Latest Free Gift News
Apple iPad Raises the Stakes for E-Readers
According to Wired:
Apple’s much-awaited free iPad tablet is a good looking, multipurpose e-reader but it is no Kindle slayer, say publishing executives and electronic-book enthusiasts. Instead, the iPad is likely to raise the stakes and help traditional e-readers evolve into more sophisticated devices.
“The iPad is for casual readers and people who favor an all-in-one type of device, while dedicated E Ink-based e-readers are for avid readers,” says Wiebe de Jager, executive director with Eburon Academic Publishers, a Netherlands-based publishing service.
“The iPad is a great device for casual reading, especially magazine-like articles and textbooks, and to a lesser extent for e-books, but there is no way you can compare the iPad’s backlit LCD screen to low-power e-readers’ screens today,” he says.
Apple on Wednesday launched the iPad, a lightweight tablet with a 9.7-inch touchscreen display that brings together web surfing, books, movies and music in an easy-to-carry device. The iPad, which will start shipping in about two months, ranges from $500 to $830 depending on storage and connectivity.
But that’s still almost twice the price of a 6-inch e-reader with half the convenience, says James McQuivey, an analyst with Forrester Research.
“Now that we have seen the iPad, we don’t feel that the e-reader market is going to be hampered by it,” he says. “Smaller sized e-readers are half the price of an iPad and great for reading.”
But McQuivey expects the iPad to hurt the large-screen readers category, which includes the Kindle DX and the Plastic Logic Que. The Kindle DX features a 9.7-inch black-and-white screen and is priced at $490, while the 10.5-inch Plastic Logic Que with E Ink costs $650 or $800 depending on the storage offered.
An iPad Screen for All Seasons?
The fundamental difference between digital-book readers and their electronic peers, such as laptops and phones, is display technology.
Smartphones and laptops use LCD screens that offer vivid color images but are difficult to read in sunlight. Electronic-ink displays, as seen in the Kindle and other e-book readers, are currently stuck in a black-and-white world but they claim a better reading experience. Take a Kindle or a Sony Reader to the park on a sunny weekend and you could have a daylong picnic with just the e-reader.
The iPad can’t offer the same advantages. Vinita Jakhanwal, an analyst with research firm iSuppli say an LCD screen is not as sunlight-friendly as an E Ink display.
The LCD screen also consumes more battery: An iPad promises 10 hours of battery life compared to a Kindle, which doesn’t have to be charged for at least a week. The Kindle’s E Ink screen consumes power only when the page is turned; turn off the wireless and you can go for a week without plugging it in. By comparison an LCD display is said to drink anywhere from 40 percent to 60 percent of the device’s overall power consumption. Backlighting in LCDs can drain power, though companies are trying to use LEDs for the backlight to save on power.
An LCD screen can also be harsher on the eyes. “Reading for a few hours on a handheld LCD screen can be quite a strain,” says Jakhanwal.
Where the iPad does score is in its ability to offer a color display and the ability to embed audio and video files in books. That may not be an advantage for too long. Both E Ink and Qualcomm are working on offering color screens that consume very little power and can be used both outdoors and indoors. At the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this month, Pixel Qi showed a LCD display that can switch between a full-color video mode and a low-power black-and-white display.
A Better Look for E-Books
The Kindle and the Nook’s black-and-white screens may have reduced eye strain but they also stripped the aesthetics out of books. Shorn of the usual typographic tools, e-books on these devices have turned into monotonous blocks of characters.
The iPad will offer publishers a chance to come up with enhanced e-books that contain images, links, background material, embedded audio and even video. It’s a move that’s likely to prompt other traditional e-reader makers to offer tools that will improve the layout of books, says McQuivey. And upcoming color screens for e-readers could help level the playing field between the iPad and other e-readers.
“What the iPad does is say that you don’t have to give up the reading experience when you get the device,” he says.
But some die-hard e-reader fans like Len Edgerly, who hosts the weekly Kindle Chronicles podcast, say pretty e-books aren’t as big a draw as some would think.
“When I am reading, I don’t want to be too distracted,” he says. “It’s about the words, and when I read the Kindle, it seems to bring me closer to the author’s words. That’s essence of reading to me.”
Publishers Battle for the Best Deal
Ultimately, the fight for dominance in the e-reader market is likely to be fought among two giants: Apple and Amazon. And the key to this war will be pricing.
Amazon has been battling publishers to offer electronic best-sellers in its online store for $10. So far, though, Apple hasn’t announced pricing for books in its iBooks store. Reports indicate that it is likely to be in the $14 to $15 range.
“It’s going to be a titanic struggle with publishers trying hard to get Amazon to abandon the $10-bestsellers pricing,” says Edgerly. “But they are unlikely to succeed.”
For Amazon, the success of the Kindle as a hardware platform is secondary to the company’s desire to sell more books, and pricing is the key to the latter.
As a consumer, Edgerly says even if Apple books come with a few extra videos or audios, he won’t pay for it.
“Why would I pay an extra $3 to see a video or hear audio when I get the same book for much less on Amazon?” he says.
Reaching Out to the World
Though Apple’s Steve Jobs has said that books in the iBooks store will be based on the open standard EPUB, which is supported by all e-book readers but the Kindle, he hasn’t talked about digital rights management (DRM).
For now, iBooks are expected to be available only in the United States. That could be because Apple may be using its own DRM system, Fairplay, says de Jager. The iBooks DRM will not be compatible with that of Adobe’s.
“So all those people, mainly in Europe, buying Adobe DRM’ed books will not be able to read them in the iBooks app and vice versa,” he says. “It seems that Apple is trying to create their own e-book ecosystem, just like Amazon did with the Kindle store, Kindle e-book format and Kindle DRM.”
The future of e-reading lies in open e-book systems without DRM, and it is not clear how Apple or Amazon will take to that.
Is ESPN coming to Xbox Live?
According to: Cnet
The never-ending quest to ditch your cable box may become a more realistic endeavor as rumors are beginning to surface regarding ESPN showing up on Xbox Live. The New York Times first broke the story on Monday, after word got out that the Walt Disney Company and Microsoft had taken meetings regarding the subject. There hasn't been anything officially announced as of yet, but the idea seems to be similar to what ESPN free Xbox 360 currently offers--the ability to stream live sports events through a fast Internet connection.
Regardless of the content, it's definitely a huge first step toward a cable box-less future. When Xbox 360 first debuted, Microsoft was very adamant about making the console the center of living room entertainment. Four and a half years later you can rent and buy movies or TV shows, stream Netflix, update and browse Facebook and Twitter, and soon (hopefully), catch an out-of-market baseball game.
Theoretically, a TV network could reach millions of people with an Xbox Live "channel." Microsoft has sold 39 million consoles worldwide, with half of those systems hooked into Xbox Live. With numbers like that, it's no wonder cable companies are looking to game consoles as another outlet.
The service, of course, will cost a premium, though it's not clear if you'll need to be an Xbox Live Gold Member as well. Also, there's always the variable of picture quality, which will solely rely on Internet speed. While it's still very early, this business model could be a sign of things to come. Wouldn't you rather pay for individual channels via something like Xbox Live instead of a lump-sum to the cable company?
TomTom to ship iPod touch-specific car kit
Source: iPodnn
GPS maker TomTom has revealed a new car mount, one designed exclusively for the free iPod touch. The accessory reflects a recent update to the company's GPS app, which now includes Touch support. The new kit is little different from its more broadly-compatible iPhone version, mainly being $20 cheaper at a price of $100.
