 108.00 KB each
Things you could unlock for free if you played the game!
Total: 8120 MS points or $101.50
Need for Speed: Carbon
Total price for all the available content keys (7320 points)
The keys are 108.00 KB each
The Godfather
The Don Collection (800 points)
or if you buy each thing separately 1265 points
The keys are 108.00 KB each
FREE Downloadable Keys that unlock content ON THE DISC
Ridge Racer 6
36 different cars
The keys are 108.00 KB each
Chromehounds
Color Pattern02, Assist parts01, Heavy arms01, Light arms02
The keys are 108.00 KB each
Dead Rising
9 different outfits
The keys are 108.00 KB each
One thing is for sure is that Microsoft are using micro transactions to receive more funds from games we already purchased. I understand new addons but why charge us for keys for objects already on our games...
Read More
posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/22/2006 11:05:00 AM,
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PS3 Owners Can Hear It All With The AX360
By William Usher: 2006-12-22PS3 Owners Can Hear It All With The AX360 Don't let the letters and numbers confuse you, this is not news for the Xbox 360. And fear not, there’s no reason to be confounded dear gamers, especially PS3 gamers. You’ll soon have the opportunity to own the AX360. No, it’s not a game and it’s not a controller. It’s Tritton’s Audio Xtreme 360 Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound Headset.
There’s four fully adjustable speakers in each earcup of the headset, providing gamers with remarkable surround sound quality. Gamers can even adjust the settings to their liking, allowing for even more depth from the audio quality of the games you play. Hear bullets pass by as if you were standing in the warzone, or listen to the engines purr as you rev them up at the starting line. Every auricular experience in gaming will come to life with Tritton’s AX360.
The AX360 connects to the PS3 through the optical port, and provides total audio control with inline adjustments for front, side, rear, and subwoofer. The headset even contains rumble features (something that PS3 controllers are now without). And according to the press release, Chris Von Huben, president of Tritton Technologies, commented that "Every gamer has been told to turn down the volume, which takes away from the gaming experience. With the AX360, gamers can personally experience extreme HD audio, getting the most from games or Blu-Ray movies, without bothering anyone."
There’s even a removable microphone for VoIP and PC connections. The AX360 has the suggested retail price of $129.95, and the package includes support for two headsets. Any additional headsets can be purchased for $59.95. For further information or details regarding the AX360, you can visit Tritton Technologies Main Website.
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posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/22/2006 10:57:00 AM,
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Toshiba: We'll beat Sony to the living room with Cell
The Cell chip was developed with a budget of several billion dollars by Toshiba, Sony and IBM Corp. for a variety of applications. Much of the initial focus has been on its place in the PlayStation 3 games console. But both Toshiba and Sony have been harboring plans to deploy the powerful chip in a wider range of products. Its power makes it well suited to handle high-definition digital video and possible uses could be in televisions and video recorders.
Yoshihide Fujii, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Toshiba's digital media network company, said Thursday evening that development work is continuing but he wouldn't be drawn on what types of products or applications Toshiba is eyeing for the Cell chip. But on one issue, he left no doubt. When asked if Toshiba would have Cell-based consumer electronics products on sale ahead of Sony, he emphatically replied "yes" without hesitation.
Fujii will be competing with a team headed by Masami Chatani, chief technical officer of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., which is the Sony division that makes the PlayStation. The Cell Development Center, as the team is called, has been tasked with finding uses for the processor beyond the PlayStation 3. The existence of the team was unveiled at January's Consumer Electronics Show by Sony President Howard Stringer, who lauded the Cell chip's "enormous power, flexibility and potential."
The first Cell products are unlikely to be in living rooms next year, Atsutoshi Nishida, president and CEO of Toshiba, said in an interview, "But maybe in early 2008 you'll be able to see something."
That timeframe puts Toshiba and Sony neck-and-neck in a race to market. According to a report in the Nihon Keizai Shimbun business newspaper in Japan, Stan Glasgow, president and chief operating officer of Sony's U.S. unit Sony Electronics Inc., said at a U.S. news conference recently that the company is working on three or four products that are scheduled to go on sale in late 2007 or early 2008.
"The first priority is the PlayStation and nothing beyond that has been decided yet," Mina Naito, a spokeswoman for Tokyo-based Sony said Friday.
