US December Hardware Sales

I’ve only just noticed that December’s 2007 NPD hardware figures for the US were released recently. Looking down the list it’s more or less the same pattern that has been evident every month throughout the year, excepting the occasional surprise, just with a heck of a lot more units sold during the festive season.

Nintendo is top of the heap once again but the Xbox 360 managed to get within touching distance of the Wii, albeit due to the Wii’s stock shortages. The grandfather of the current generation, the PS2, now over seven years old is still showing the new boys on the block that there’s life left in the old dog yet.

The PS3, while having fairly decent sales, lost more ground to its rivals and 2008 is shaping up to be a crucial year in determining the success of the platform in this region.

1. Nintendo DS (2,470,000)
2. Nintendo Wii (1,350,000)
3. Microsoft Xbox 360 (1,260,000)
4. Sony PS2 (1,100,000)
5. Sony PSP (1,060,000)
6. Sony PS3 (797,600)

The total sales for the year also follow the same pattern:

1. Nintendo DS (8,500,000)
2. Nintendo Wii (6,290,000)
3. Microsoft Xbox 360 (4,620,000)
4. Sony PS2 (3,970,000)
5. Sony PSP (3,820,000)
6. Sony PS3 (2,560,000)

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December Dashboard Update

As of yesterday a new dashboard update was made available for the Xbox 360. You’ll be prompted that there’s a new update ready to install as soon as you sign in and connect to Xbox Live. Similar to previous updates the process was quick and installed without any problems.

The new update features some fairly drastic cosmetic changes to the dashboard that are immediately noticeable. Overall the new interface improves both the look and the usability of the dashboard and the continual improvements to the system are always welcome.

Marketplace

Apart from categories that have been renamed, the most obvious addition to the dashboard is the new “twist” menu used to navigate the “Spotlight” and “New Arrivals” categories. This new interface allows you to move left or right across a series of sub-menus as well as up or down to select one of the menu items.

The “Game Store” category now groups together all Xbox Live Arcade games, demos and the newly introduced category “Xbox Originals”. At present there are seven Xbox original titles that can be downloaded for 1200 Microsoft points including Halo, Crimson Skies, Psychonauts, Farenheit, and Fable. Original games are selectable from a nice menu using the original “black and green” colour scheme of old with all titles displaying the box artwork.

I personally think the “Xbox Originals” downloadable service is a decent feature, although the price point may need to be reviewed as most original Xbox games can still easily be picked up in stores or online for a similar price or less. However, this service offers a level of convenience that I think most people will appreciate.

Xbox Live

Friends and messages have been combined to allow for the new “Inside Xbox” news feed item. According to the default message that’s available at present news will be refreshed every Thursday.

Personal profiles have now been extended allowing you to add some additional information about yourself (should you so want to) showing your real name, location, and biographical data. Personally I prefer anonymity with regards to my real name but the additional “bio” certainly allows far more flexibility rather than trying to squeeze information into the “motto”.

The new “Friend Sharing” functionality, which allows you to view other people’s friend’s lists is quite interesting. I’m generally fairly nosey when it comes to what other people are playing and what they’ve managed to achieve, so this is an added boon for me.

Games

The Games blade generally looks to have undergone a bit of a face-lift with the category “Games Library” grouping together downloaded arcade games, demos, and Xbox originals. It also seems like the achievement list has been optimised once again as it seemed noticeably quicker.

Media

Although not a vast amount of changes in this area the “Twist” interface is now included and thankfully videos are now grouped.

For further details see Xbox.com

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US September Hardware Sales

The September hardware and software sales for the US were recently released and the Xbox 360 has managed to outsell the Nintendo Wii and the DS. The sales would have been boosted by the massive success of Halo 3 which managed to sell a mind bogglingly impressive 3.3 million. Almost double the combined sales of all the other titles in the top 10 for that month!