Aside from holding a Touch, the mount is necessary to enable GPS reception for the player when using TomTom's app. The kit also includes a stereo output, a built-in speaker and a USB adapter, the latter allowing the mount to charge iPods while in use. No release date has been set, though TomTom does promise it will be "available shortly.
Sony PS3 Slim heralds new round in console war
There is growing speculation that a price cut and a new, slimline version of the machine are imminent
Source: Times Online
Microsoft and Sony look set for another bruising round in their console war, with both companies rumoured to be readying price cuts of their gaming machines.
Sony will make an announcement in Cologne at the Gamescom conference on Tuesday, but has dismissed talk of an imminent reduction in the price of its PlayStation 3 console as mere rumour and speculation.
However, industry watchers noted that retailers have been struggling to replenish their stocks of the console, sparking speculation that not only is a price cut imminent but that a slimline version of the machine is set to be released.
With the console priced at just under £300, a price cut could tempt more cash-strapped consumers into buying a PS3. Since its launch, Sony has sold almost 24 million of the consoles but still trails Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Nintendo’s Wii in terms of units shipped.
Retailers in the UK say that sales of consoles have eased over recent months in line with a seasonal slowdown. The constraint in supply of new PS3 units does not appear to be related to demand, suggesting that the shelves are being emptied to make room for the new, free PS3 Slim’s launch.
Yet Sony’s hopes of stealing a march on its archrival appear to have been stymied. Not to be outdone, Microsoft is thought to be lowering the price of the Xbox 360 after US technology sites revealed a shake-up of the company’s pricing structure. Rumours suggest that the software giant is preparing to cut the price of its Xbox 360 Elite console, which includes a 120GB hard drive, by £60 to £170. That is likely to spell the end of the more basic Xbox 360 Pro model that was previously sold in that price bracket.
As is the case with Sony, the rumoured price cuts are expected to come into effect at the end of the month. What about a free Xbox 360!
10 things you need to know about the Nintendo DSi
According to : Technology.Timesonline
The latest version of Nintendo's handheld console has hit the shops in the UK and Europe. But should you buy one?
As first reported in The Times in February, Nintendo’s new free DSi handheld console launched in the UK and Europe on Friday, April 3. The new console builds on the success of the DS brand by adding a host of multimedia functions.
For the moment, the DSi is available in black or white. The white is shiny and sleek to the touch, the matt black has a slightly rougher finish, which makes it more pleasingly tactile.
Owners of the existing DS Lite may be momentarily thrown by the changes to the volume and power buttons, but otherwise the DSi is pretty much business as usual. So, should you buy one? Here are ten facts that may help influence your decision.
1. The DSi is the third revision of the DS console, the biggest selling games console yet made, with global sales of over 100 million, 9 million of these in the UK alone.
2. Although it looks remarkably similar to the existing DS Lite, the DSi represents a bigger jump forward than that from the chunky original DS to the DS Lite. The new machine is slimmer, with slightly bigger screens and a faster processor, and is packed with new features.
3. New feature one: the DSi has its own built-in operating system, modelled on the Wii system. The OS is stored on the DSi’s built-in memory. One of the practical upshots of this is that games are now “hot-swappable”, meaning you no longer need to power off and on your console when changing game cartridges.
4. New feature two: the DSi comes with two low-resolution cameras, one facing inwards and one outwards. The cameras are complemented by a built-in application that allows you to distort the photos you take for humorous effect. They can also be used for video-chatting.
5. New feature three: the DSi comes with an SD card slot, where photos, music and digital media can be stored. Don’t get too excited by the music playback. The DSi only plays AAC files, not the more popular MP3. Why? Read our interview with Nintendo’s UK boss to find out.
6. New feature four: if you want to play your old Gameboy Advance games, forget it. There is no longer a slot at the front. This is also bad news for fans of Guitar Hero, which uses the slot for its fretboard.
7. New feature five: the DSiWare store, modelled on the Wii store, will offer games for download in exchange for Nintendo points. A web browser will be offered for free.
8. New feature six: the improved internet connectivity means that the DSi firmware can be updated by Nintendo. This is bad news for game pirates, who are thought to have cost the company millions in lost revenue by making DS games available for download on to cards such as the notorious R4. The DSi will not recognise an R4 card.
9. In its native Japan, the DSi sells for around 20,000 yen. One year ago, when the pound was worth 200 yen, this would have suggested a UK price of £100. Now the pound is worth 139 yen, which has bumped up the UK price to £149. Ouch.
10. Nintendo has opted for a quiet launch for the DSi, perhaps in recognition of the fact that no DSi-only games exist yet, and the DSiWare store is poorly stocked. Still, the company reports pre-orders for the console at ten times the level of the DS Lite.
Chart Topping Nintendo sell 435,000 DSi consoles in a week!
Nintendo has confirmed that it has sold over 400,000 of its latest release, the revolutionary DSi handheld console, in the week from 5th April. That is almost double the equivalent sales of the DS Lite on its release.
"These numbers demonstrate that the Nintendo DS brand remains strong, and that consumers continue to look for the best new experiences on their portable video game systems," according to vice president of sales and marketing Cammie Dunaway.
Nintendo can seemingly do nothing wrong these days, with sales of the free Wii and Wii Fit still going strong as well. That flies in the face of the credit crunch and demonstrates that people are still willing to spend when the product is right. The alternative, for those who are even more tech savvy, is to get hold of a free DSi from reputable sites such as Gadgets4nowt!
What are you waiting for!
Free PS3 gaming robot!
According to: Electricpig.co.uk
The Sony PS3 could get an add-on game-playing robot, if a recently-unearthed patent application is to be believed. The patent application, from Sony Computer Entertainment, was filed last June, for a wheeled robot with a camera, microphone that reacts to a gamer’s voice and speaker, plus other sensors.
The Sony PS3 robot is designed to trundle around your living room, detecting its surroundings and presumably display them on your TV, while you somehow interact with the robot in a videogame format.
The Sony free PS3 robot pal also, according to the patent, could have acceleration, gyroscopic and possibly GPS location sensors. The patent also details how the robot could respond to a gamer’s commands despite the view of the robot being different from the view of the gamer (perhaps it can recognise pets as enemies and laser-zap them in-game?)
Sony’s PS3 robot patent comes after we exclusively revealed that Nintendo were planning their own Wii-remake of the classic NES Robotic Operating Buddy (R.O.B.). (Note: our world exclusive on the R.O.B. originally appeared 1 April 2008.)
Sony PS3 jumps to top of sales charts
According to: Techradar.com
Sony may be going through difficult times when viewed from a wider perspective, but at least it got some cheer this week when it emerged that its PlayStation 3 has leapt to the top of the sales charts.
Admittedly, the charts in question are the Japanese hardware rankings, but Sony knows its machines need to do well at home before shining elsewhere.
DS going strong
The last week of February saw the PS3 sell 36,513 units, which was double what it managed the previous week. Nintendo's DSi and the Sony PSP came in close behind on 35,827 and 35,588 respectively, with the Xbox 360 far behind on 11,795.
Nintendo's plain-vanilla DS Lite handheld sold 11,774 units, meaning the DS platform was really the most popular one, but we get the feeling that Sony will take a win however it all adds up.
Yakuza surge
The high PS3 numbers were due to the release of the third instalment in the Yakuza series of games, so it's likely there will be a return to normality when the hardcore fans have all snapped up the title.
Incidentally, the Yakuza line of games isn't known in Japan by that name – instead, it goes by "Ryu Ga Gotoku", which means "Like a Dragon" in Japanese. Don't say we never educate our readers.
Nintendo DSi: the ultimate lifestyle accessory?
According to: Telegraph.co.uk
The Nintendo DSi, Nintendo’s latest DS console is destined to become a must-have gadget.
