Remember when the PS3 came out? It was comfortably the cheapest Blu-ray player on the market. That was a huge selling point for the console, trust us. When the PS2 first launched we conducted a survey that showed that over 30% of the early adopters bought it primarily for its DVD playback.
We haven’t seen figures for the PS3 in relation to how many consumers picked it up as a Blu-ray player, but the release strategies and state of the market are comparative and a similar percentage would’ve been expected. (we’ve contacted Sony for this statistic and will update you when/if we get a response)
In fact at the time of the PS3’s launch, the Blu-ray diode that powered the ROM was the costly and relatively difficult to produce component which stalled the release of the system in territories like Australia, and where Sony was losing much of its money on each console sold.
Earlier this week we reported that the Xbox 360 had received another pric... More »
The BBC is reporting that Sony is in talks to turn LittleBigPlanet into a franchise that could mean spin-offs including comics, cartoons, and action figures as well as a publishing platform itself for other brands' content.
To quote: Alex Evans said soon after releasing the LBP beta it was stumbling across the first user-created levels that were better than the ones designed by the professionals.
LittleBigPlanet has big potential. Right now it is just a game but the firm, with Sony, are in talks to turn it into a franchise that could mean spin offs including comics, cartoons, and action figures as well as a publishing platform itself for other brands' content.
Evans says: "There's been a lot of being in the right place at the right time. When we went to Sony we were a tiny but very experienced team. Sony had to trust in us in terms of the quality of people.
"It was amazing how much they understood what was a new concept; it... More »
Release group SYNDiCATE has made available Nintendo Wii Backup Disc v1.31 today. According to the included NFO file: "This is the originally correctly signed version of Nintendo's Backup disc, which was left in a console after repairs." Unpacked, the image's size weighs in at 600 MB (629,145,600 bytes) and the release name is Wii_Backup_Disc_v1.31_USA_READNFO_WII-SYNDiCATE.
Download: Wii Backup Disc v1.31 / Wii Backup Disc v1.31 [Mirror] / Wii Backup Disc v1.31 [Mirror]
To quote from WiiBrew (linked above): The "Wii Backup Disc" is a service disc apparently used inside Official Nintendo Repair shops to transfer personal data like savegames and console settings between Wiis as part of a repair.
It's not entirely clear what it does; something it does *not* do -- even though it appears it mi... More »
According to Bertrand Helias (Senior Producer, Far Cry 2) via PS Blog today, the Far Cry 2 Space is launching in PlayStation Home’s closed BETA!
To quote: The space will invite players to dig deeper into the game’s vast African landscape. Users will have the opportunity to investigate in-game environments, including a bombed-out train station that has been converted into the ad hoc office of Reuben Oluwagembi, a journalist caught in the middle of the propaganda conflict between the warring UFLL and APR factions.
In Reuben’s office, you’ll be able to analyze an interactive map of the game world to strengthen your knowledge of the Far Cry 2 environment to develop your strategy for future missions. Locate guard posts, safe houses to save the progress of your game, weapon shops to buy new weapons, and bus stations to expedite your travel across the expansive land.
Players will have access to Reuben’s files containing various pictur... More »
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The world's most popular games console is being upgraded. Japanese games giant Nintendo is developing a high-definition model of its Wii console, which has sold more than 30 million units globally.
Though no official announcement has yet been made despite numerous rumors, games developers in Japan have been given top secret briefings on the next-generation console, thought to be named Wii HD.
The new console will support high-definition graphics, bringing it in line with Sony's PS3 and Microsoft's Xbox 360 and will likely debut in late 2011.
The Wii HD is also rumored to feature a high-capacity hard drive for the storage and streaming of digital content such as music and video. Meanwhile, Nintendo has unveiled its new hand-held games machine, the DSi.
A successor to the company's hit Nintendo DS portable games unit (pictured left), the ne... More »
The first add-on for Spore, called Spore Cute and Creepy Parts, has been spotted at online retailers. It carries with it a price of $19.99 and should go on sale from November 18th, 2008.
To quote: It looks like the first addon for Spore will arrive very soon indeed. Called the Spore Cute & Creepy Parts Pack has a retail price of $19.99 and will be available on the 18th of November.
Word of the expansion appeared on online game shops like Gamestop and Amazon. No box art is currently available.
Judging by the name, the expansion will offer little more than creature parts which is a meager addition for $19.99. We'll give EA the benefit of the doubt for now, and hope that the pack will offer much more than... More »
Famitsu has some details in Yakuza 3, which is set to take off from where part 2 ended. This sequel includes a free camera which allows you to control your viewpoint, improved AI for town residents and thankfully a reduction in load time. Apparently, the transition from encounter to battle is now seamless.
To quote: Nagoshi told the magazine that the new title begins immediately after the events of part 2, as in right after that game's last scene. Kiryu and Haruka decide to head down to Okinawa, where they expect to find a peaceful life.
As previously announced, Yakuza 3 will alternate between Okinawa and the original's Tokyo-based location. There will be some similarities between the two locations, including the use of signs and shops from real world brands. Yakuza 3 has the highest number of tie-ups so far for the series, explained Nagoshi.
Yakuza veterans will see some improvements to the game's environments, outside of the obvious up in visua... More »
Independent developer Cliff Harris, of Positech Games, asked pirates why they choose to pirate his games, promising them immunity and anonymity in exchange for their honest rationales, which he would aggregate and post on his blog.
They reciprocated, and of about six reasons, a righteous indignation at DRM seemed to lead the list. Harris is actually responding to the gripes in both the pricing and de-DRMing of titles in the future, with his own reasoning why it's a good idea.
The reasons pirates traffic his games, Harris found, were roughly (list quoted from Ars Technica):
• The information wants to/free anarchists think copyright shouldn't exist.
• Games are too expensive.
• The quality of gaming is too uneven.
• DRM is hurting the legitimate customers.
• Going to the shops is annoying.
• Because piracy is easy to do with low risk for getting caught.
Harris' response:
•... More »
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