1. Microsoft Xbox 360 (527,800)
2. Nintendo Wii (501,000)
3. Nintendo DS (495,800)
4. Sony PSP (284,500)
5. Sony PS2 (215,000)
6. Sony PS3 (119,400)
7. Nintendo GBA (75,000)

The software sales figures for the month were:

1. Halo 3 (3.3 million) (X360)
2. Wii Play (282,000) (Wii)
3. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (224,000) (DS)
4. Madden NFL 08 (205,000) (PS2)
5. Skate Xbox 360 (175,000) (X360)
6. Madden NFL 08 (173,000) (X360)
7. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (167,000) (Wii)
8. Bioshock (150,000) (360)
9. Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day! (141,000) (DS)
10.Heavenly Sword (139,000) (PS3)

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US August Hardware Sales

I noticed the other day that the hardware sales figures for August in the US have been available for a while. Nintendo heads the pack once again with the Wii and DS still selling like hotcakes, whilst the Xbox 360, comes in third, receiving a sales boost after it's 50 USD price cut at the beginning of August. The sales of the PS3 seem to have settled down once again as it trails at the back of the pack.

Figures after the jump.

1. Wii 403,600
2. DS 383,300
3. 360 276,700
4. PS2 202,000
5. PSP 151,200
6. PS3 130,600

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PSP Gets Sales Boost in Japan

Wow, this certainly makes a change from the norm. The PSP has outsold the DS in Japan for once as it appears it's got a huge boost from the release of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. Figures for the week ending 16th of September has seen the PSP gain a six fold increase!

I'm so used to seeing the Nintendo Wii and DS dominating the hardware sales for Japan (and the world) that something like this comes as a little bit of a pleasant shock.

The hardware rundown looks like:

1. PSP: 95,487
2. DS: 79,974
3. Wii: 26,181
4. PS2: 13,128
5. PS3: 13,101
6. X360: 1243
7. GBA: 836
8. Cube: 97

Source: GamesIndustry.biz

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Wii Makes Gaming History in UK

In some landmark news for UK gamers the Nintendo Wii has now become the fastest selling console to achieve the "one million sold since launch" milestone in UK history. This number was achieved in 38 weeks compared with the Sony PS2 (49 weeks), and Microsoft Xbox 360 (60 weeks).

This is an impressive achievement. In my opinion there hasn't really been a steady flow of quality "AAA" titles appearing on the platform since its release and this figure highlights just how much of an impression the Wii has had on the hearts and minds of gamers (casual and hardcore alike).

Original source: Telegraph online

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PSP Slim European Date

In some additional news from Leipzig the European release date for the Sony PSP slim has been announced as part of the Sony conference. You'll be able to get hold of the new sleeker PSP as of September 5th 2007 for 169 EUR.

The new design will also be available in either a "Spiderman" bundle pack, featuring a black and red PSP and including a copy of the Spiderman 2 game the movie Spiderman 3. Alternatively the "Simpsons" pack features a yellow PSP and a copy of the game. Both bundle packs will be 199.99 EUR.

The prices announced thus far have only been in Euros, but I would expect a slightly higher GBP value for the UK market.

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Leaked Wii Release Dates for Europe

Rejoice! It looks like I'm finally going to have some Wii games to buy later this year that interest me. Leaked European release dates from the Leipzig GC07 conference in Germany have surfaced on the net and if confirmed it's going to be a busy 4th quarter for Nintendo fans.

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - October 26th
Endless Ocean - November 9th
Super Mario Galaxy - November 16th
NiGHTS - November 23rd
Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles - November 30th

A date for the highly anticipated DS title The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass has also surfaced as October 19th.

Originally sourced from Kotaku

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Small Price Cut for Xbox 360 in the UK

Announced recently was that the Xbox 360 will receive a small official price cut in the UK as of this Friday 24th August. The cut coincides with the release of the Xbox 360 "Elite" and two anticipated games (Bioshock and Blue Dragon). The new "Elite" will retail for 299.99 GBP (441 EUR), the Premium for 249.99 GBP (30 GBP cut) and the Core for 179.99 GBP (20 GBP cut). The extra 50 GBP for the "Elite" gets you a 120GB hard drive instead of the Premium systems 20GB as-well as a HDMI port and comes in a black finish.

