More instruments means more rock star wish fulfillment than ever before.
By VGGEN Staff 04/16/2009 17:30:49 PST
Guitar Hero World Tour
Although there were plenty of music games before it, the original Guitar Hero was really the first game to take the feeling of being a virtual musician beyond typical gamers. While Harmonix’s title was meant to be a Guitar Freaks clone at first, over time it evolved into much more. With its plastic guitar and large selection of hits, music fans flocked to the series whether they were gamers before or not. Naturally other publishers took notice of Guitar Hero’s rabid fan base, and looked to cash in with their own music games. It’s not surprising that EA has been the most successful publisher to capitalize on the growing genre, with its Rock Band series (or “platform” as EA likes to call it since music tracks are cross compatible between both entries to date) take the largest chunk of market share. Now Neversoft (the series’ current caretakers) have answered the challenge, with Guitar Hero World Tour: Complete Band Game offering a nice band experience far beyond the original guitar-based game.
Source article: Guitar Hero World Tour
Monday, April 27, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Why The PlayStation 3 Needs Gran Turismo 5 In 2009
By Ben Dutka
It likely won't happen, but I still cling to the reaction from Kazunori Yamauchi when he laughed at the idea of a 2010 launch for Gran Turismo 5. He even said it might release "sooner than everyone thinks," but that was late last year and recently...well, we've heard evidence to the contrary. But here's why the PS3 could really use GT5 as a massive holiday release.
We already know that Uncharted 2: Among Thieves - a game that PSXE has already seen firsthand and we say it's the prettiest console production yet - will make a big splash. However, it isn't quite the established blockbuster franchise that GT is, and if the fifth entry in that critically acclaimed series launched for the holiday season this year, that'd be game, set and match for the PS3 in 2009 (we're just talking about this year, of course). The key to causing a hardware sales surge is to release must-have exclusive software; that's a fact we've learned many times over in the past. Last year, when Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots launched, we saw the inevitable PS3 sales spike. Later, when Gears of War 2 released for the Xbox 360 in the fall, 360 sales enjoyed a big rise. And lately, Killzone 2 has spurred more PS3 sales, although the surge in Japan can't be attributed to Guerilla's FPS...maybe we should just call it a happy turn of events.
Anyway, does anyone remember when everyone was anxiously anticipating Gran Turismo 3 for the PS2? The system launched towards the end of 2000 and like most all new platforms, it didn't have too many "AAA" games in the first six months of its existence. But as you all know, 2001 became one of the greatest years in the industry's history, and much of that was due to the PS2. One of the main draws? GT3. In fact, if you talked to anyone who hadn't yet bought a PS2 in the early days, there was a damn good chance they'd tell you this: "I'm waiting for GT3." And what happened? The game launched in a special bundle pack and sales went through the roof. Now, if you take into account that the PS3 needs a price cut, and it really won't be happening any time soon, wouldn't it be great to celebrate the GT5 launch with a price cut? We theorized before that the drop will come with Uncharted 2, but it'd make more sense if it coincided with GT5.
We'll have God of War III in early 2010 and we still don't have a release date for GT5, but it'd be a gigantic boost for the PS3 if the latter released just in time for the 2009 holiday rush. Timing is everything in any business.
Source article: Why The PlayStation 3 Needs Gran Turismo 5 In 2009
It likely won't happen, but I still cling to the reaction from Kazunori Yamauchi when he laughed at the idea of a 2010 launch for Gran Turismo 5. He even said it might release "sooner than everyone thinks," but that was late last year and recently...well, we've heard evidence to the contrary. But here's why the PS3 could really use GT5 as a massive holiday release.
We already know that Uncharted 2: Among Thieves - a game that PSXE has already seen firsthand and we say it's the prettiest console production yet - will make a big splash. However, it isn't quite the established blockbuster franchise that GT is, and if the fifth entry in that critically acclaimed series launched for the holiday season this year, that'd be game, set and match for the PS3 in 2009 (we're just talking about this year, of course). The key to causing a hardware sales surge is to release must-have exclusive software; that's a fact we've learned many times over in the past. Last year, when Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots launched, we saw the inevitable PS3 sales spike. Later, when Gears of War 2 released for the Xbox 360 in the fall, 360 sales enjoyed a big rise. And lately, Killzone 2 has spurred more PS3 sales, although the surge in Japan can't be attributed to Guerilla's FPS...maybe we should just call it a happy turn of events.