Is there anything this little device cannot do? I refer, of course, to the Nintendo DS, the handheld games console that is the socially acceptable face of video gaming. Since the first Nintendo DS was launched in 2005, followed swiftly by a touch-screen version in 2006, almost 100 million of the pocket-sized gadgets have been sold across the globe.
April sees the launch of yet another Nintendo console – the DSi. This gadget, broadly similar to the current DS Lite, has a built-in camera, a larger screen and the ability to download games straight to the device. Despite the current state of the economy, and the downturn in consumer spending, it’s expected to fly off the shelves.
It’s not hard to see why. The DS is less a gaming gadget and more a lifestyle accessory. It has also fundamentally altered the way people view video games. Gaming is no longer the preserve of teenage boys hunkered down in darkened bedrooms for hours on end; it’s something enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities – a pick-up, put-down distraction to while away the morning commute. “It’s more than a gaming system, and more of a personal tool to enrich our daily lives,” said a Nintendo spokesman.
The success of Nintendo’s DS and Wii consoles is due largely to the formidable library of games that users can choose from. While some “traditional” gamers have carped at the lack of games to suit them, “casual” gamers and newcomers to the pastime have been quick to embrace new types of “games”, from those designed to hone mental agility to others that encourage users to take care of virtual pets.
“Nintendo is the friendly face of gaming,” says Guy Cocker, who writes for Gamespot. “It’s proving popular with people who don’t even consider themselves to be gamers.”
The DS is dozens of gadgets in one user-friendly package. Who needs an Amazon Kindle when the DS can double as an ebook reader? Last month, Nintendo launched the 100 Classic Book Collection, a “game” which didn’t involve racing cars or defeating enemies, but rather using the console as a portable novel, and ploughing through the likes of Oliver Twist and Alice in Wonderland.
Likewise, you could give up your expensive gym membership and turn instead to the trusty DS to lick you into shape. The My Health Coach game comes with a free pedometer, which plugs in to a slot on the DS, and software to help measure, record and analyse your daily exercise regime. It even enables you to keep a tally of what you’ve eaten throughout the course of the day, and will suggest a nutritionally balanced menu for your next meal.
There’s a yoga game too, as well as games designed to help improve your sight and reaction speeds, and quicken your mental sharpness. My French Coach can help you learn another language, while Stop Smoking with Allen Carr provides a step-by-step personalised program to help you give up the demon tobacco. I’m a big fan of Cooking Guide, a fantastically clever game that not only suggests recipes based on the ingredients you have in your cupboard, but will provide idiot-proof spoken instructions as you cook.
Given the success and enduring popularity of the touch-screen DS Lite, Nintendo could be viewed as taking a risk with its newest handheld console, the DSi. Although it proved a smash-hit in Japan when it was launched late last year, selling more than 1.6 million units in the first two months, cash-strapped British buyers might prove harder to please. Despite the addition of a low-quality camera and music player, and a more svelte design, the DSi differs little from its predecessor.
But, says Guy Cocker, it’s the way Nintendo uses these new features that will make the DSi the latest must-have gadget. “Nintendo knows what it’s doing. They will really take advantage of the new hardware offered by the DSi, and I’m sure they’ve already got some great new games in mind. Expect to see games that use the camera’s motion-sensing capabilities, which will in turn encourage people to upgrade to this newest console. Hardcore gamers will buy it anyway, because they like to have the latest gear.”
The DSi boasts a new feature that will enable users to download games and other software straight on to their device via a wireless network. Among the initial offerings will be a notepad-style program on which to write notes, as well as puzzle games.
Cocker believes the new DSi Ware shop could prove as significant as Apple’s Application Store, which enables iPhone and iPod touch users to download new software to their devices, and which has sold more half a billion applications since July.
“A lot of people will use this to try out new games and download new titles,” he says. “I think the influence of the iPhone is clear.”
amBX technology coming to PS3
Sony has signed a deal that will see PS3 games working with amBX technology in the future.
Billed as an "ambient experiences technology", amBX was originally developed in the UK by Philips Research. Special peripherals are used to create "real-world sensory experiences" by enhancing your gaming with light, colour, rumble and air flow.
The technology was developed with the PC in mind, but now Sony Computer Entertainment has now signed a tools and middleware licensing agreement for free PS3.
"This is a major milestone in the development of amBX as a ubiquitous standard for entertainment sensory experiences," said amBX's Jo Cooke. "The agreement with SCEI will allow us to bring amazing light, rumble, sound and air movement experiences to game users."
Sony has yet to name the first games to get the amBX treatment.
Source: Eurogamer
Gaming Chart - 'Call Of Duty' retains PS3 top spot
As announced by: Digitalspy.co.uk
Call Of Duty: World At War has held on to the PS3 top spot for the fifth week running, with LittleBigPlanet its closest challenger in second.
Skate 2 makes its debut in third, ahead of fourth placed FIFA 09 and last week's number two Lord Of The Rings: Conquest, which drops to fifth.
Guitar Hero: World Tour re-enters the top ten in tenth, behind GTA IV and Need For Speed: Undercover, which swap places in eighth and ninth.
The top ten in full:
1. (1) Call Of Duty: World At War (Activision Blizzard)
2. (3) LittleBigPlanet (Sony)
3. (-) Skate 2 (Electronic Arts)
4. (4) FIFA 09 (Electronic Arts)
5. (2) The Lord Of The Rings: Conquest (Electronic Arts)
6. (6) Resistance 2 (Sony)
7. (5) Fallout 3 (Bethesda Softworks)
8. (7) Need For Speed: Undercover (Electronic Arts)
9. (8) Grand Theft Auto IV (Take 2)
10. (11) Guitar Hero: World Tour (Activision Blizzard)
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C) 2008 ELSPA Ltd
PS3 Beats Wii on Internet Use
Via: Spong.com
With more than 30 million Wiis sold into homes in its life to date compared to 16 million PS3s and both with Internet browsers, you might expect that Nintendo's family-friendly box to have a larger 'market share' on the Net than the former.
You'd be wrong. A new report from Marketshare indicates that PlayStation 3 owners like to use their console (sorry, Interactive Entertainment System) for Web use than those people playing with their Wiis in December 2008.
With Microsoft's Xbox 360 not having a browser, it doesn't figure in the stats.
The gap between the PS3 and Wii is huge. Nintendo's machine gets 0.01% of 'operating system market share' compared to the PS3's 0.04%. It might look small - but it actually means that PS3 users use the Internet four times as much than Wii users, despite having a smaller install base.
Neither compares to Windows' 88.6%, which still dominates. Apple's 9.63% of share is actually up 9% since November - a great deal of this is down to the iPhone according to Fortune. That coverage also indicates that Microsoft's Windows has lost 1.1% of share in December.
How to Save the PlayStation 3
Via: Businessweek.com
Sony finds itself playing a fierce game of catch-up with the competition. Here's how it can reclaim lost territory
Last generation, Sony set the bar. Despite being the underdog in horsepower and built-in Internet capabilities, the PlayStation 2 shattered sales records and was the clear victor of the console war with Microsoft and Nintendo. This time, plagued by an expensive price tag and other issues, Sony finds itself playing a fierce game of catch-up with the competition. It's time for the company to reclaim lost territory. Here's how it can do it.
The All-in-One Box
Even though Sony has its own movie and television studios, Microsoft was the first to launch a movie download service and most recently inked a deal with Netflix. Sony's online movie catalogue is still in its infancy, with even fewer movies available in HD, and the price is high for a digital-only copy of popular movies ($15 for Batman, really?). Sony should be the leader in this realm. It should work to reduce the cost of Blu-ray movies, especially considering the credit crunch. It should also implement its once touted IPTV here in the States and work fast to expand the PlayStation Store lineup. It will take a lot of work, but if anyone is capable of pulling this off, it's Sony.