Also available will be the 120 GB hard drive and should you wish more storage you will have to splash out 129.99 GBP (191 EUR) for the replacement drive.

Personally I'd quite like more hard drive storage as I've come close to filling my drive with demos and videos on numerous occasions but I believe 129.99 GBP for a hard drive of that size is a bit too pricey.

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Xbox 360 Receives $50 Price Cut in the US

From tomorrow the Xbox 360 will receive a 50 USD price cut in the US. This now means that the Premium system will have an estimated retail price of 349.99 USD, the Core system for 279.99 USD and the Elite for 449.99 USD. In addition the limited edition Halo 3 "Spartan" Xbox 360 will be available in September for 399.99 USD.

A price cut has been rumored for a while and it will be interesting to see how this affects sales which seem to have plateaued. I suspect this is response from Microsoft to the the PS3 price cut that occurred a few weeks ago, which has consistently outsold the Xbox 360 since the drop.

Article via PR Newswire

Price drop coincides with release of 'Madden NFL 08' on Xbox 360, one of
many titles that make up the greatest holiday lineup in video game history.

REDMOND, Wash., Aug. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Microsoft Corp. today kicked off the greatest holiday lineup in video game history by announcing it will reduce the estimated retail price (ERP) of Xbox 360(TM) by $50 (U.S.) beginning Aug. 8. Soon to follow, Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) will release its blockbuster video game title "Madden NFL 08" on Aug. 14. "Madden NFL Football," one of the most important mass-appeal franchises in video games, was the top-selling game of 2006 and is the top-selling franchise of the past 10 years. Only Xbox 360 offers a console for all
interests and budgets.

"The fact that we have been able to keep our launch price longer than any other console while retaining our leadership position demonstrates that consumers believe in the value of Xbox 360," said Mitch Koch, corporate vice president, Global Retail Sales and Marketing Group, Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. "On the eve of the best holiday games lineup ever and the launch of 'Madden NFL 08,' there has never been a better time to jump into Xbox 360."

Xbox 360 will enhance the value of its entire family of consoles beginning on Aug. 8. At a new ERP of $349.99 (U.S.), Xbox 360 offers an unsurpassed experience right out of the box with a 20GB hard drive, wireless controller, Xbox 360 headset, and more. For those looking for the ultimate value and the freedom to customize their console as they see fit, Xbox 360 Core System now has an ERP of $279.99 (U.S.). Xbox 360 Core System provides everything needed to start gaming while giving consumers the
ability to add new features and accessories they want. Dressed in black and equipped with a 120GB hard drive, Xbox 360 Elite will be priced at an ERP of $449.99 (U.S.) for those who want the premium games and entertainment experience. In anticipation of this year's largest blockbuster game launch, the Xbox 360 Halo(R) 3 Special Edition Console will hit store shelves in September with an ERP of $399.99 (U.S.). Featuring an authentic Spartan green-and-gold finish, this console will include a matching Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, Xbox 360 20GB hard drive, Xbox 360 Headset, an Xbox 360 Play and Charge Kit, and more.

In addition to being a great value, Xbox 360 is the only console on which consumers will be able to play all of this year's biggest titles: "Guitar Hero III(TM): Legends of Rock" (RedOctane/Activision), "Halo 3" (Bungie Studios), "Madden NFL 08" (EA) and "Rock Band" (MTV Games). Xbox 360 is also home to the most exclusive games, such as "BioShock" (2K Games), "Lost Odyssey(TM)" (Mistwalker/Feel Plus), "Blue Dragon" (Mistwalker/Artoon Co. Ltd.), "Scene It? Lights, Camera, Action," (Screenlife), "Project Gotham Racing(R) 4" (Bizarre Creations Ltd.), "Mass Effect" (BioWare Corp.), "Naruto: Rise of a Ninja" (Ubisoft), and "Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation" (NAMCO BANDAI Games). With a record-setting attach rate of 6.1 games per console sold (NPD, Life-to-date, June 2007), a new price and the greatest holiday games lineup ever, Xbox 360 has proved itself as the home of the best games and entertainment at the best value.