Anyway, does anyone remember when everyone was anxiously anticipating Gran Turismo 3 for the PS2? The system launched towards the end of 2000 and like most all new platforms, it didn't have too many "AAA" games in the first six months of its existence. But as you all know, 2001 became one of the greatest years in the industry's history, and much of that was due to the PS2. One of the main draws? GT3. In fact, if you talked to anyone who hadn't yet bought a PS2 in the early days, there was a damn good chance they'd tell you this: "I'm waiting for GT3." And what happened? The game launched in a special bundle pack and sales went through the roof. Now, if you take into account that the PS3 needs a price cut, and it really won't be happening any time soon, wouldn't it be great to celebrate the GT5 launch with a price cut? We theorized before that the drop will come with Uncharted 2, but it'd make more sense if it coincided with GT5.
We'll have God of War III in early 2010 and we still don't have a release date for GT5, but it'd be a gigantic boost for the PS3 if the latter released just in time for the 2009 holiday rush. Timing is everything in any business.
Source article: Why The PlayStation 3 Needs Gran Turismo 5 In 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Square Enix Releases Final Fantasy VII International
Play Final Fantasy VII on your PS3... now! Or play it on your PSP, even. That is, if you have a Japanese PSN account.
Today, Square Enix released Final Fantasy VII International on the PlayStation Network.
Final Fantasy VII International is how Square Enix re-released the new and improved American version in Japan on the PlayStation.
The International version featured improvements like on-screen arrows, an enhanced management system and an added cut scene that helped explain Cloud's past.
The Japanese language game is priced at ¥1,500 (US$14.93) on the PSN.
Game Description: The legendary classic, the origin of Advent Children and Crisis Core is finally here on the classic game archive. The unforgettable storyline, characters that are still loved by fans all over the world.
Experience it all over again, in Final Fantasy VII today.
About Switching Discs: The original PlayStation version of this title is compiled of several CD_ROMs and requires the switching of discs during gameplay.
If a message asking you to switch discs is displayed, do not switch off the system. press the PS/HOME button and then select "Switch Discs" from the screen that is displayed. Then select the disc you are asked to switch.
Source article: Square Enix Releases Final Fantasy VII International
Friday, April 17, 2009
Wanted: Weapons Of Fate on Playstation 3 Review
There’s nothing inherently wrong with Wanted: Weapons Of Fate, in fact the innovative shooting mechanics it provides are great fun throughout. Indeed, the only problem with Wanted is that it’s criminally short considering its asking price.
What’s It All About?
Set shortly after the ending of the movie, you take control of Wesley Gibson, a smug-faced assassin with the ability to curve bullets. With the death of his mother burning in his veins, you’ll embark on a one-man crusade for revenge, with the narrative flitting between the past and present.
Wanted: Weapons Of Fate consists of a 6-hour single campaign with three varying difficulty levels.
What We Liked:
* Fantastic gunplay mechanics. One of the hooks of the Wanted movie was the way in which the characters could dramatically curve their bullets. This is present in the video game. And it’s awesome. Wanted: Weapons Of Fate is a third-person shooter, allowing you to lock to cover behind a variety of different objects scattered throughout the levels. By killing enemies, you obtain the ability to curve your bullets. Hitting R1 will automatically select the nearest enemy. From here you are able to dictate a “curve-line” with the right analogue stick. Release R1 and the bullet emphatically curls it’s way around the battlefield, dropping your enemy with ease. The mechanic is super satisfying, and never gets old throughout the entire game. Later levels allow you to curve a slew of bullets into the opponent, causing a minor explosion and major damage. There are also some excellent slow down mechanics, allowing you to pick off enemies as you slip from cover to cover.
* On-rails sequences. Throughout the single-player campaign, Wanted offers some interesting on-rails shooting sequences that are presented in slow-motion. The objective is to take out the enemy (and any fired bullets) within a short reaction time. These sequences are highly cinematic and give you a good impression of the skills of your protagonist.
* Stylish presentation. From the get-go Wanted: Weapons Of Fate has a really slick look to it. The menus are well designed and eye-catching, the narrative is upfront and the in-game graphics are mildly impressive.The game has personality in abundance, be it the great voice acting or the names of the difficulty settings (”Pussy” being the easiest). Sadly, some of the game’s cutscenes let the side down.
What We Didn’t Like:
* Unforgivable cut-scene compression. Some of the cut-scenes in Weapons Of Fate look excellent, the character models well detailed and animated. Sadly, others look like they have been taken from YouTube and upscaled to a higher quality. We can’t imagine how the developers managed to make a cut-scene look substantially worse than the in-game graphics, but it’s present here. Most worryingly, we can only consider they compressed the cut-scenes to enable more disc space — space which the Playstation 3’s blu-ray has in abundance.