Home Sick
Home was supposed to be Sony's answer to Xbox Live. Arriving late and still in beta, this is not exactly what we hoped for. Voice chat is up, and then it's down. Avatars are slow to load. The amount of items to purchase is incredibly limited. We can't watch movies yet with our buddies. The only game we can launch from Home is Warhawk. In fact, despite Far Cry 2 having one of the few dedicated gamer spaces, its multiplayer is not synced with the Home software. Instead of a grand evolution of online connectivity, all we have is a glorified chat room. After waiting this long, Sony had better step up to the plate and make Home a compelling experience if it wants to compete with Microsoft's New Xbox Experience. There's still time, but we have short attention spans.
Indie Gaming
It's true that there are plenty of forgettable games released for Xbox Live Arcade and WiiWare, but new games appear almost every week. Now with Microsoft's realized XNA program and the cheap development costs of working with WiiWare, we're seeing a much greater number of games coming from independent and small game developers. On the PS3, however, new downloadable releases are rare, despite some of the best (flOw, Everyday Shooter) coming from small teams. Sony should stop flexing its muscles a bit and show more love to the little guys.
Try Before You Buy
Almost every Xbox 360 game receives an online demo that allows players to get a taste before spending their money. Demos for downloadable games on the PlayStation Network, however, are nowhere near as plentiful. Yes, Microsoft stipulates that each game has a demo, but couldn't Sony require the same thing? People like free things, and if Sony would be more generous, people would probably open their wallets. Beyond this, there needs to be more betas. Sony has had a few good ones (Killzone 2, LittleBigPlanet, Resistance 2), but there should be more, and they shouldn't be restricted to Qore subscribers.
We Still Love the PS2
Early adopters can play PS2 games on their first generation PlayStation 3s, but that doesn't help consumers purchasing new consoles. Sony made a horrible mistake by nixing ability to play PS2 games from the current PS3 models and needs to address this issue. It should start by offering PS2 games for download. With all those massive PS3 drives, we would gladly pay a reduced price for the PS2's legendary catalogue.
Don't Forget Your Roots
Once upon a time, if you wanted to play a Japanese role-playing game, you'd have to own a PSOne or PS2. Now, Square Enix will port Final Fantasy XIII to the Xbox 360 and also has a number of exclusives for that console. Several other prolific Japanese RPGs have been 360 exclusives or at least made appearances there first. How did this happen? Until very recently, Japanese gamers weren't even interested in Microsoft's console. What was once a staple for Sony is now a rare treat.
Despite having its own MMORPG studio, Sony has not released a single one for the PS3 (with The Agency still a ways out). Sony, you need to get back to your roots before they dry up.
The Death of the Exclusive
How many PS3 exclusives can you think of? You can count them on your fingers, and Microsoft and Nintendo seem to get more than Sony. Traditional PlayStation-only franchises are harder to find, and even timed-exclusives that Sony eventually gets are very off-putting to gamers who could buy a 360 instead, just to play the games they want months in advance. Having exclusive content for games such as BioShock and WWE SmackDown vs. Raw is a good start, but Sony needs to work harder to score exclusive content.
Money Doesn't Grow on Trees
Although the PS3 is an amazing piece of hardware, many people cannot afford Sony's $399 base price. The Wii is still at a mass market price point at $249, and Microsoft's $199 version of the console sells surprisingly well. Sony, however, won't cut the price until next summer. Why? The monthly sales figures have not been outstanding, while the much cheaper Wii is still selling like hot cakes. Sony, you have to be in touch with gamer's wallets. And while online multiplayer gaming might be free on the PS3, you're charging for things like Qore, even while Xbox Live is offering tons of video and preview content for free. With a cheaper console, you'll sell more games. That's the only way you're going to be able to recoup the cost of the hardware.
Streamline the Online Experience
When you think about all you're getting with an Xbox Live Gold account, the price of admission really doesn't sound that high. The PlayStation network is free, but you never score the perks Xbox 360 owners receive. The PS3's community platform, despite Home's rookie efforts, needs a lot of work. There needs to be a unified online interface, one that doesn't require that you spend five minutes logging into Home to access. Offer more tournaments and get developers in there to play with fans. Just because online play is free doesn't mean that it should be sub par. This is the most important aspect of next generation gaming, and you're severely lagging behind the competition. Get the system up to snuff fast, or people are going to stop waiting and move on. We know that you can do it, but we refuse to wait long.
The best games of 2008
According to: Blogs.nzherald.co.nz
Again it's time to argue about the games that stood out this year.
The video game industry had another good year in sales - Americans bought US$3b of games in November despite the recession (more people staying home and opting for in-home entertainment?) and the industry is on track to reach US$22b for the year (link to)
A professor of popular culture (sounds a fun job) said at the weekend that the whole gaming industry is not only recession-proof, but it can thrive in times of recession as during the Great Depression, Hollywood thrived because it offered a cheap, communal escape from the gloomy times.
But gamers appear to be getting more picky about what to buy especially as the higher prices for next-gen console games sting when you make a poor choice.
There were plenty of games to enjoy but we seem to be demanding more in the way of entertainment as well as just burning up rubber or shooting at enemies.
And so the game that my mates couldn't get enough of this year was EA's Rock Band. Until the also brilliant Guitar Hero arrived, I had never picked up a musical instrument. Now I'm hooked into having weekly garage band sessions, thrashing authentic-looking drums and guitars to famous rock anthems and fantasising about playing for a major band in front of major stadium crowds.
For a great party game, this is a winner and it's interesting that anyone initially shy of participating soon joins in and finds they can do OK.
I didn't get to try the Guitar Hero equivalent (World Tour) and there may be an argument over which is better, but Rock Band is my standout for the year and I can't wait for Rock Band 2 which is already out in the US.
Here are my other standouts for 2008, and screenshots are here.
Best PS3 exclusive: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Not just a great game to play, it's so polished, it showed how amazing next-gen console gaming can look.
Best Xbox 360 exclusive: Gears of War 2
Brutal action and beautiful to see - visually stunning and a totally satisfying improved sequel.
Best on Wii: Wii Fit
Showing again while Wii is the family console with every grandmother able to have fun trying to keep agile.
Best Karaoke: SingStar ABBA
They're not my thing but the runaway movie success of Mamma Mia coupled with this shows the band just won't fade away.
Best RPG: Fable II
Charming, funny, deep, addictive. Creator Peter Molyneux wanted something unique and with version two, he delivers.
Best Horror: Left 4 Dead
As disturbing and claustrophobic as the best zombie movie, this relentless monster attack is fun and challenging and came to the genre delivering a fresh approach.
Best online: Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning
It may not reinvent the MMO genre but it has all the right elements and makes it such an enjoyable game, it absorbs gamers for many nights into the early hours.
Best action-shooter: Call of Duty: World at War
This solid fast-paced shooter recharges the highly successful franchise with good missions and interesting multiplayer options and hardcore graphics to boot.
Best game to call in sick for: Grand Theft Auto IV
There was no escaping this one. The debate about the seedy aspects of the story masked its genius in being a commentary on consumer culture.
Best Racing: Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (PS3)
For a genre that is highly competitive, this matched the hype and just made us desperately hang out for the full title which may still be a full year away.
Best Sports: NBA 2K9
All passionate sports fans are going to have a favourite here. I'm not big on sports games/simulations but found this a fun realistic experience - which is what counted for me.
Best on PSP: God of War Chains of Olympus
This worked surprisingly brilliantly on the smaller screen, as awesome and engaging as its bigger cousin.