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Grand Theft Auto IV Delayed

One of this years most anticipated titles has unfortunately been delayed until next year. It was confirmed by Take-Two yesterday that the title originally set to be released in October 2007 will now be released from Q2 2008, but no specific date has been given.

I must admit this was looking to be one of my "must have" titles of the year and I'm disappointed with the news. However, I will always prefer a delay to a sub-par product being released on-to the market, especially when its a games series as iconic as GTA.

Related links:
Kotaku - Take-Two Execs Explain GTA IV Delay
GamesIndustry: GTA IV delayed until 2008

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Sony PS3 Sales Double in the US

The weekly sales for the US have been revealed for the week ending 14th July and as stated by Sony during their E3 conference the sales of the PS3 have indeed more than doubled since the 100 USD price drop on the 9th July. For the week ending 7th July 17,770 units were sold but the latest figures show that 41,005 units were sold the following week, a dramatic increase of 23,235 units. It will certainly be interesting to see if this is a short term burst or the start of a turnaround for the PS3.

Sales of the other consoles remained generally consistent with the DS, Wii, PSP and PS2 taking the top four spots whilst the PS3 snatches fifth place from the Xbox 360.

Sales breakdown after the jump.






Weekly figures from VGChartz.com

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Nintendo E3 Conference Snippets

As-well as Microsoft and Sony having E3 conferences revealing some nuggets of information, Nintendo also had there own little shin dig on Wednesday at the Civic Auditorium (Santa Monica). Even though this news is probably old hat now I thought it was only fair to extract some facts and information from the conference.

Of special interest was the announcement of Wii Fit with custom hardware (Wii Balance Board) and as anticipated release dates for some high profile first party titles were also revealed. However the dates listed were for the US only and European dates are yet to be announced.

Nintendo platforms have experienced a 69% growth this year.

The Nintendo DS has now doubled its sales percentage of all videogame consoles sold from 12% to 23%!

Nintendo's strategy of targeting the female demographic seems to be working as they have now achieved a 67 / 33 split for male to female gamers whereas it was stated this is usually 80 / 20.

The Nintendo DS has now sold over 40 million units worldwide and there will be 140 more new titles to appear this year.

Wii Fit was announced for the Nintendo Wii and features a new bit of hardware which is similar to a step aerobics platform known as the Wii Balance Board. The platform can measure weight distribution and calculate your BMI (Body Mass Index). The "game" covers different genres of activities such as aerobics, yoga, muscle conditioning and balance games. A price and release date has yet to be announced.

The Wii Zapper was announced which is basically a light gun incorporating both the Wii remote and Nunchuk and will be compatible with forthcoming games like Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles and Medal of Honour. The Zapper will be bundled with first party Nintendo software or sold separately for 19.99 USD.

A new channel is coming to the Wii called Check Mii Out. In the new channel you will be able to vote on Mii's and search for popular Mii's.

In terms of online statistics it was stated that 5.5 million players have used the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection with 230 gameplay sessions and the Wii Virtual console has had 5.6 million downloads.

Super Mario Galaxy will be released in US on November 12th.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl will be released in US on December 3rd.

Mario Kart Wii was announced and will feature online play. The game is scheduled to be released globally in quarter 1 2008. A custom steering wheel will also debut alongside the release of the game.

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PS3 Starter Pack for Europe (No Price Cut)

This morning Sony announced that a new PS3 Starter Pack that will be introduced for Europe. For 425 GBP (599 EUR) you will now be able to get a 60GB PS3, 2 SIXAXIS wireless controllers and a choice of two first party games which includes Resistance Fall of Man and MotorStorm. The starter pack is rolling out across Europe as of today and should be available everywhere by 1st August.