* Far too short. It’s almost with regret that we can’t really recommend Wanted: Weapons Of Fate. We managed to blast through the game in approximately 4 and a half hours, which is unforgivable for a game with an asking price of £40. As a £20 PSN release, Wanted would come with a glowing endorsement, and if you find it in the shops at that price, you should definitely give it a go. But with just a few collectables and a harder difficulty to keep you playing, paying the full asking price will leave a bitter taste.
Source article: Wanted: Weapons Of Fate on Playstation 3 Review
What’s It All About?
Set shortly after the ending of the movie, you take control of Wesley Gibson, a smug-faced assassin with the ability to curve bullets. With the death of his mother burning in his veins, you’ll embark on a one-man crusade for revenge, with the narrative flitting between the past and present.
Wanted: Weapons Of Fate consists of a 6-hour single campaign with three varying difficulty levels.
What We Liked:
* Fantastic gunplay mechanics. One of the hooks of the Wanted movie was the way in which the characters could dramatically curve their bullets. This is present in the video game. And it’s awesome. Wanted: Weapons Of Fate is a third-person shooter, allowing you to lock to cover behind a variety of different objects scattered throughout the levels. By killing enemies, you obtain the ability to curve your bullets. Hitting R1 will automatically select the nearest enemy. From here you are able to dictate a “curve-line” with the right analogue stick. Release R1 and the bullet emphatically curls it’s way around the battlefield, dropping your enemy with ease. The mechanic is super satisfying, and never gets old throughout the entire game. Later levels allow you to curve a slew of bullets into the opponent, causing a minor explosion and major damage. There are also some excellent slow down mechanics, allowing you to pick off enemies as you slip from cover to cover.
* On-rails sequences. Throughout the single-player campaign, Wanted offers some interesting on-rails shooting sequences that are presented in slow-motion. The objective is to take out the enemy (and any fired bullets) within a short reaction time. These sequences are highly cinematic and give you a good impression of the skills of your protagonist.
* Stylish presentation. From the get-go Wanted: Weapons Of Fate has a really slick look to it. The menus are well designed and eye-catching, the narrative is upfront and the in-game graphics are mildly impressive.The game has personality in abundance, be it the great voice acting or the names of the difficulty settings (”Pussy” being the easiest). Sadly, some of the game’s cutscenes let the side down.
What We Didn’t Like:
* Unforgivable cut-scene compression. Some of the cut-scenes in Weapons Of Fate look excellent, the character models well detailed and animated. Sadly, others look like they have been taken from YouTube and upscaled to a higher quality. We can’t imagine how the developers managed to make a cut-scene look substantially worse than the in-game graphics, but it’s present here. Most worryingly, we can only consider they compressed the cut-scenes to enable more disc space — space which the Playstation 3’s blu-ray has in abundance.
* Far too short. It’s almost with regret that we can’t really recommend Wanted: Weapons Of Fate. We managed to blast through the game in approximately 4 and a half hours, which is unforgivable for a game with an asking price of £40. As a £20 PSN release, Wanted would come with a glowing endorsement, and if you find it in the shops at that price, you should definitely give it a go. But with just a few collectables and a harder difficulty to keep you playing, paying the full asking price will leave a bitter taste.
Source article: Wanted: Weapons Of Fate on Playstation 3 Review
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Microsofts deal with Square prevents a US demo of FFXIII?
Well, it looks like Microsoft has struck again! This time it has affected the playable demo of Final Fantasy XIII that was supposed to be in the Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Blu-ray release due out in June 7th, 2009. The Japanese version of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children has the playable demo, obviously because Final fantasy XIII is an exclusive title in Japan and the deal that Microsoft has struck with Square Enix has slowed up the development of the game in general, which is the obvious reason for the game not even being out in Japan yet.
However, this has also affected the localization of the game which should have been in progress by now and would have allowed every version of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children to include a Final Fantasy XIII demo instead of what appears to only be game footage that is already available on the internet instead of a demo that would cause sales for the Blu-ray release of the movie to soar. Thanks a bundle Microsoft…and even more-so, Square Enix who has spent this whole generation making a decision that leads to them dropping the ball repeatedly.
That is still no excuse for there to be such a change in plans for the US and Euro versions of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children to not have this demo available after stating the complete opposite a year ago. I just don’t understand why can’t they provide localization for the demo after all this mess, how much time would it seriously take?
There is however, an alternative for PS3 owners outside of Japan so do not worry!, Play-Asia.com has Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children on Blu-ray for $53.90.…….without the Final Fantasy XIII playable demo, however if you want the Blu-ray version with the playable demo then you’ll only have to fork over a measly $69.90. Alright, maybe it’s just me but the first price scared me away regardless if the playable demo was included, but $70 for a mediocre Anime including the demo of a game that I am souring more and more on by the moment is just ridiculous.