Best graphics: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriot
For those of us with big HD TV screens, we finally started to get our money's worth with jaw-dropping graphics.
Best niche game: Mirror's Edge
Unlike anything we've seen, this visually striking and highly original game had more depth than you think when first viewed and it attempts to re-work the platform genre.
Best retro re-visit: Wipeout HD
The old futuristic racing classic that helped launch PlayStation 3 gets a giddy big-screen makeover when downloaded from the online PS3 store and shows how simple original games never lose their shine because they are just about having fun.
Best creative game: Spore
A masterpiece that deserved its many years of hype because it gave us a fascinating way to view life through creating it and sharing it.
Best on PC: Crysis Warhead
An expansion of a great game that has single player and multi-player options you want to play over and over again.
Best Sci-fi: Dead Space
After last year's Top 10 titles like Mass Effect and Bioshock came this intense sci-fi survival horror that was terrifying - aided by superb graphics and thumping bass-laden sound. Check also the game's movie clips released as a separate experience on Blu-ray.
Best on DS: Advance Wars: Dark Conflict
With so much attention on next-gen consoles, I didn't get a lot of time to play DS this year but this strategy game was a personal favourite. DS fans may have other recommendations.
Most innovative platformer: LittleBigPlanet
At very first glance, PS3's much-hyped game looked deceptively like a PlayStation 1 platform game until you explored the hi-def graphics and nice editing tools and level sharing options.
Those who found it their sort of game were charmed and got right into it.
Best long-awaited arrival: Home
Just after Xbox's 360 makeover, PS3's online competition finally arrived just before Christmas, sapped three gigs of space and immediately got dissed by rival Microsoft as being an outdated Second Life clone.
In this mad pre-Christmas time, I'm still yet to give it the exploration time it deserves but here's a sneak look if you haven't had time either.
Other games from this year that I'm still enjoying include Resistance 2 and StarWars Force Unleashed.
Blockbuster on PS3 vs Netflix on Xbox 360
Source: Product-reviews.net
We know that Netflix has partnered themselves with Xbox 360, and is part of the new Experience, Sony do not want to get left behind, which has started of a number of rumors that Sony and Blockbuster will offer video downloads.
Sony and Blockbuster have already fought side-by-side before, as Blockbuster was a huge fan of Blu-ray and said that they would support the Sony format over HD DVD. Blockbuster has been backed into a corner, as Netflix has signed up big streaming deals with LG, Samsung and TiVo and Microsoft.
Blockbuster now has to look for someone else who supports Blu-ray and Sony and the free PS3 is the best bet. Blockbuster on-demand service is different to Netflix’s “Watch Instantly” feature; customers do not need to be subscribed to their DVD-by-mail service to take advantage of the service.
Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii vie for Christmas sales
According to: Telegraph.co.uk
The Nintendo Wii looks set to be the biggest-selling games console this Christmas for the third year running, despite fears the Wii is in short supply in the run-up to the festive season.
Sales figures from industry-tracking website VGChartz shows that more around 336,517 Nintendo Wii consoles have been bought in the last month, compared to about 190,440 Xbox 360 consoles and 88,561 PlayStation 3s.
The release of games such as exercise title Wii Fit and child-friendly Wii Music are thought to have boosted sales of the Nintendo console, which has been credited with introducing a new generation to video gaming.
But both Microsoft and Sony have mounted their own aggressive advertising campaigns in the run-up to Christmas, and have released a number of family-friendly games in the hope of tempting some consumers away from Nintendo.
Microsoft has revamped its online portal, Xbox Live, introducing customisable avatars to the platform to allow players to create cartoon-like representations of themselves. It has also launched a "party zone" on the platform, where groups of friends can meet to chat online, play games over the internet, and even share photos.
The company has also released a slew of games that will appeal to a wide variety of age groups, including the movie quiz Buzz, and karaoke title Lips.
Sony, too, is hoping to win over cash-strapped shoppers with its free PS3 3 console, which combines high-definition gaming with a Blu-ray DVD player.
According to analysts at Screen Digest, high-definition Blu-ray DVD players are going to be among the best-selling gadgets this Christmas, but many of the cheaper players are in short supply. Shoppers are therefore expected to opt for devices such as the PlayStation 3 which have multiple uses and offer better value for money.
Sony, too, has released several family-friendly titles in the run-up to Christmas, including the innovative LittleBigPlanet, where players can build and share their own characters, platforms and environments with other LittleBigPlanet fans. The recent launch of rhythm-action party games, such as Guitar Hero: World Tour and Rock Band 2, where players connect plastic instruments to their console and play along with the music, will also be key for Sony, as it bids to attract a wider user base to its platform.
"Nintendo is currently riding high," said Steve Bailey, an analyst with Screen Digest. "We don't believe the Wii will be beaten by the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 consoles this generation."
Review: PlayStation 3 (PS3), a superb gaming console
Source: CNN
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 free 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 "free 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 while they're still out there.
If you don't want to opt for the new 160GB (that will also ship with "Uncharted: Drakes Fortune"), the 80GB version reviewed here might short you on space. Now that you can fill up that hard drive more easily with TV shows and movies from the PlayStation Store, it's much easier to do so.
Still, for those on a budget, the $400 PS3 ups the hard-drive capacity from the older "budget" model and delivers nearly all the same gaming and home theater features as its more expensive sibling. The PS3's game drought has largely evaporated, with popular titles such as "Grand Theft Auto IV," "Rock Band," "Call of Duty 4," and "BioShock" all making their way to the console. While these titles are also available on the Xbox 360, the PS3 has exclusive dibs on "Metal Gear," "Uncharted," and "MLB 08: The Show," as well as the hotly anticipated "Resistance 2" and "Killzone 2" due to hit in upcoming months.
Yes, the Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii also have their own handful of exclusive titles ("Halo" and "Gears of War" on the former, and all of the "Mario," "Metroid," and "Zelda" games on the latter), but the PS3's HD graphics go far beyond those of the low-resolution Wii, and its stable hardware doesn't suffer from the Xbox 360's notorious red ring of death.
Plus, now that Blu-ray Discs have become the de facto standard for high-def media, the PS3 is still the only console available to play back that format, and consequently is the best performing and affordable Blu-ray player on the market--a great option if you want to introduce yourself to high-def content.
Design
Like the Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii, the PlayStation 3 can stand vertically or lie horizontally in an AV rack, though because of its curved top, it's not meant to have any other components resting on top of it. Early prototypes were shown in white and silver, but currently the PS3 is only available in black.
The 20GB version (now discontinued) was all black, but the larger capacity (and all current models) are highlighted with chrome trim--and there's no way to customize its look as you can with the Xbox 360's interchangeable, if overpriced, faceplates. Judging from Sony's recent decision to bring out the PSP in more colors, we don't expect the company to stick to the black-only option for too long, especially since this system, like the PSP, is a fingerprint and smudge-magnet.
As for its dimensions, the PS3 measures 12.8 inches wide by 3.8 inches high by 10.8 inches long, which is roughly in line with the overall volume of the Xbox 360. That said, the PS3 does weigh a bit more--11 pounds to the 360's 9.9 pounds including power supply--so if you're going by heft alone, you're getting almost 10 percent more console.
Most impressively, there's no external power supply for the PS3; you just plug the included power cable--it's the same standard three-prong style you'll find on most desktop PCs--into the back of the unit and you're good to go. For those of us who own an Xbox 360, and have had to struggle with its massive brick of a power supply, this seems like a remarkable feat on Sony's part.