Although this is not the price cut we really want, the bundle does offer you about £115 worth of savings (if bought at RRP). However my issue with bundle packs is that they really only offer you significant savings if you wanted the bundled games and hardware in the first place. From a personal point of view I would much rather see the price of the PS3 base unit (60GB + 1 SIXAXIS controller) reduced by 100 GBP and leave the decision of games and hardware to the individual.

Press release via Sony Europe Press Center

13/07/2007 04:00
PS3 STARTER PACK ANNOUNCED FOR EUROPE

Santa Monica, 12th July 2007. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) today announced the availability of a high value Starter Pack for PLAYSTATION®3, comprising a PS3, two first party games and two SIXAXIS™ wireless controllers, at €599.

Rolling out across the SCEE territories from 13th July, and in all territories by 1st August, the new Starter Pack represents exceptional value for money as an entry point into the exciting world of High Definition interactive entertainment with PLAYSTATION 3.

The choice of first party games available in the Starter Pack will vary to suit the interests of entertainment enthusiasts in each country, but will include million sellers such as Resistance Fall of Man™ and MotorStorm™; titles specifically chosen to demonstrate the stunning graphics and enhanced gameplay of High Definition games on Blu-ray disc.

With an additional wireless SIXAXIS, motion sensitive controller provided for head to head and multi player gaming, the Starter Pack is sure to appeal to those seeking to enhance their entertainment experience with the best of 21st century technology.

“With sell through of over 1.2 million units in the SCEE territories to date, PLAYSTATION 3 has proved to be an instant and huge success”, said David Reeves, President of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.

“The exceptional value of the new Starter Pack will bring the excitement of PlayStation® gaming to a much wider audience. Add to this a stellar lineup of software titles for the second half of the year and we are confident that this amazing value Starter Pack will encourage many more keen gamers to join the PLAYSTATION 3 community”.

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Sony E3 Conference Snippets

Sony's E3 conference was held yesterday at 19:30 BST. As with the Microsoft conference I've extracted some interesting titbit's of information.

Unfortunately a European price cut for the PS3 was not mentioned but apparently there will be some sort of announcement tomorrow.

PS2 Snippets
Now has an installed base of over 118 million, thus according to Jack Tretton (CEO and President of Sony America) makes it the most popular console of all time.

160 new games for the PS2 are scheduled for the US this fiscal year.

PSP Snippets
Weekly sales of the PSP have gone up by 90% since the introduction of a price cut.

A New version of PSP was unveiled and it will be available worldwide in September. Although the revision looks very similar to the existing model it's apparently 33% lighter and 19% slimmer. It also makes use of a more efficient battery and loading times will be a lot faster too. It also incorporates a new bit of functionality in that it can now be hooked up to a TV (Sony Bravia) and output any of it's content (videos, photos, games) directly to the screen.

The new slimmer PSP will be available in the regular black and the new "ice silver" colours in an entertainment pack which includes a 1GB memory stick. There will also be a "Star Wars Battlefront" entertainment pack which features a white PSP emblazoned with Darth Vader on the back. Both packs will retail for 199.99 USD and will be available in the US from September. Sony Europe and Sony Japan have yet to announce pricing and packs that will be available.

140 new games are scheduled for the PSP in the US this fiscal year.

PSP UMD sales are up by 35% since 2006.

PS3 Snippets
80 first party games are in development worldwide.

The PlayStation Network now has 2 million registered users, 950 thousand of which are from North America and the service has seen 20 million downloads.

PlayStation "Home" can now have client software running on mobile phones. The example given will allow you to take pictures with your mobile and have them sent directly to your "Home" lobby.

Sales of 60GB PS3 have doubled in North America at Sony's top five retailers since the cut was announced on Monday and Sony are going to ship 11 million units by the end of the year. There's no news as yet of a price cut for Europe.

Unreal Tournament 3 was announced as exclusive for the PS3 until the end of the year.