Original sources said a year ago and as early as Christmas that the US version of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children would be getting the Final Fantasy XIII playable demo and I assumed the Euro version would receive this as well. This is proving how much Microsoft is screwing up plans by throwing money around instead of letting the gaming world evolve. I don’t even hate Microsoft, even though I disagree with their practices and also shoving out an incomplete console that is called the XBOX 360.
On top of all this mess, this is one scenario where the 360 version of a game WILL hold back the Playstation 3 version due to it being on DVD9 compared to Blu-ray. I mean look at how cheap Lost Odyssey was made and it was on 4 discs. In the era of HD gaming, you just simply need more capacity than the 7GB of space that Microsoft uses for games and in the RPG genre, space is a must if you are going to have the game in HD. Period. Let alone the fact that Square Enix is just losing more and more fire after each release they come with, and as a PS3 owner, only White Knight Chronicles even counts as a real RPG for me when it eventually releases outside of Japan because Level 5 has become much more reliable than Square Enix at this point.
I know Microsoft is trying it’s best to keep up with Sony’s lineup of games, because that’s where they failed during last gen, but they just need to come with their own exclusives and their own way of combating Sony and Nintendo without trying to buy up all of the3rd party exclusives. Which is fine, but the part that puzzles me is paying for a “Timed Exclusive”, I just don’t get that tactic and so far it has failed because despite all of this and the Playstation 3 being twice the price of the XBOX 360 for 6 months now, they still have been pretty much selling at the same pace since inception and this plan only works for them on paper because they try to make it look like the XBOX 360 is killing the Playstation 3…when they in fact are not.
I look at it like this, the first XBOX came out a year after the Playstation 2 and put the XBOX 360 out a year before Sony did with the PS3, and Sony is still making money off the Playstation 2 while the XBOX is nowhere to be seen. Are they in this for putting out the best gaming experience possible or are they just trying to capitalize like they did in the PC world which they have also lost a grip on as well.
I don’t know what to make of this mess right now and maybe it’ll make more sense later this year when Square Enix starts shedding some light on where they plan on going in this generation, but it looks like they have made one poor mistake after another.
Source article: Microsofts deal with Square prevents a US demo of FFXIII?
However, this has also affected the localization of the game which should have been in progress by now and would have allowed every version of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children to include a Final Fantasy XIII demo instead of what appears to only be game footage that is already available on the internet instead of a demo that would cause sales for the Blu-ray release of the movie to soar. Thanks a bundle Microsoft…and even more-so, Square Enix who has spent this whole generation making a decision that leads to them dropping the ball repeatedly.
That is still no excuse for there to be such a change in plans for the US and Euro versions of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children to not have this demo available after stating the complete opposite a year ago. I just don’t understand why can’t they provide localization for the demo after all this mess, how much time would it seriously take?
There is however, an alternative for PS3 owners outside of Japan so do not worry!, Play-Asia.com has Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children on Blu-ray for $53.90.…….without the Final Fantasy XIII playable demo, however if you want the Blu-ray version with the playable demo then you’ll only have to fork over a measly $69.90. Alright, maybe it’s just me but the first price scared me away regardless if the playable demo was included, but $70 for a mediocre Anime including the demo of a game that I am souring more and more on by the moment is just ridiculous.
Original sources said a year ago and as early as Christmas that the US version of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children would be getting the Final Fantasy XIII playable demo and I assumed the Euro version would receive this as well. This is proving how much Microsoft is screwing up plans by throwing money around instead of letting the gaming world evolve. I don’t even hate Microsoft, even though I disagree with their practices and also shoving out an incomplete console that is called the XBOX 360.
On top of all this mess, this is one scenario where the 360 version of a game WILL hold back the Playstation 3 version due to it being on DVD9 compared to Blu-ray. I mean look at how cheap Lost Odyssey was made and it was on 4 discs. In the era of HD gaming, you just simply need more capacity than the 7GB of space that Microsoft uses for games and in the RPG genre, space is a must if you are going to have the game in HD. Period. Let alone the fact that Square Enix is just losing more and more fire after each release they come with, and as a PS3 owner, only White Knight Chronicles even counts as a real RPG for me when it eventually releases outside of Japan because Level 5 has become much more reliable than Square Enix at this point.