One obvious difference between the Xbox 360 and the PS3 is the way you load media. As opposed to the more typical tray loader, the PS3 has a front-slot-loading, Blu-ray Disc drive, which contributes to the unit's slicker appearance. Discs slide in and eject smoothly enough, so chalk one up for the PS3 here.
On the front, you'll find two USB ports for connecting (and charging) controllers and other accessories, including USB keyboards, thumbdrives, and the PSP. Unfortunately if you need more than two ports, you're out of luck as only the older versions of the PS3 came with four.
This will certainly become an issue particularly if you want to charge your controllers as well as use an accessory like the PS Eye). The PS3 still doesn't come with USB ports on the back of the unit--something we've desired for a while. Both new versions of the PS3 also now lack multiple flash card readers. While we could see this feature being dropped for a reduced price, even the "deluxe" 160GB model, priced still at $500, will not come with it.
Around back is where you'll find ports for Ethernet, HDMI output, optical digital audio output (SPDIF), and the proprietary PlayStation AV output for analog audio and video. A composite AV cable ships with the unit, and because it uses the same connector as the PlayStation 2, that system's S-Video and component cables should work with it, as well (to get HD video, you'll need component or HDMI).
This, once again, leaves us asking why Sony does not ship the console HD-ready out-of-the-box. Unlike the proprietary snap-on hard drive of the Xbox 360, the PS3's internal hard drive is user replaceable with any off-the-shelf laptop drive. The only caveat: it uses the smaller 2.5-inch drive size, which are twice, or even close to three times as expensive as the larger 3.5-inch hard drive that go into a desktop computer.
The Sixaxis DualShock 3 Controller
When the PS3 was first released in the fall of 2006, gamers gave Sony a lot of grief that the included Sixaxis controller lacked rumble (vibration) support--a feature found on the controllers for the Xbox 360, Wii, and even the older PlayStation 2. Sony has since corrected that with the DualShock 3 controller, which is basically just the Sixaxis with rumble. Starting with the new 80GB core system, all new PS3 versions will include a DualShock 3 controller by default.
With the exception of its included rumble support--and a bit more weight as a result--the Dual Shock 3 is otherwise pretty much identical to the Sixaxis. Fans of the older Sony game consoles will note that it even looks identical to the older PlayStation controllers, but there are some differences.
For starters, it's wireless. You can connect as many as seven controllers via the system's built-in Bluetooth, which Sony claims offers a 20-meter range (about 65 feet). Recharging the built-in battery simply requires connecting the included USB cable between the console and the controller. You can continue to play as the battery juices up (Sony pledges 30 hours of gameplay between charges), but the cable's somewhat short 5-foot length will put you right on top of the TV.
That said, the controller has a standard mini USB port similar to the one found on many digital cameras and PC peripherals, so swapping in a longer cable--or using a USB extender--shouldn't be a problem. We should also note that we had some success charging the DualShock 3 on a number of PC USB ports and even the port on a cable box.
Unfortunately, the battery isn't removable, which means that if it dies--as inevitably it will some day--you'll have to replace the entire controller ($50) if you want to play wirelessly. By comparison, the Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii controllers offer user-replaceable batteries: AAs or proprietary rechargeables for the 360, and AAs for the Wii.
As for the controller's design, Sony has made a few tweaks versus the old PS2 version. The L2 and R2 trigger buttons are a bit bigger, and the increased depth in stroke offers players more subtle game control. Sony has also increased the tilting angle of the analog joysticks to give you more precise control and a wider range of motion.
Those analog sticks are more sensitive as well. The PS2's Dual Shock 2 controller had 8-bit sensitivity, while the PS3's controller has 10-bit motion detection. The Sixaxis and DualShock 3 controllers also have a centered Home button, which functions much like its counterpart on the Xbox 360 controller. You use it to return to the console's main menu screen, as well as to sync the controller to the console and start it up or shut it down wirelessly. In game, the Home button will now bring up the cross-media-bar (XMB).
The other big upgrade on the DualShock 3 (and Sixaxis) from its predecessors is its motion sensitivity. As the name indicates, the controller is capable of sensing motion in six directions: up, down, left, right, forward, and backward. Game developers have incorporated this technology in many of the new games in one form or another.
For example, in "Call of Duty 3," you can arm explosives with a twist of the controller. 2K's "NBA 2K8" also makes interesting use of the tilt feature, allowing you shoot free throws by motioning a shot with your controller.
After almost two years of titles, some implementations of the tilt sensitivity are better than others. Some games' use of it are optional and can be switched off, as we can certainly see some folks not wanting to bother with it at all. Clearly, Sony wanted to steal some of Nintendo's interactive thunder, and there's no denying that the Wii's motion-sensitive controllers are more central to that console's DNA.
The Wii controllers are also more sophisticated, including the capability to measure actual motion (spatial movement) and acceleration, rather than just tilting. But unlike the Wii, the PS3 doesn't require a motion-sensor bar in front of the TV. (The current Xbox 360 controllers offer no motion sensitivity at all.) It's safe to say we'll see more innovative uses of the tilting sensitivity feature in future games as it definitely adds an extra level of control when flying the eponymous attack vehicle in "Warhawk" or controlling the trajectory of an arrow in "Heavenly Sword." On the other hand, the highly touted "Lair" is widely considered unplayable thanks to a poorly implemented Sixaxis control scheme.
Familiar interface
If you own a Sony PSP, you'll immediately notice the similarities between the PS3's interface and the PSP's cross media bar-style (XMB) graphical user interface. You navigate horizontally through top-level selection categories such as users, system settings, and media options such as photos, music, videos, games, network, and friends.
When you select a top-level category, a vertical list of suboptions appears, and you can navigate down that list until you find the option you want. The interface is polished and generally easy to use, but you do have to drill down a few levels to reach certain features, and getting to some functions isn't quite as intuitive as it should be. Still, the overall design is slick enough to be called Mac-like, and--at least from an aesthetic standpoint--is more appealing than the Xbox 360's Dashboard and Nintendo Wii's Channels interfaces.
Since the release of the PlayStation 3, Sony has continued to release newer versions of the embedded firmware. These updates usually address bugs and other glitches and even add features such as DVD upscaling, Blu-ray improvements, and an improved interface for the PlayStation Store. These updates are always free, but unlike the Xbox 360 and Wii, they take quite some time to download and then install. Just recently, force vibration capability was added with the release of the DualShock 3 controller on previous titles.
Digital media hub
Before we delve into the PS3's HD movie prowess (see Movie Watching, below), let's take a holistic look at the console's multimedia functionality.
With the new 80GB and 160GB versions, the PS3 drops the flash card reader--a major blow for shutterbugs out there. It also skimps out on available USB slots, limiting them to two, but it does support importing images from a full array of USB-attached devices, including most digital cameras, the PSP, USB flash drives, and home-burned CD-Rs. (One caveat: the images may need to be placed in a special directory, such as DCIM or Picture, if they're not already there.)
A few slide-show styles are available, including a unique "photo album" view that displays the images across a white work surface as if you'd dumped them there and spread them out. When stored internally on the hard drive (copying back and forth is easy), photos appear rapidly, and in the basic slide-show mode, you can advance your slides forward by simply pressing on the top-right shoulder button (the left shoulder takes you back a slide).
Most JPEG, TIFF, BMP, GIF, and PNG images should work just fine. By contrast, the Xbox 360 lacks the impressive photo album viewer, and the Wii--while including some cool and fun photo-viewing and manipulation functionality--includes only a built-in SD card reader.
As for music, the PS3 supports most of the major music-file types, including MP3, ATRAC, AAC, and WAV, and like the Xbox 360, has a built-in music visualizer. As with the photos, you can import songs from the flash card reader, a USB thumbdrive--again, you'll have to create a special Music folder--or rip songs directly to the hard drive from a CD. (Yes, unlike some Blu-ray players on the market, the PS3 can actually recognize and play CDs).