Metal Gear solid 4 was reconfirmed as being exclusive to PS3. Hideo Kojima has also stated that MGS4 would be the last in the series. The game is due for release in spring 2008.

The PS3 has helped the sales of Blu-ray and it is now approximately outselling HD-DVD by a ratio of 2:1.

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Microsoft E3 Conference Xbox 360 Snippets

In case you're unaware between 11th - 13th July E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) is being held in Santa Monica, California. Although it is now fundamentally different to previous years and gone is the huge central location and now in it's place are smaller individually organised events that are invitation only, all the big players are still in attendance. Yesterday Microsoft held there E3 conference which highlighted some interesting news

The Xbox 360 Elite will be released in Europe on 24th August, although a price has yet to be announced.

A new Xbox 360 Halo 3 Special Edition will be released to coincide with the game.

There are now more than 7 million subscribers to Xbox Live and Microsoft expect this to increase to 10 million before next years E3. More than 45 million games have been downloaded from Xbox Live Arcade to date and more than 100 games will be available for the service by end of the year. Highlights include games such as Bomberman live, Undertow, Hexic 2, Sensible World of Soccer, Wing Commander Arena, Feeding Frenzy 2. Track & Field, Golden Axe, Space Giraffe and Super Puzzle Fighter.

Sonic the Hedgehog and Golden Axe have been added to Xbox Live as of yesterday and will cost 400 Microsoft Points each.

Europe and Canada are to be added to the video marketplace download service (which is US only at present) later in the year.

Project Gotham Racing 4 now includes motorbikes (Honda, Suzuki, Ducati are signed up) and more than 120 cars are to be included in the game when it is released in September.

It was stated that the footage shown for GTA IV was captured from the 360 and there will be two exclusive downloadable chapters available for the Xbox 360 version next spring.

Mass Effect is now scheduled to be released in November but no definitive date has been firmed up.

A beta of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare will be made available and it will be exclusive to 360.

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Sony PS3 Price Cut in North America

I've just seen that a price cut has been announced for the Sony PS3 in North America. The 100 USD cut brings the price of the 60GB model down to 499 USD. Also announced is that a new 80GB model will be available from August for 599 USD bundled with a copy of Motorstorm.

There's been speculation of a cut for some time now, so the move is not entirely unexpected and the 100 USD amount is spot on with what was anticipated. We now have to wait and see what happens in the rest of the world, but I'm hoping this carries forward to Europe.

Press release via PR Newswire

Sony Computer Entertainment America Introduces New 80GB PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(TM)); Announces New Price on Current 60GB Model

80GB System Designed for Today's Connected Gamer, 60GB Price Now $499

FOSTER CITY, Calif., July 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment
America (SCEA), Inc. today announced a new 80GB model of its PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(TM)) computer entertainment system. Beginning in August, the new PS3 model will be available in North America for a suggested retail price of $599/$659 CND and will be sold with the popular online-enabled racing game MotorStorm(TM). In conjunction with this news, the company also announced that effective immediately, the current 60GB PS3 model will be available in North America for $499/$549 CND, or $100 below the original launch price.

By featuring an expanded hard disk drive (HDD), the new 80GB PS3 is designed to appeal to the online gaming and entertainment enthusiast, providing ample storage space to download more games and other entertainment content from PLAYSTATION(R)Network. There are currently more than 60 playable games and game-related downloads available through PLAYSTATION(R)Store, with expanded entertainment content coming soon. The new model features the million-selling game MotorStorm in the box, allowing up to 12 players to play online at one time, hitting the dirt in this visually-arresting, fast-paced racing title.

Throughout the holidays and this fiscal year, more than 120 new first and third-party software titles will be available for North American PS3 users to enjoy, in addition to the more than 40 software titles currently available. Key upcoming first-party titles include Folklore(TM), Heavenly Sword(TM), LAIR, NBA '08, Ratchet & Clank(R) Future: Tools of Destruction(TM), SingStar(TM), SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation, THE EYE OF JUDGMENT(TM), Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and Warhawk(TM).