I know Microsoft is trying it’s best to keep up with Sony’s lineup of games, because that’s where they failed during last gen, but they just need to come with their own exclusives and their own way of combating Sony and Nintendo without trying to buy up all of the3rd party exclusives. Which is fine, but the part that puzzles me is paying for a “Timed Exclusive”, I just don’t get that tactic and so far it has failed because despite all of this and the Playstation 3 being twice the price of the XBOX 360 for 6 months now, they still have been pretty much selling at the same pace since inception and this plan only works for them on paper because they try to make it look like the XBOX 360 is killing the Playstation 3…when they in fact are not.
I look at it like this, the first XBOX came out a year after the Playstation 2 and put the XBOX 360 out a year before Sony did with the PS3, and Sony is still making money off the Playstation 2 while the XBOX is nowhere to be seen. Are they in this for putting out the best gaming experience possible or are they just trying to capitalize like they did in the PC world which they have also lost a grip on as well.
I don’t know what to make of this mess right now and maybe it’ll make more sense later this year when Square Enix starts shedding some light on where they plan on going in this generation, but it looks like they have made one poor mistake after another.
Source article: Microsofts deal with Square prevents a US demo of FFXIII?
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Top Five Mistakes Sony is Making with Playstation 3
Shui Ta
Sony has made plenty of mistakes with the Playstation 3 when the system launched in 2006. Throughout the years, however, they were able to fix some of the more prevalent problems. Still, the Playstation 3 has a long way to go in order live up to its original promises. Here are the top five current mistakes Sony is making with the Playstation 3.
5. Weak Third-Party Support
While the situation isn’t as dire as it was in the past, many third-party companies still prefer working with the Xbox 360 than the Playstation 3. As a result, most third party games look better while others were timed exclusive titles on the Xbox 360. Sony needs to be more aggressive working with third-party publishers and developers so that the playing ground will be even with the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 in terms of multiplatform releases.
4. Slow Firmware Update Features
Sony has been updating the Playstation 3 firmware frequently. While new features are constantly added, they are usually irrelevant to the gaming experience of the Playstation 3. Before Sony updates the multimedia features of the Playstation 3, they should focus all their attention to the gaming side of the equation. The closer the Playstation Network gets to Xbox Live on the Xbox 360, the more attractive the Playstation 3 will be to prospective buyers.
3. Lack of PSOne Classics
The original Playstation was Sony’s first video game system and the platform for some of the greatest video games of all time. Unfortunately, Sony (especially in America) is rarely releasing any new PSOne Classic on the Playstation Store of the Playstation 3. They are therefore missing out on some easy money and the opportunity to introduce the new gaming generation to titles from the past.
2. Removing Playstation 2 Backwards Compatibility
Sony removed Playstation 2 backwards compatibility in order to save costs. This move has caused nothing but problems for the Playstation 3 since prospective buyers are either angered and/or confused about the removal. The value of the Playstation 3 is therefore degraded. Sony can remedy this by implementing a software-based solution. However, doing so will be expensive and time-consuming.
1. No Price Drop
The biggest mistake Sony has made for the Playstation 3 is still hurting them years after the fact. The Playstation 3 launched at an unprecedented price tag of $599.99. Even though the price has come down to $399.99, the Playstation 3 is still the most expensive video game system on the market by a wide margin. To make matters worse, Sony isn’t financially sound enough right now to be dropping the Playstation 3 price. Unless they can sort this situation out, the Playstation 3 will continue to struggle against the competition.
Source article: Top Five Mistakes Sony is Making with Playstation 3
Sony has made plenty of mistakes with the Playstation 3 when the system launched in 2006. Throughout the years, however, they were able to fix some of the more prevalent problems. Still, the Playstation 3 has a long way to go in order live up to its original promises. Here are the top five current mistakes Sony is making with the Playstation 3.
5. Weak Third-Party Support
While the situation isn’t as dire as it was in the past, many third-party companies still prefer working with the Xbox 360 than the Playstation 3. As a result, most third party games look better while others were timed exclusive titles on the Xbox 360. Sony needs to be more aggressive working with third-party publishers and developers so that the playing ground will be even with the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 in terms of multiplatform releases.
4. Slow Firmware Update Features
Sony has been updating the Playstation 3 firmware frequently. While new features are constantly added, they are usually irrelevant to the gaming experience of the Playstation 3. Before Sony updates the multimedia features of the Playstation 3, they should focus all their attention to the gaming side of the equation. The closer the Playstation Network gets to Xbox Live on the Xbox 360, the more attractive the Playstation 3 will be to prospective buyers.