Only time will tell whether both companies hit those schedules or delays. After all, a year ago the world was expecting the Cell-powered PlayStation 3 in the first half of the year, but it didn't hit store shelves in the U.S. and Japan until November and has yet to go on sale in Europe.
posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/22/2006 10:49:00 AM,
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Microsoft Has Success With Xbox 360 Movie-TV Downloads
Posted by John JCal Callaham on Friday December 22, 2006 - 12:00 AMDespite a rocky launch with massive slowdowns in downloads for the first couple of days, Microsoft's addition of movie and TV episode downloads for the Xbox 360 console is showing signs of success. This Variety story reports that while exact figures have not been revealed, Hollywood studios are saying that video and TV downloads are doing as well or better on Xbox 360 consoles than similar services like CinemaNow, Movielink and Amazon's Unbox service, which are available on more widely available PC platforms. Analysts suggest that the Xbox 360's ease of use, its connection to TVs, and its support of HD downloads are part of the reason for its success. Even though it takes several hours to download an HD movie or TV episode via Xbox Live, the article states that more people choose the HD version over the standard version.
Read More
posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/22/2006 10:38:00 AM,
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New Halo 3 images
IGN has posted some new Halo 3 images taken from the new Et Tu Brute Brute vidoc.Enjoy.
See the screenshots here
posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/22/2006 10:22:00 AM,
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Takeuchi spills some bloody Resident Evil 5 info (rawr)
Posted Dec 21, 2006 at 12:27PM by Gino D.We haven't smelled any decaying Umbrella Corp. corpses for quite some time now. Capcom might be going all hushy-hushy on us about Resident Evil 5, but worry you not. Jun Takeuchi just spilled some zombie juice on the much-awaited sequel, and it's anything but decaying corpses.
He's pitching that this next RE installment that's coming out for both the 360 and PS3 could only possibly be available by 2008. "Ouch," you might be saying. That really is a long wait, indeed. However, the wait could just be worth it. Takeuchi states that Capcom wants the picture rate to run on 60fps. Lovely.
The engine they're using makes it possible for them to produce realistic facial expressions and animations. They're even boasting of some good hair days for the characters as each strand of hair would be modelled from root to tip!
Takeuchi reveals that RE5 would have more interactive environments this time around - much more interactive than its predecessors. More than this, he even hints that hot and cold temperatures would play a crucial element in the gameplay. The temperature of your surroundings would supposedly determine your character's stability.
If all this is any indication, then 2008 doesn't seem all that bad. Why? Would you want Capcom to release a stale corpse of a game, or would you rather have them come out with a zombie feast that's minced to perfection?
Read More
posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/22/2006 10:08:00 AM,
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Special Oblivion Offer on Xbox Live
Bethesda Softworks is pleased to announce that we’ve worked with the good folks at Xbox Live to give away one of our most popular downloads for Oblivion – Mehrunes Razor –for a limited period of time. Starting this Friday, Dec. 22, Xbox 360 gamers will be able to download Mehrunes Razor for free from Xbox Live. This offer is only for a limited time…from Dec. 22 to Dec. 31. On Monday, Jan. 1 it will go back to its standard price.So be sure to log on to Xbox Live beginning this Friday and download your free copy of Mehrunes Razor!
Happy Holidays from Bethesda Softworks.
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posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/22/2006 10:00:00 AM,
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Get Down with Crackdown
Thursday
A demo is on its way to the XBL Marketplace.
by Daemon Hatfield
December 21, 2006 - One of the most anticipated Xbox 360 titles of early 2007 is letting gamers see for themselves what all the hubbub is about. Today Microsoft announced a demo of Crackdown will be released on the Xbox Live Marketplace on January 18.
Crackdown is an online take on the wide-open, Grand Theft Auto-style of gameplay. Players step into the riot gear of a super-human agent assigned to take out the filth that has starting filling up all corners of the city. Thousands of gangsters have grouped together into three criminal organizations: Cai-Shen Corp, an Asian gang that uses hitmen to extract revenge; The Volk, a Russian gang that specializes in guns; La Muerta, a Spanish group that loves cars. Your goal is to defeat the bosses of these organizations, bringing peace to the city.