Numerous third-party titles, including several exclusives, will also be available such as Devil May Cry(R)IV, Dynasty Warriors(R):GUNDAM(R), Grand Theft Auto IV, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Hellboy, Metal Gear Solid 4 Guns of the Patriots, Ninja Gaiden Sigma(R), SEGA Rally(R) Revo, Stranglehold(TM), The Darkness, TimeShift(TM), Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas and Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter(TM) 2.

Additional games and services will also be available for PS3 system owners through the PLAYSTATION Network including PlayStation Home, a state-of-the-art 3D online community that serves as a meeting place for PS3 users around the world, as well as numerous downloadable games including the highly-anticipated title PAIN.
"As we move into the next phase of PS3, it's important that we continue to evaluate our product line, offering consumers the technology and features that meet their growing needs for new forms of media and the way in which it is delivered," said Jack Tretton, president and CEO of SCEA. "The introduction of the 80GB PS3, the new pricing for the current 60GB model, the availability of more than 100 new software titles this fiscal year and, finally, the expansion of services for PLAYSTATION Network, will provide even more options for users and will help bring new consumers into the PS3 fold."

Both the 80GB and 60GB PS3 models come standard with Cell Broadband Engine(TM) (Cell/B.E.), Blu-ray Disc(TM) (BD) player, built-in HDD, 1080p high-definition output, Wi-Fi connectivity and SIXAXIS(TM) wireless controller.

About Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation(R) and PS one(R) game console, the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, the PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) mobile entertainment system, the ground-breaking PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(TM)) computer entertainment system and its online and network services the PLAYSTATION(R)Network and PLAYSTATION(R)Store.
Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets and distributes software for the PS one game console, the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and the PSP system for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif. Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. serves as headquarters for all North American operations and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Visit us on the Web at http://www.us.playstation.com
"PlayStation", "PLAYSTATION", "PSP," "PS one" are registered trademarks and "PS3", "Cell Broadband Engine" and "SIXAXIS" are trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

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Xbox 360 Gets Extended Warranty

Some great news was announced by Microsoft yesterday. Peter Moore has issued an open letter to the Xbox community and as of 5th July all Xbox 360's are now "covered by an enhanced warranty program to address specifically the general hardware failures indicated by the three flashing red lights on the console". The enhanced warranty applies to both new and previously bought consoles and will last for three years from the date of purchase. Additionally Microsoft will reimburse you if you've paid for your console to be repaired due to the "three red flashing lights".

This is definitely a step in the right direction from Microsoft, however the new warranty is specific to hardware failures displaying the "three red lights" so it isn't the great panacea for the 360 that some may have hoped for. If you've paid for an extended warranty from a retailer, then fear not, it's still very useful and should cover you for any other failures not specific to the three red lights of doom.

Open Letter From Peter Moore

To our Xbox Community:

You've spoken, and we’ve heard you. Good service and a good customer experience are areas of the business that we care deeply about. And frankly, we've not been doing a good enough job.

Some of you have expressed frustration with the customer experiences you have had with Xbox 360; frustration with having to return your console for service after receiving the general hardware error message on the console.

The majority of customers who own Xbox 360 consoles have had a terrific experience from their first day, and continue to, day in and day out. But when anyone questions the reliability of our product, or our commitment to our customers, it's something I take very seriously.

We have been following this issue closely, and with on-going testing have identified several factors that can cause a general hardware failure indicated by three flashing red lights on the console. To address this issue, and as part of our ongoing work, we have already made certain improvements to the console.

We are also implementing some important policy changes intended to keep you in the game, worry-free.

As of today, all Xbox 360 consoles are covered by an enhanced warranty program to address specifically the general hardware failures indicated by the three flashing red lights on the console. This applies to new and previously-sold consoles. While we will still have a general one year console warranty (two years in some countries), we are announcing today a three-year warranty that covers any console that displays a three flashing red lights error message. If a customer has an issue indicated by the three flashing red lights, Microsoft will repair the console free of charge—including shipping—for three years from the console’s purchase date. We will also retroactively reimburse any of you who paid for repairs related to problems indicated by this error message in the past. In doing so, Microsoft stands behind its products and takes responsibility to ensure that every Xbox 360 console owner continues to have a fantastic gaming experience.