3. Lack of PSOne Classics
The original Playstation was Sony’s first video game system and the platform for some of the greatest video games of all time. Unfortunately, Sony (especially in America) is rarely releasing any new PSOne Classic on the Playstation Store of the Playstation 3. They are therefore missing out on some easy money and the opportunity to introduce the new gaming generation to titles from the past.
2. Removing Playstation 2 Backwards Compatibility
Sony removed Playstation 2 backwards compatibility in order to save costs. This move has caused nothing but problems for the Playstation 3 since prospective buyers are either angered and/or confused about the removal. The value of the Playstation 3 is therefore degraded. Sony can remedy this by implementing a software-based solution. However, doing so will be expensive and time-consuming.
1. No Price Drop
The biggest mistake Sony has made for the Playstation 3 is still hurting them years after the fact. The Playstation 3 launched at an unprecedented price tag of $599.99. Even though the price has come down to $399.99, the Playstation 3 is still the most expensive video game system on the market by a wide margin. To make matters worse, Sony isn’t financially sound enough right now to be dropping the Playstation 3 price. Unless they can sort this situation out, the Playstation 3 will continue to struggle against the competition.
Source article: Top Five Mistakes Sony is Making with Playstation 3
Sunday, April 12, 2009
UK Charts: Wii Fit Maintains Healthy Lead
by David Jenkins
With few new releases to challenge it, Nintendo’s Wii Fit has remained the best-selling title for a second consecutive week in the UK individual platforms chart.
The only genuine new entry of the week is Warner’s film tie-in Wanted: Weapons of Fate on Xbox 360 at number 20. The PlayStation 3 version did not chart in the top 40.
Despite the lack of new entries, there was still notable movement in the charts. Midway and Ubisoft’s Wheelman saw combined sales increase by 41 percent, as the game moved up nine places to number nine on the back of heavy TV advertising.
Ubisoft’s My Fitness Coach on Wii also moved up six places to number 10. Meanwhile, Activision’s Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare on Xbox 360 continued its recent slow rise up the charts to number 11 – well ahead of the newer Call of Duty: World At War at number 21.
A number of older titles also re-entered the top 40 this week, most due to retailer promotions. Take-Two’s Carnival Funfair Games charted at number 16 and Sega’s Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Gamesat number 28. Both titles were for the Nintendo DS, with the new DSi hardware launching in the UK without any prominent new software releases from either Nintendo or third parties.
Other new entries include Activision’s Guitar Hero III for Wii at number 31, Ubisoft’s Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party for Wii at number 32, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare for PlayStation 3 at number 38 and Sega’s Football Manager 2009 for PC at number 40.
Overall, in the top 40 chart by individual platforms, there are 11 titles for the Xbox 360, 10 for the Nintendo DS, nine for the Wii, eight for the PlayStation 3, two for the PC and none for the PSP.
In the separate all platforms chart, which combines all SKUs of a game into a single chart position, Wii Fit moved up one place to the top spot, as Resident Evil 5 sales fell by 38 percent at number two. With sales up 3 percent EA’s FIFA 09 rose three places to number three.
Source article: UK Charts: Wii Fit Maintains Healthy Lead
With few new releases to challenge it, Nintendo’s Wii Fit has remained the best-selling title for a second consecutive week in the UK individual platforms chart.
The only genuine new entry of the week is Warner’s film tie-in Wanted: Weapons of Fate on Xbox 360 at number 20. The PlayStation 3 version did not chart in the top 40.
Despite the lack of new entries, there was still notable movement in the charts. Midway and Ubisoft’s Wheelman saw combined sales increase by 41 percent, as the game moved up nine places to number nine on the back of heavy TV advertising.
Ubisoft’s My Fitness Coach on Wii also moved up six places to number 10. Meanwhile, Activision’s Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare on Xbox 360 continued its recent slow rise up the charts to number 11 – well ahead of the newer Call of Duty: World At War at number 21.
A number of older titles also re-entered the top 40 this week, most due to retailer promotions. Take-Two’s Carnival Funfair Games charted at number 16 and Sega’s Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Gamesat number 28. Both titles were for the Nintendo DS, with the new DSi hardware launching in the UK without any prominent new software releases from either Nintendo or third parties.
Other new entries include Activision’s Guitar Hero III for Wii at number 31, Ubisoft’s Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party for Wii at number 32, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare for PlayStation 3 at number 38 and Sega’s Football Manager 2009 for PC at number 40.
Overall, in the top 40 chart by individual platforms, there are 11 titles for the Xbox 360, 10 for the Nintendo DS, nine for the Wii, eight for the PlayStation 3, two for the PC and none for the PSP.
In the separate all platforms chart, which combines all SKUs of a game into a single chart position, Wii Fit moved up one place to the top spot, as Resident Evil 5 sales fell by 38 percent at number two. With sales up 3 percent EA’s FIFA 09 rose three places to number three.
