For gamers, the new year usually begins after mid-November and this year’s no different; pretty much all major console exclusives have been released.
So, this is the first time that we can actually look back at 2008 and see which console had the best exclusives for the year - the PS3, Xbox 360, or Wii.
To do this, I decided to tally up the Metascore ratings (as of 11/20) for what are arguably the top ten exclusives for each console. Games that are available on PC and only one console are on the list as well (World of Goo and Left 4 Dead are two examples). So let’s dive right in to those potentially forum-rioting numbers:
Nintendo Wii: 1. No More Heroes - 83%
2. Super Smash Bros. Brawl - 94%
3. Mario Kart Wii - 82%
4. Wii Fit - 80%
5. Wario Land: Shake it! - 78%
6. Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility - 64%
7. World of Goo - 95%
8. Wii Music - 63%
9. Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the N... More »
There's general agreement that Sony stumbled out of the gate with the PlayStation 3. Months of intense hype were followed by a late launch (fully a year after the Xbox 360) and a staggering $600 price tag for the deluxe model.
Even worse, the PS3 didn't initially have any real must-have exclusive titles, and despite the power of its vaunted Cell processor, multiplatform games from third-party developers didn't look appreciably better than the respective titles on the Xbox 360.
Since then, the company's been modifying the PlayStation product line to better fit the competitive market landscape. As of August 2008, a new "bargain" PS3 is available with a larger, 80GB hard drive, and a "deluxe" model is due in November, doubling the capacity to 160GB.
Both, however, lack backward compatibility with PS2 games and do not come with flash card readers. If those features are a must, it might be best to pick up the 80GB "Metal Gear" bundle version on eBay w... More »
2008 has been full of ups and downs for the PlayStation 3. Whether or not Sony delivered on all their promises is questionable.
However, if there is one thing that can't be taken from Sony's next-gen console is the tremendous growth its software library has undergone over the past year.
In 2007, critics of the PS3 lambasted the console's software catalog. The system was victim of numerous shoddy ports, and lacked any defining title it could call its own. Then, early in the new year, Sony made the eyebrow raising announcement that they intended to drive sales not by slashing the price again, but by delivering quality software.
And, to the disbelief of even the most devout Sony fanatics, things did begin to change. The PS3 became the lead platform for many multiplatform projects, ironically, not because it was the most powerful platform, but because it was the most infuriating to develop for. Starting with Burnout Paradise in January, the differen... More »
Every year kids (and adults that wish they were still kids) make lists of what they what for Christmas. This year there are tons of great titles to enjoy. We’re here to help you along with that list. Here are some of the great games of the year for any system.
The Nintendo Wii is sure to be another big seller this season. Whether your just now getting the system or looking for a good game you may have missed, we got you covered.
First we have the music games. It really doesn’t matter which you get, if you’re into feeling like your in the music any of the instrument games are good for you. You can choose from Rock Band 2, Guitar Hero, or even the new Guitar Hero World Tour. All these games are great for family and friends, or a solo bash. Maybe you’re looking for those hidden gems, well then you definitely want to look up World of Goo and de Blob.
If you’re looking for mass market hits you have the new shooter Call of Duty: World at Wa... More »
Total sales figures for both PS3 and XBox show that Microsoft's price cut was not enough to win the quarter.
Sony's recently revealed Q2 earnings report reveals that the PS3 has sold 2.43 million units worldwide during the three month period ending September 30th.
That's an improvement of over a million on its Q2 2007 sales figures and brings the number of PS3s around the world to a total of 16.84 million. Software sales for the console have also more than double from the same period last year to 21.1 million.
Microsoft recently reported that the 360 sold 2.2 million consoles worldwide during the Q2 FY period, just shy of PS3 sales despite a price cut which came into effect in early-mid September.
Q3 is going to be an interesting battleground, what with So... More »
Sony Computer Entertainment UK managing director Ray Maguire has told VideoGamer that "nothing is ever exclusive" in response to questions surrounding exclusive DLC on Microsoft's Xbox 360.
Microsoft has tied up Xbox 360 exclusive downloadable content for some of this year's biggest games, including GTA 4, Fallout 3 and Tomb Raider: Underworld, leading to complaints from some PS3 owners that Sony isn't doing enough for them.
However, speaking to VideoGamer at the Games 3.0 conference in London earlier this week, Maguire rejected those complaints, saying he would "much rather that we (Sony) were investing money into making sure that we've got great R&D and we start producing games like LittleBigPlanet rather than paying other people a huge amount of money to stop people playing their product."
Maguire's "nothing is ever exclusive" comment is certain to add fuel to speculation that the high profile GTA 4 DLC that is due for release exclusivel... More »
A job posting at Future Publishing has revealed that Qore's UK equivalent will be titled 'Official PlayStation Magazine HD'.
To quote: Content Producer - Official PlayStation Magazine HD - Bath
About The Role: This is a key role on Official PlayStation Magazine HD, a new weekly paid-for download delivered direct to PS3 owners via the PlayStation Network Store. Future is working with Sony on the project, which will contain hi-def video, game demos and other content. This is your chance to be part of something key to Future’s digital development.
As Content Producer you will oversee the weekly production of Official PlayStation Magazine HD. You will liaise with Sony and third party publishers to ensure the constant throughput of digital materials and negotiate timed exclusives on content.
Managing the workflow of the Assistant Producer and Video Editor, you will need to ensure each weekly edition is submitted within the deadline. ... More »
A few months ago, the gaming community had its mind set that this generation is the end of 3rd party exclusives, and there will be a big push towards multiplatform.
Over the past year, there were a lot of multiplatform games released from the older Oblivion to the more contemporary Call of Duty, and to the more recent Bioshock.
There seems to be an agreement amongst gamers that the Xbox 360 always had the better version of the game because it’s easier to program for, and of course sometimes that is true, but I also picked the above 3 examples to illustrate the point that sometimes the sheep mentality can be quite deceiving.
The PlayStation 3 version is not “always” the worst one, and sometimes it may even be the preferred version due to the free cost of PSN or the addition of Trophy system (if you prefer it over the Achievement system on your Xbox 360).
Or even better graphics (Oblivion), or extra contents (Bioshock/Eternal ... More »
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