Developed by Realtime Worlds, the development studio founded by GTA creator David Jones, Crackdown will be released February 20, 2007.
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posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/21/2006 04:50:00 PM,
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Sleeps for babys. Gamers play all night!
Everybody has probably already seen this but I just had to post it anyway.
He sure is enthusiastic about the Wii. Game on!
Merry Christmas. This never gets old. One month later and it still gets me rolling.
posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/21/2006 12:20:00 PM,
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Virtua Fighter 5 (expletive) slaps 360 in the chops!
Thursday 21-Dec-2006 1:37 PM Sega confirms the latest version of its VF series will now launch on Xbox 360, as well as PS3
Tecmo's Dead or Alive series is about to get some serious competition for the king of fighters' throne on Xbox 360 in the form of Virtua Fighter 5, previously a PS3 only title.
Hopefully, the fact that VF is spreading out on multiple platforms will give the DOA series a much needed kick up the arse. But Sega's legendary beat 'em up franchise has taken a few knocks of its own over the last few years. Maybe it's just that the genre as a whole has gone as far as it can?
From what Sega is saying, the 360 version will be pretty much the same as the PS3 version. A release date has been penned in for summer '07 on both PS3 and 360.
"The Virtua Fighter series from Sega has one of the most prestigious histories in video games," said Jeff Bell, corporate VP of marketing for Microsoft. "It's a franchise that has grown an army of loyal fans both in arcades and on consoles worldwide, and is consistently rated extremely high by the media. Fighting game fans have been hungry for Virtua Fighter 5 and we can now proudly deliver this game with Sega to Xbox 360 gamers around the world."
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posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/21/2006 11:47:00 AM,
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PC World calls PS3 a top tech mistake of 2006
by GamePro Staff
PC World's Dan Tynan has released a new article titled "The 21 biggest technology mistakes of 2006." The number eight entry? The PlayStation 3.
PlayStation 3: Late, expensive, and incompatible
When it was announced in spring 2005, the Sony PlayStation 3 was going to be the greatest thing to hit home gaming since a hedgehog named Sonic. Then came the delays. By the time the PS3 arrived, it was six months late, and Nintendo's cheaper and more innovative Wii had stolen much of its thunder. At $599 for the 60GB model, the PS3 is twice the price of the original PlayStation 2, yet research firm iSupply -- which describes the PS3 as having supercomputer qualities--estimates that Sony still loses more than $200 per unit.
Thanks to manufacturing delays, Sony shipped an estimated 150,000 units for the North American launch, or less than half the number it had originally planned. And the PS3 was incompatible with more than 200 PlayStation and PS2 games, though Sony is addressing that problem through online updates.
The good news? Game-crazed youth are buying up PS3s and reselling them on eBay for double the asking price. And unlike, say, Sony batteries, they don't catch fire...at least, not yet.
Big mistake: Trying to turn a supercomputer into a gaming device.
Bigger mistake: Failing to drive a stake through the heart of Nintendo when the opportunity offered.
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posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/21/2006 11:23:00 AM,
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Joytech Wii PowerStation
Rechargeable wiimote battery packs. December 19, 2006 - The Wiimote sucks…power that is. It is, in fact, the greediest wireless controller we've ever used. Chucking multiple AAs every week or two isn't good for the environment or your cash on hand, and we've been anxiously waiting for some manufacturer to follow the 360's example and release rechargeable battery packs for the Wiimote. Joytech will apparently be the first out of the gates with just such a product, the first pics of which hit the street today. The Joytech PowerStation is currently slated (according to a UK online retailer) for launch on January 26th of next year, priced at $39, or 30 Euro. The kit includes a base station that displays and charges two Wiimotes at a time and two rechargeable battery packs. Small legs apparently extend from either side of the base to hold the Nunchakus. The picture is likely a mock-up and we expect the final product may look somewhat different. Nevertheless, more Wii gear is always exciting, especially the kind that helps save the world and make Al Gore happy while he waits to give Lindsey Lohan a big piece of "advice."