Source article: UK Charts: Wii Fit Maintains Healthy Lead
Friday, April 10, 2009
Sony PS3 outsells Nintendo Wii in March in Japan
Yeeha! Way to go Sony!
TOKYO, April 6 (Reuters) - Sony Corp's (6758.T) PlayStation 3 outsold Nintendo Co Ltd's (7974.OS) Wii in March for the first time in 16 months in Japan thanks to hot new PS3 titles from Sega Sammy (6460.T) and Capcom (9697.T), a game magazine publisher said.
Video game sales are closely watched for hints on how soon Sony can turn around its struggling game operations and how much growth momentum Nintendo has left.
Domestic sales of the PS3 came to 146,948 units in the five weeks through March 29, compared with 99,335 units of the Wii and 43,172 units of Microsoft Corp's (MSFT.O) Xbox 360, Enterbrain said on Monday.
The latest versions of popular action adventure series from Sega Sammy Holdings Inc and Capcom Co Ltd -- "Ryu Ga Gotoku 3" and "Resident Evil 5", respectively -- came in first and second in game software sales in the period, helping drive PS3 demand. Mizuho Investors Securities analyst Etsuko Tamura said that despite its strong showing in March, the PS3 is unlikely to threaten the Wii's global dominance as more software makers are focusing development resources on the Wii, a console with the largest user base among the current generation of hardware. (Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka)
Source article: Sony PS3 outsells Nintendo Wii in March in Japan
TOKYO, April 6 (Reuters) - Sony Corp's (6758.T) PlayStation 3 outsold Nintendo Co Ltd's (7974.OS) Wii in March for the first time in 16 months in Japan thanks to hot new PS3 titles from Sega Sammy (6460.T) and Capcom (9697.T), a game magazine publisher said.
Video game sales are closely watched for hints on how soon Sony can turn around its struggling game operations and how much growth momentum Nintendo has left.
Domestic sales of the PS3 came to 146,948 units in the five weeks through March 29, compared with 99,335 units of the Wii and 43,172 units of Microsoft Corp's (MSFT.O) Xbox 360, Enterbrain said on Monday.
The latest versions of popular action adventure series from Sega Sammy Holdings Inc and Capcom Co Ltd -- "Ryu Ga Gotoku 3" and "Resident Evil 5", respectively -- came in first and second in game software sales in the period, helping drive PS3 demand. Mizuho Investors Securities analyst Etsuko Tamura said that despite its strong showing in March, the PS3 is unlikely to threaten the Wii's global dominance as more software makers are focusing development resources on the Wii, a console with the largest user base among the current generation of hardware. (Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka)
Source article: Sony PS3 outsells Nintendo Wii in March in Japan
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
PlayStation 3 Firmware update 2.70 lets you text chat with your friends and get more from the Internet
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) today announced that system software update 2.70 for PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3) will be available on 2nd April 2009. The capabilities of PS3 are stepping up yet another gear with this new system software update that gives users even more of the features they’ve requested from the ever-evolving PS3 service. This update will give players more freedom to text chat, make music playback more satisfying and make the Internet more accessible. The system software update can be downloaded by selecting System Update icon under the Setting column on XMB (Xross Media Bar) – and is completely free.
Here are some of its key features:
* Text chat: The update makes it easy to chat: just set up a chat room, select anyone from your Friends list and invite them in – they’ll see an icon in the corner of their screen and know they’re wanted in your chat room. Up to 16 people can join the same room to chat using a controller, a connected keyboard or a Wireless Keypad. You can even start a chat while you’re halfway through a game.
* Dynamic Normaliser for music: When you’re listening to a music playlist, a sudden increase in volume between tracks can make you jump out of your skin. Not any more - thanks to the Dynamic Normaliser, which reduces the difference in volume levels between your tracks and makes for a smooth listening experience all the way.
* Better control of the Internet: Want to know more about the game you’ve just downloaded? Simply find its icon in your menu and select ‘Internet Search’ – you’ll be taken straight online to search for information about it. The 2.70 update also allows you to cut and paste text from your Internet Browser as well as send message attachments up to 3MB in size.
* Language fixes: If you’re Polish, Greek, Czech, Slovak, and Turkish, you’ll particularly like the 2.70 update: it makes the necessary additions to your Internet Browser that enables you to read the full range of letters and characters from your national alphabet.
The 2.70 update is the latest in a series of updates provided since launch to help users get more from PS3. SCEE is always working on ways to help PS3 users get the fixes and services they ask for. To find out about what’s in the next one – just watch this space. For more information, visit http://www.playstation.com.
