March 2006 Archives

Final Fantasy XIII to be PS3 exclusive?

The May issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly hints that Square Enix plans to unveil Final Fantasy XIII at this May's E3. The issue also reveals that we should "expect a brief teaser video and confirmation from the publisher that the RPG will be a PS3 exclusive." 1Up reports: "This corroborates... [More]

WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2007

WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2007 will be the next version in THQ's ultra popular WWE series of games. SVR2K will be released on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PS2 and PSP. The game will include numerous enhancements, including interactive fighting within the crowd, a brand new analog control grappling system,... [More]

PlayStation Network to be 'entertainment-based'

Phil Harrison, SCE's president of Worldwide Studios, says that the PlayStation Network Platform will be more "entertainment-based" than the Xbox's online service.... [More]

Photos from GDC keynote posted online

Although Sony specifically asked attendees to not take pictures during last week's GDC keynote address given by Sony's Phil Harrison, pictures from the event have found their way onto the web. Amongst the games shown in the pictures are The Getaway, MotorStorm, Resistance: Fall of Man, and Warhawk. Though the... [More]

Sony to end production of original PSOne

Sony today announced that it is no longer making original PlayStation consoles. First released in Japan in December of 1994, the console sold more than 100 million units during its lifetime. The announcement comes in the wake of Sony confirming backwards compatibility on the upcoming PS3 and digital downloads of... [More]

GDC 2006: Demos, region free games, new controller

At the GDC 2006 this morning, Sony Computer Entertainment President Phil Harrison gave a keynote address — as expected — and showed some gameplay footage as well as revealed further details on the PS3. Harrison showed several games, including Warhawk, Resistance, Motorstorm, Heavenly Sword, a next-gen SongStar game, and video... [More]

Sony at 2006 Game Developers Conference

Sony has announced its presence at the 2006 Game Developers Conference (GDC), which will be held this week at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, Calif. "The company will support developers and publishers in the creation of PlayStation content by providing the latest development tools and technologies through conference... [More]

Japanese publishers applaud PS3 launch plans

Several leading Japanese video game publishers are welcoming the additional development time that the launch delay of the PlayStation 3 will provide.... [More]

Sony to lead game consoles through 2010

Despite stronger competition from Microsoft & Nintendo, Sony will continue its lead in the video game console market through 2010, according to In-Stat. Through 2010, the PS3 will account for just over 50% of the installed base of next-generation consoles, while the Microsoft Xbox 360 will have 28.6%, and the... [More]

Nintendo's Miyamoto discusses the PS3

In a recent interview Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto discussed the delay of the PS3. The interviewer for the Guardian asked Miyamoto "Do you have any comments on the PlayStation 3 announcement?" Miyamoto responded as many Nintendo officials have over the recent months, stating simply that "we don't see it as... [More]

Microsoft CEO: Xbox 360 will capitalize on PS3 delay

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer says that the PS3's November launch gives the Xbox 360 a major opportunity to become the top next-generation gaming console. "In every other generation, the first guy to 10 million consoles was the number one seller in the generation," Ballmer told Fortune magazine. "Did we just... [More]

Report: PS3 hard drive will come standard

Yahoo Games says it has confirmed that the PlayStation 3 will come with a 60GB hard drive as standard equipment with the console. "Some of the larger US websites have been speculating that PlayStation 3 would be shipping with an optional 60GB hard disc drive. However we can confirm this... [More]

Playstation 3 delay hindering Blu-ray adoption?

The delay for Sony's upcoming PS3 console virtually ensures a confusing experience when shopping for next gen movie players, reports the LA Times. As many of you know, the PS3 is a key player in the battle for dominance between Blu-ray and the competing format, HD-DVD. It appears that not... [More]

More details from Sony's PS3 press conference

In addition to announcing the November release date for the PS3, SCE head Ken Kutaragi also covered some details concerning its upcoming console. The PS3, which will arrive before Thanksgiving in all territories at a price that will not be less than $425, will indeed coincide with the launch of... [More]

PS3 to be released worldwide in November

Sony confirmed today that the PlayStation 3 will be released in early November in Japan, North America and Europe simultaneously. Speaking at a news conference in Tokyo, Ken Kutaragi, the head Sony's video game division, said Sony would not meet its Spring launch date because of delays in finalizing its... [More]

PlayStation 3 delayed until November?