If we have let any of you down in the experience you have had with your Xbox 360, we sincerely apologize. We are taking responsibility and are making these changes to ensure that every Xbox 360 owner continues to have a great experience.

This will take a few days to roll out globally, and I appreciate your continued patience as we launch this program. I've posted an FAQ that should address some additional questions, and we'll update it over the next few days.

I want to thank you, on behalf of all us at Microsoft, for your loyalty.

The Open Letter also has an FAQ and Update that are worth a read.

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Zelda - Phantom Hourglass US Date

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass for the Nintendo DS has been given a release date as the 1st October 2007 by Nintendo of America. As yet there has been no official word on a European release date and given the usual track record for Nintendo Europe I think we'll be lucky to see it on UK shores before the end of the year.

However all is not lost for UK gamers and if you can't bare to wait for a European release, and as the DS is region free, there will be plenty of importers lining up to supply you with the American version.

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Nintendo "WiiWare" Service Announcement

After reading the rumours it has now been officially announced that the Wii will play host to "WiiWare" starting early 2008. WiiWare is going to be a new service that enables developers to make available original downloadable content for sale via the Wii shopping channel. It's reported that Nintendo will be responsible for setting the price of games (payable via Wii points), but it is up to developers to secure a games rating.

The service is, in some respects, similar to that on offer by both Microsoft and Sony via Xbox Live and Playstation Network repectively, but it's still great to see Nintendo following suit and offering new original games content and not just virtual console games for download. The only thing that still needs to be answered is how all this new content can be stored. Can SD cards be used? or are the rumours about a new piece of Wii hardware (external HD drive) true?

Official press release via PR Newswire

Nintendo's WiiWare Paves The Way For Fresh Games, Cool Consumer Experiences

REDMOND, WA UNITED STATES

Nintendo Sets a New Paradigm: One Game Can Still Make a Difference

SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The search for the next ingeniously ground-breaking video game has begun. At a private developers conference this week, Nintendo announced the introduction of WiiWare(TM), a game-creation service that will allow developers large and small to create new downloadable video game content for sale by Nintendo through the Wii Shop Channel of the hot Wii(TM) home video game system. WiiWare paves the way for smaller, more creative games to make their way to the public at lower prices, without any inventory risk to developers. The first WiiWare content will launch in early 2008.

"Independent developers armed with small budgets and big ideas will be able to get their original games into the marketplace to see if we can find the next smash hit," says Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. "WiiWare brings new levels of creativity and value to the ever-growing population of Wii owners."

The possibilities for WiiWare are limited only by the imaginations of developers. WiiWare provides game creators a simple method by which they can get their games to the public. This approach, combined with the remarkable motion controls of the Wii Remote(TM) and Nunchuk(TM), will give birth to fresh takes on established genres, as well as original ideas that currently exist only in developers' minds. The reduced barriers to development provide developers the freedom to create and an inexpensive,
clearly defined path to reach consumers who will ultimately determine which game will become the Next Big Thing.

WiiWare will be posted on the Wii Shop Channel. As with current Wii Shop Channel offerings, users will redeem Wii Points(TM) to download content. It will support a variety of pricing options. Details about that and upcoming projects will be announced at a later date. For more information about Wii, visit http://www.Wii.com.

The worldwide innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii(TM), Nintendo DS(TM), Game Boy(R) Advance and Nintendo GameCube(TM) systems. Since 1983, Nintendo has sold nearly 2.4 billion video games and more than 409 million hardware units globally, and has created industry icons like Mario(TM), Donkey Kong(R), Metroid(R), Zelda(TM) and Pokemon(R). A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo,
visit the company's Web site at http://www.Nintendo.com.

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