Sony CEO Howard Stringer has revealed that consumers are purchasing PS3 systems faster than Sony can possibly produce them.
Obviously this contributes to what is known as a production bottleneck for the PS3. He also added that Sony continue to make a loss on every PS3 console sold.
To quote: He was, however, bullish in terms of consumer uptake of the PS3, saying that, "Consumers are purchasing our PlayStation 3 video game consoles faster than we can produce them."
"We currently have a production bottleneck with the PlayStation 3", he continued.
He also confirmed that even with hardware bottlenecking due to demand, "You also know, however, that our business model is not perfect, and that we make a loss on every console we sell. "
According to a Reuters report (linked above), Square Enix is planning to purchase Tecmo, owner of the popular Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive franchises.
Today, the RPG-focused publisher placed a bid valued at 920 yen per share, for more than half of Tecmo’s shares.
As of writing, Tecmo has yet to respond to the bid, which expires on September 4. If rejected or ignored, Square Enix does not plan to reup the offer, as it is aiming for a friendly transaction.
The move would no doubt broaden Square’s portfolio, which consists largely of RPG centric titles.
The PlayStation 2 debuted in 2000, March in Japan, October in the US, and November worldwide. The system sported a DVD drive, a first for game consoles, and may have been the key to quick adaptation of the new video format.
Sporting backwards compatibility with the first PlayStation, the system debuted with a gigantic library. Games made specifically for the PS2 have continued to debut since, even continuing after the release of the current generation of systems, including the PS3 from Sony.
Now, two years after the PS3’s debut, Sony is releasing yet another revision of the PS2 in the US, having already released it in the rest of the world. Dubbed the SCPH-90000, the model looks similar to the Slimline model introduced in 2004, but no longer has an external power adapter.
Why release another revision of the hardware? Well, 8 new releases came or are coming in August. 14 are due in September, 15 in October, 13 in November, and 6 more in... More »
Speaking in a recent interview, Sony Computer Entertainment America product marketing manager John Koller revealed that the battery life of the PSP-3000 will be decreased by 20-30 minutes, due to the larger power draw of the brighter screen.
Battery life will decrease by a small amount, it’s about 20 minutes maybe 30 minutes and that’s because there’s a larger power draw with the brighter screen.
Good news is, despite previous reports to the contrary, the PSP extended battery life pack is not being discontinued and will be available to consumers this holiday season, offering 8-10 hours of play time.
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It was never going to be pretty - and with Guitar Hero World Tour set to go head to head with Rock Band 2 this autumn, the rock 'n' roll royal rumble has begun in earnest.
Speaking to Eurogamer last week at Game Convention 2008, Guitar Hero director Brian Bright scorned Harmonix' attempts to match the feature set of the World Tour drum kit, while ostensibly clearing up the mystery surrounding the rumored new peripherals for Neversoft's title.
"I don't know how far ahead they planned that - we obviously revealed [our drum kit] much earlier than they did," said Bright, referencing Harmonix' plan to release separate clip-on cymbals for Rock Band set-ups.
"I've a feeling there was a: 'Oh! There's cymbals! How can we put cymbals on our kit?' That would be the easiest way without having to rewire everything and re-engineer the entire circuit board."
Guitar Hero World Tour's drum kit, coming almost a year after Rock Band first took... More »
Update: Everyone has their own "optimal" configuration based on what they think is important, superfluous, or just plain irrelevant, so bear that in mind -- I'd never dogmatize about which configuration is "best," because that's something only each one of you can determine.
And of course a chart like this doesn't say a thing about the subjective value of exclusives like a Halo or a Metal Gear Solid 4, as well as whose online or interface schemas deliver more bang for your buck. Some people would gladly pay more or less for access to a given franchise, or to work within the strictures of one platform's architecture versus another's.
Blurry snaps of sales flyers are fanning speculation that come September 7, Microsoft will drop the price of all three Xbox 360 models by at least fifty bucks a piece. From top to bottom, the Xbox 360 family currently ranges from $450 to $280 in variants ranging from a high-end "Elite" model with a 120GB hard drive down to a... More »
Video game companies are certainly no stranger to law suits, and now it's Sony's turn. A company is alleging that Sony has infringed on a patent which relates to a method for recording and producing information via optical disc. The PS3 is included in this suit.
To quote: In an August 20 court filing obtained by Edge, Orinda alleged that Sony infringed on patent number 5,438,560, which in broad terms describes methods for recording and reproducing information via optical disc.
Orinda also named as defendants subsidiaries Sony Electronics, Sony Computer Entertainment and Sony Computer Entertainment America.
Orinda has demanded a jury trial, and is seeking an injunction on manufacturing, sales and distribution of Blu-ray devices such as the PS3, computer peripheral products and dedicated Blu-ray players.
The plaintiff is also asking for "a reasonable royalty."
"Orinda has been and will continue to be damaged as a result of... More »
Per Grace Chen (Senior Manager, PLAYSTATION Store) today:
Hey, everyone. It’s time again for the PLAYSTATION Store weekly update.
Downloadable Games
The Last Guy ($9.99)
You are the chosen one, a zombie hero from the Himalayan mountains, and it is up to you to rescue the last survivors on Earth by leading them to safety through zombie-infested streets. Make your way through 15 detailed real-world cities, shown from a classic arcade style overhead view, and lead them to the Escape Zone before time runs out in this frantic, addictive game. Download the full game today!
ESRB Rated E10+
File size: 605 MB
Add-on Game Content
Warhawk Fallen Star Pack ($7.99)
Download the Warhawk Operation Fallen Star Booster Pack today to experience the fast-paced action of Warhawk like never before! Infantry take flight with the fast and deadly Icarus Mk.1 Rocket Pack in the remote, forested Tau ... More »
While the wait for Sony to confirm a long overdue release date for Home, it's just confirmed that PS3 owners in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan will get access to the online virtual world this autumn.
Sony will also begin closed beta testing in the region in mid-September, the release confirms (via Kotaku), with details of how to get in on that appearing on the official site tomorrow.
As it stands, Home is expected out here in autumn too, and SCEE president David Reeves promised that it was well on track for that release.
However, both E3 and the Leipzig Games Convention have passed without a mention of Home's release.
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