It cannot play back music from attached iPods, nor can it stream from other music players that incorporate copy-protected music formats. Here, the 360 has a leg up: it offers some iPod compatibility, and it can play back WMA music files, as well. In addition, the Xbox 360 allows you to customize your in-game music, while the experience with this on the PS3 is somewhat of a mixed bag.
On the video front, the PS3 plays Profile 2.0 Blu-ray Discs in full high-definition as well as DVD movies. It also supports MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4/h.264 video files from USB or disc-based media (reading from the "video" directory). If you transfer the videos to the PS3's hard drive, thumbnails on the video menu are shown as 15-second video clips, rather than just as still images of the first frame of the video. Like the Xbox 360, the PS3 can act as a digital media hub, with the ability to stream content from any DLNA-compatible network device, including PCs and network attached hard drives.
PSP owners will find increasingly close integration between Sony's portable and the PS3. Users now have the ability to control their PS3 anywhere in the world using a Wi-Fi connection, thanks to the Remote Play feature. Digital media, including photos, music, and video can be streamed to the PSP, as well.
Sony's version of Web TV Taking a page out of the PSP's book, the PS3 also has a built-in Web browser, but the nice thing about the PS3 is that if you connect a USB keyboard, you don't have to type in URL addresses using the system's tedious virtual keyboard. Likewise, a USB mouse lets you point and click your way through a Web page, just as if you were on a PC.
Not all Bluetooth keyboards will pair with the PS3--the Logitech Cordless MediaBoard requires a USB dongle, for instance. But our favorite keyboard for light text entry is the Logitech diNovo Mini, which interfaces directly via the console without monopolizing one of the precious USB ports. (Likewise, most Bluetooth phone headsets should work fine, allowing you to chat with fellow players during online gaming sessions.)
The browser is fairly robust, and even offers limited Flash support. For instance, YouTube videos work fine, but those on ABC.com and Hulu do not. Overall, the browser is a nice convenience for those who want to browse from their living room couch. That said, the sharpness of Web pages' appearance--and how readable they are--will depend on the quality of your TV and its size.
For example, viewing Web pages on a 60-inch DLP set is going to be more of a challenge than, say, looking at those same pages over a 20-inch computer monitor. And viewing Web pages on anything less than an HDTV at full resolution (720p, 1080i, or 1080p) will be decidedly eye-straining.
The PlayStation Network
While the PlayStation Network did not launch simultaneously with the PlayStation 3, it has since opened up to the public and with it, many games and services are now available. Connecting to the PlayStation Network is free, as is multiplayer gaming, although downloadable games and other content come at a cost. You can, however, get free demos to most games so that you can try-before-you-buy.
In fall 2008, the PlayStation Network will launch PlayStation Home. Home is an online virtual world, somewhat in the vein of Second Life, where gamers can have their avatars interact with one another in addition to the ability to virtually create your own "home." From Home's interface, you can set up game matches and communicate with friends as well as other gamers. The service also promises to integrate the recently-debuted Trophy System, the PS3 equivalent of Xbox Achievements.
The PSN allows all gamers to play online in multiplayer matches for free. By contrast, Xbox Live Silver, Microsoft's free entry-level service, gives you access to some community options but to play online multiplayer games, you have to upgrade to Xbox Live Gold service, which runs $50 per year.
Free online play is obviously a big plus in Sony's favor. That said, Xbox Live has been around for years and has had time to mature, plus the majority of Xbox 360 games offer some form of online play. Microsoft also has its Xbox Live Marketplace, where you can download games, demos, video content, full-length movies, and TV shows in high-definition, as well as game themes and additional game content.
As the PSN matures, Sony has been moving more in that direction, as well: there are now plenty of free demos for download, as well as dozens of original mini-games and classic PlayStation One games available for purchase. Sony also recently debuted an entire video section to the PlayStation Store, allowing PS3 owners the same content-on-demand experience Xbox Live users have had for some time now.
Instead of the points-based payment system found on Microsoft and Nintendo's networks, the PlayStation Store sticks to dollars and cents--users can simply transfer cash to their PlayStation 3 Wallet via credit card or with prepaid gift cards. (International locations will likewise be denominated in their home currency--yen, euros, pounds, sterling, Canadian dollars, and so forth.)
Overall, there's a strong and growing list of titles with solid online play primarily composed of first-person-shooters, action games ("Resistance: Fall of Man," "Warhawk," "Call of Duty 4," "Unreal Tournament 3," and "Grand Theft Auto IV") and sports titles. Pairing a Bluetooth headset will give you chat support in most games as well.
While the online multiplayer support isn't quite as robust and widespread on the PS3 as it is on Xbox Live, it's a big notch up from the Nintendo Wii--the few online games the console offers are burdened with Nintendo's friend 16-digit code system, which must be activated on a title-by-title basis.
Cell inside
When final specifications were released for the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3, not surprisingly, there was a big debate over which system was technically more powerful. The 360 uses more off-the-shelf PC components, while the PlayStation 3's 3.2GHz Cell processor was built from the ground up just for the console.
It consists of a single PowerPC-based core with seven synergistic processing units and is the result of a joint effort between IBM, Sony, and Toshiba, which was ironic, considering that Sony and Toshiba were in a deathmatch over Blu-ray and HD DVD.
From the get-go, we were told that the Cell has the juice to run a new class of gameplay physics that will allow developers to create spectacular effects and eventually provide a whole new depth of realism to games. Paired with PlayStation 3's RSX Reality Synthesizer graphics-processing unit, a gargantuan 550MHz, 300-million-transistor graphics chip based on Nvidia's GeForce 7800 GTX graphics technology, and you're looking at a very high-end PC.
The only problem, of course, is that it has taken developers years to learn how to take full advantage of all that processing power and truly deliver on the graphical promise of the system. Titles such as Heavenly Sword and Metal Gear Solid 4 (as well as previews of 2009's Killzone 2) have shown that developers are finally beginning to tap the full potential of the PS3's power.
That said, the hope that the PS3's graphics would run circles around those of the Xbox 360 has yet to be realized. To date, the vast majority of games that appear on both systems look roughly indistinguishable.
As with the graphics chip, the PS3's Blu-ray drive--which allows for games of 25GB to 50GB in size--has yet to show a big advantage over the 8.5GB limit of the Xbox 360's DVD media.
Presumably, as games become larger and more complex (Xbox titles could eventually spread to two or three discs, all of which should have no problem fitting on a single Blu-ray), the PS3 still has one annoyance: its Blu-ray drive has a comparatively slow transfer time, which requires most games to utilize a PC-style hard-disk installation. Installs can take up to 20 minutes but only usually need to be done once, but it doesn't exactly scream "next-generation" from a convenience standpoint.
Those minor gripes notwithstanding, the PS3 delivers an overall level of excellence when it comes to engineering and performance. What's impressive about the PS3, in fact, is that with all this power under the hood, the system runs as quietly as it does. (Some have complained about fan noise, but those problems seem to be few and far between--contact Sony's customer support if your PS3's fan is excessively loud.)
After running for several hours straight, we found that we could still place a hand over the back of the unit and not get scorched--the system runs pretty warm, but not blazingly hot. Meanwhile, the Xbox 360 cooling fan and DVD drive are comparatively far noisier, often to the point of distraction. Also, the PS3 hasn't had any widespread reliability problems, unlike the "red ring of death" problem that continues to plague the 360.