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posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/21/2006 11:14:00 AM,
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Review: Lost Planet Extreme Condition
The first review of Lost Planet Extreme Condition has been published by "The Official Xbox Magazine" January 07 issue.Read the conclusion section of the review below:
"Lost Planet is built on the gameplay fundamentals that every 8-bit and 16-bit gamer know from their childhood, and its hard to argue with the tried-and-true, holy crap shoot at the weak spot formula. Especially when the games designer, Keiji Inafune, also birthed the seminal boss buster marathon Megaman series. But this is the same guy who brought us the fresh and original Dead Rising, so sue us if we were hoping for just a little more than a subtly satisfying nostalgia trip with significantly gussied up graphics and token multiplayer.
Yet somehow, Lost Planet remains worth playing. Call it what you will. A visual dreamy update ode to the yesteryear of gaming fundamentals? Yes. A definitive step forward for gameplay? No. But it does inspire a sense that you've played the prototype for Lost Planet on a gaming system that's been sitting in your closet for the past 10 years. But that's not to say you won't have a blast paying homage to your gaming roots in High Definition."
The Verdict:
8.0
+ Those smoke and flame effects look even better in person.
+ Overwhelming surprise attacks and varied combat locales.
- The gameplay's not as fresh as the presentation.
? Why do all weapons but the rocket launcher auto-reload?
posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/21/2006 08:07:00 AM,
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Call of Duty 3 patch available
Wednesday
Michel Beld on December 20th, 2006 at 22:37 When you fire up your Call of Duty 3 copy today you will find out it needs an update. This is the multiplayer patch we’ve all been waiting for. A member of Treyarch’s team, Axis0f3vil, aka Dan, announced the patch earlier today. The patch should resolve all the issues we had with ranked multiplayer matches. When it propagates, the update will download automatically upon logging into Xbox Live and running Call of Duty 3. This update addresses many of the Ranked and Player Match issues that we’ve discussed over the last few weeks. While we’ve made a number of enhancements, the most significant improvement is that Ranked Matches join lobbies much faster through both Custom and Quick Match. Player Matches through Quick Match will now query a higher number of games before attempting to join, thus returning a better variety and better quality for the player. Additionally, we’ve added some gameplay, HUD and options enhancements. For example, brightness settings will be saved across both single-player and multiplayer; players will be able to instantly punish medics who maliciously team kill and revive continuously; Auto Team Balance will remain turned on after multiple map rotations, ensuring that each team always has an equal number of players; and players will be able to select either Axis or Allies in Ranked Battle games.
Summarized changelog
- Solved Ranked and Player Match issues
- Brightness settings will be saved across both single-player and multiplayer
- Players will be able to instantly punish medics who maliciously team kill and revive continuously
- Auto Team Balance will remain turned on after multiple map rotations
- Players will be able to select either Axis or Allies in Ranked Battle games
- HUD enhancements
Skeptic as we are we tried the patch our selfs, and the patch really works. We were able to start a ranked matches under 1 minute. The CoD3 team really outdone themselves with putting out the patch so fast, contrary to the horror we had with the CoD2 patch that also suffered with multiplayer problems.
Thanks to Predator GR, Constantinos360 and Glenn for submitting the news
posted by Wasted Rage @ 12/20/2006 08:09:00 PM,
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Halo 3 ViDoc Analysis (Update)
Posted in Xbox 360 News, Halo 3 at 11:56 am by UNSCleric
If you haven’t already, go watch the new seven minute Halo 3 video up on Xbox Live Marketplace (Update: Or at the bottom of this entry!). There’s nothing I will be spoiling from the video, since there’s nothing really in the area of spoilers contained in the video, but seeing it first will make this easier to follow.
To the left is what the Brutes looked like in Halo 2. Most people didn’t think fighting the Brutes was nearly as fun as the other species of Covenant, something I agree with. Ever since Halo 2 ended over two years ago, I have wondered how Halo 3 was going to play out with the revelation that the Elites are no longer going to be fighting for the Covenant, and that it was obvious the Brutes would now become the main enemy.
Bungie also agrees that fighting the Brutes is not as fun as they were hoping. In the new video they refer to Brutes as “damage sponges”, referring to the fact that they had no reactions to your bullets until they finally just died. They also say that in order for the Brutes to take the place of the Elites and behave more like them for the sake of gameplay, they have to be completely redone. The video then shows the new look of the Brutes, which we saw a very quick glimpse of in the