Source article: PlayStation 3 Firmware update 2.70 lets you text chat with your friends and get more from the Internet
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
PlayStation 3 Software Update Version 2.70
Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) recently announced the details for the next system software update to ver 2.70 on the PlayStation 3.
The list of included features address how users can communicate with their online friends. The update will provide a new chat features enabling users to chat with their friends on the PSN as well as enhancements to the friends list and improvements to the video services available from the PlayStation Store.
* The new text chat feature allows users to participate in up to three chat rooms, of up to 16 users, at the same time and will be available while playing PS3 games.
* Enhancements to friends lists are also coming, where by online friends will still be sorted in alphabetical order and offline friends will be sorted by when they were last online.
* File transfer sizes will also be increased so users will be able to attach larger files (increase from 1MB to 3MB) to messages sent to their friends.
* Lastly the update will make significant improvements to the video services on the PlayStation Store. Video files purchased from the PlayStation Store will be available for backup to an external drive and videos purchased on your PSP can be transfered to the PS3 for playback.
To check out a video of the firmware 2.70 features, visit PlayStation.blog. Further details and instructions on how to update the PS3 system software are available on Sony's System Update page.
Source article: PlayStation 3 Software Update Version 2.70
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Tales of Vesperia coming to PlayStation 3
According to a forum member at NeoGAF and a magazine scan, PlayStation 3 owners can expect to finally enjoy one of the best Tales titles to date -- Tales of Vesperia. While the game has been exclusive to the Xbox 360 up to this point, it's great to know that it will be making its way over to PlayStation 3 some time in the near future. Furthermore, much like Eternal Sonata's late release, Tales of Vesperia PS3 is also going to receive a brand new character. Though some may find this a poor excuse for the timed 360 exclusivity, Vesperia is still a great addition to an already fantastic series.
Source article: Tales of Vesperia coming to PlayStation 3
Source article: Tales of Vesperia coming to PlayStation 3
Friday, April 3, 2009
PS3 Firmware (v2.70) Update
Finally! This update is so EXCELLENT as I haven't read any violent reactions about this update! I can’t wait to try it out! Thank you SONY! Today is a GREAT day for Sony fans…
Posted by Eric Lempel // Director, PlayStation Network Operations
Hi everyone, we’re adding some great new features with the next PS3 firmware update (v2.70) that will continue to enhance your connected experience on the PS3. The 2.70 update brings a new Text Chat feature that enables you to communicate online with your PlayStation Network friends. Now, you’ll be able to chat with up to 15 online friends using the Wireless Keypad, on-screen keyboard, or other compatible keyboard peripherals. Not only can you chat with your friends instantly, but you can also access Text Chat while playing PS3 games and even participate in up to three chat rooms at once.
In addition to Text Chat, we’ve added a few more enhancements:
Friends list on the XMB (XrossMediaBar)
* Sort your friends via their online status
* Attach larger files to the messages you send to your friends (file size will increase from 1MB to 3MB)
Video delivery service on PlayStation Store
* Video files you’ve purchased from the PlayStation Store can be backed up to an external storage device and then restored to PS3’s internal hard drive for playback – so you can clear up space on your hard drive and then restore the video anytime in the future
* Videos you’ve purchased for PSP (PlayStation Portable) system can now be transferred to PS3 for playback
Source article: PS3 Firmware (v2.70) Update
Posted by Eric Lempel // Director, PlayStation Network Operations
Hi everyone, we’re adding some great new features with the next PS3 firmware update (v2.70) that will continue to enhance your connected experience on the PS3. The 2.70 update brings a new Text Chat feature that enables you to communicate online with your PlayStation Network friends. Now, you’ll be able to chat with up to 15 online friends using the Wireless Keypad, on-screen keyboard, or other compatible keyboard peripherals. Not only can you chat with your friends instantly, but you can also access Text Chat while playing PS3 games and even participate in up to three chat rooms at once.
In addition to Text Chat, we’ve added a few more enhancements:
Friends list on the XMB (XrossMediaBar)
* Sort your friends via their online status
* Attach larger files to the messages you send to your friends (file size will increase from 1MB to 3MB)
Video delivery service on PlayStation Store
* Video files you’ve purchased from the PlayStation Store can be backed up to an external storage device and then restored to PS3’s internal hard drive for playback – so you can clear up space on your hard drive and then restore the video anytime in the future
* Videos you’ve purchased for PSP (PlayStation Portable) system can now be transferred to PS3 for playback
Source article: PS3 Firmware (v2.70) Update
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