The console's high failure rate--at least on models produced early on in its life cycle--has made for customer service headaches and a billion-dollar liability for Microsoft as frustrated Xbox gamers exchange dead consoles.
Play time
As mentioned above, despite all of the vaunted "power" of the PS3's unique Cell processor, games appearing on both the Xbox 360 and the PS3 tend to look all but identical on both consoles. The PS3 clearly measures up to the Xbox 360 in terms of its graphics prowess, but there are few games available that are unique enough to declare them as a "system-seller," while the argument can be made that "Metal Gear Solid 4" is that game.
However, other exclusive titles such as "Heavenly Sword," "Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction," and "Uncharted: Drake's Fortune" have finally given PlayStation 3 owners something to cheer about. Simply put: Sony needs to deliver still more compelling exclusives, as well as multiplatform titles that look and play better on the PS3.
That said, 2008 has certainly seen things looking much better for the console than ever before as sales have gone up, most likely because of the decision to cut the price of the console and the end of the high-def format war.
At first, the PS3 came with backward support for a wide range of PS2 games (with the 20GB and 60GB models), utilizing the "Emotion Engine" chip to provide hardware support. When the updated versions shipped in March and August 2007, the company stripped the console of this chip to reduce costs and in its place added a software emulation solution for PS2 playback.
This became a precarious situation for long-time PlayStation fans as backward compatibility with PS2 games was slightly deteriorated. However, this has gradually improved with periodic software updates. All along Sony has stated that it wanted to eventually shift to developing content exclusively for the PS3, and with the total omission of PS2 support in the new 2008 PS3 models, this is the first indication of that focus.
Movie watching
Since the PS3's debut, we've seen several Blu-ray players from Samsung, Panasonic, LG, and Sony itself. None of them generally perform any better than the PS3, even though they cost more (twice as much or more in some cases). HD movies look superb on the PS3, which can output video at full 1080p resolution via its HDMI 1.3 port. Audio support is also top notch as the PS3 decodes Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks internally, outputting them as linear PCM, which should deliver impeccable lossless surround when connected to most HDMI-equipped AV receivers.
Sticklers may lament the lack of "bit stream" audio output or multichannel analog connectors--if either is an issue for you, then you're in the small minority who should opt for one of those more expensive standalone Blu-ray players.
With Blu-ray having soundly defeated HD-DVD in the high-def format war (thanks, in large part, to the popularity of the PS3), all major Hollywood studios are now supporting the format, and Blu-ray releases are ramping up as the format slowly but surely becomes more prevalent. In the meantime, the PS3 also plays (and upconverts) standard DVDs (see detailed analysis).
As of now, the PS3 is the only console available with the best Blu-ray player on the market. This is yet another reason to consider it not only a gaming console but a fully featured, high-def media hub that can easily compete with the Xbox 360 in terms of video quality. The PS3 will once again have its hands full when the Xbox 360 begins to offer Netflix streaming with the much anticipated November 2008 dashboard update.
Our only real complaint with the PS3's movie playback is the remote control issue. Accessing Blu-ray and DVD menus with the PS3 controller is functional, yet a bit awkward. Unfortunately, you won't be able to program a standard universal remote to control your PS3 as it lacks an infrared port. Thus, it needs to receive commands via Bluetooth. Not coincidentally, Sony offers a Bluetooth compatible remote for $25.
Other options have surfaced to combat this issue, such as the Nyko Blu-Wave Infrared Remote and the USBIRX3 from Schmartz.com. But we just wish Sony would've spent a few extra pennies and added a standard infrared receiver to the console. Also, with the console now only offering two USB ports, you'll be down to one should you choose a USB IR solution.
Nintendo confirms that Wii supply will not meet demand for Christmas
Acccording to: itvibe.com
Another Christmas another short supply of the best selling games console and again it is the Wii which is in the headlines. Despite the signs that the Wii would be the more popular of the games consoles sought this Christmas it has been revealed that supply will not be able to keep up with festive demands.
However, it seems as though there is very little which Nintendo can do with their manufacturing division working flat out having just increased output by 33 percent a month from 1.6 million to 2.4 million free Wii units, yet still shelves are emptying faster than they can be refilled. It puts the whole situation into perspective when you consider that Sony will ‘only' sell 10 million free PS3 consoles worldwide this year, with Nintendo likely to sell that amount in just 3 months!
There are obvious concerns within Nintendo that consumers will go elsewhere if they are unable to purchase the consoles of their choice but in reality there is nothing which they can really do about in the short term. The massive investment needed to align supply with demand would not come online for some months by which time the extra capacity may not be required.
Computer games to out-sell music and video
Source: business.timesonline.co.uk
For years they have been the preserve of spotty teenage boys sitting in darkened rooms, but computer games will this year out-sell music and video in the United Kingdom for the first time, according to a report released today.
As the music industry has been beset by piracy, and the price of DVDs has dwindled, the gaming market will grow by 42 per cent this year, and will be worth £4.6 billion in 2008, compared to £4.5 billion for music and video combined, Verdict Research said.
The industry has been revitalised this year by blockbuster game releases such as Grand Theft Auto IV, which sold over 600,000 copies on its first day alone.
“Whereas music & video has become somewhat stale, video games has enjoyed an array of technological innovation, which has widened the market demographic enormously and driven phenomenal growth,” said Matthew Piner, author of Verdict’s Video Games & Consoles Retailing report. “2008 has seen video games catapulted into the mainstream entertainment market, popular with men, women, children and families alike.”
he major consoles, all of which have lined up major game releases in the run up to Christmas, are gearing up for a fierce battle. Sony free Playstation 3 hope to revive its ailing fortunes with cute-platform game Little Big Planet.
Nintendo intends to release Wii Music, where players use a movement-sensitive control to play instruments, and free XBox 360 will release more traditional games titles such as Fable II, a medieval fantasy-adventure, and Gears of War II, where players blast aliens.
Mr Piner said: “One surprising aspect of the games market over the past year is that the more severe the economic downturn has become, the better the gaming market has performed. Games represent a relatively cheap, but also exciting and innovative, pastime.
“As more people save money by staying in, a video game, although it may cost three or four times as much as a DVD or CD, offers much more longevity and hence better value for money. Moreover, it offers a more involved and interactive form of escapist entertainment when compared to a CD or DVD.”
In 2003 the combined market for music and video was worth double that of computer games. But in the past five years the game industry has seen revenues rise by 113 per cent, as its audio and video rivals have foundered, rising just 0.8 per cent.
The report said: “Music is suffering from piracy, a continual onslaught of price deflation, intensifying competition and the ongoing decline of physical format CDs. While the DVD market has shown robust volume growth, value growth is impaired by falling prices and heavy discounting.
One source of hope for the music industry is the continued growth of Digital Rights Management (DRM)-free files, which can be transferred between devices, unlike previous restrictions imposed by stores like Apple’s iTunes, which limited the tracks to one iPod.
"The embracing of open MP3 format will reignite download sales, as it will remove the issues of interoperability and encourage album sales," said Malcolm Pinkerton, senior retail analyst at Verdict.
High street retailers such as HMV have seen a rise in sales of computer games, and have reconfigured stores so as to give less space to music. Gennaro Castaldo, of HMV, said: “The growth is obviously there. Over the long term you would have to say that growth will be seen in games and that music will fall away, but will hit a threshold that it will stick at.”
Matt Martin, editor of gamesindustry.biz, the leading industry website, said: “It’s great news for the video games industry. Its also a reflection of how badly hit the music industry has been in the past couple of years as it has not kept up with advances in technology.
"Games traditionally miss out on recession, because they have their own cycle based on when games consoles are released and when they become affordable. Just now, consoles and sales are reaching the peak of that cycle.”
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