Japanese business paper Nihon Keizai Shimbun is reporting that the PS3 will see its release pushed back until early November of this year because of Blu-ray copy protection problems. Citing problems with finalizing the copy protection scheme for Blu-ray, which the PlayStation 3 will employ as its removable media, Nihon... [More]

Sony planning movie, game download service for PS3

Sources close to Sony have indicated that it is planning a major digital distribution service for game and movie content, which could be a key element of PlayStation 3, reports GI. Several major developers have confirmed having meetings with Sony concerning the possibility of a digital delivery service for games,... [More]

Sony opens up meeting, PS3 details expected

Sony announced today that it will allow the media and analysts to attend an annual meeting for PlayStation software developers tomorrow in Tokyo. "A Sony spokeswoman declined to give details of the meeting, to be attended by Sony Computer Entertainment President Ken Kutaragi, but analysts hope it will disclose the... [More]

Patent ruling could affect PS3 controller

Sony may be forced to drop or modify the DualShock feature on its upcoming PS3 controllers. Beta News reports: "A federal judge denied an effort by Sony Monday to overturn a jury verdict that awarded $90.7 million to Immersion over accusations of patent infringement. The ruling came after Immersion sued... [More]

OPM: PS3 to cost $399, use different controller

In the April issue of Official PlayStation Magazine, ZD Media's John Davidson gives 3 predictions for the PS3 launch. He predicts the launch will be "November in the United States" and that "it won't be a penny over $399.99," obviously because of the problems that could be caused by pricing... [More]

Fatal Inertia

Little is known about Koei's hovercar racer for the PlayStation 3. What we know about the plot places players in the shoes of a 23rd century driver competing in a series of high-speed, deadly races. A new physics model heavily influences your car's handling, the effects of your weapons, and... [More]

PS3 announcements coming soon?

Koei COE Kiyoshi Komatsu made comments that Sony may make a PS3 related announcement as soon as March 15. "It seems that SCE (Sony Computer Entertainment) will have an announcement conference on the 15th, so perhaps some details relating to the PS3 will be released there," Komatsu said. Koei is... [More]

Sony not committing to simultaneous PS3 launch

A SCEE spokesperson says that Sony has made no commitment to launching the PlayStation 3 simultaneously in the US and Europe, despite comments made by SCEE boss David Reeves this week. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe head of corporate communications Nick Sharples said that the company was "definitely not" committing to... [More]

Report: PS3 delay 'not worst scenario'

In a financial report obtained by PS3 Informer, analysts Jason Kraft and Chris Kwak from the Susquehanna Financial Group. While discussing four possible scenarios for the gaming industry over the next year, they have this to say about the PS3's delay and its effect on the industry as a whole:... [More]

Namco president: PS3 spring launch 'impossible'

President Takeo Takasu told Bloomberg this week that "With no word so far, a spring release is impossible. "We are developing titles for PlayStation 3, but the release of the games depends on the timing of the hardware." Namco Bandai has long been a supporter of Sony's PlayStation consoles, including... [More]

PS3 to begin manufacturing process in June

According to an announcement from Compeq, it will be making boards for the PS3. Compeq, who also made parts for Sony's PSP, will manufacture high-density interconnect circuit boards for the PS3 in its Taiwanese plants. A contact in the company told a Chinese website that production would begin in June... [More]

E3 2006 sells out of exhibit space

The organizers of the Electronic Entertainment Expo have announced that all space on the show floor of this year's event has now been sold. More than 400 exhibitors will occupy 540,000 square feet of space at this year's E3 — an area equivalent to 4650 Olympic swimming pools. The 12th... [More]

Sega working on golf title for PlayStation 3

Sega is bringing a golf title to the PS3 launch lineup, reports IGN. Characters in the game include the Miyazato siblings Ai, Kiyoshi and Yukasu. An official announcement is expected soon, but as of right now we know that the game will feature courses from around the world and will... [More]

Variety: PS3 coming out at year's end

In a recent Variety interview with Sony CEO Howard Stringer, the publication more or less confirmed reports that the PS3 will indeed be delayed, and will begin arriving by year's end, in time for the holiday shopping season. This time, the delay is said to be caused by fine-tuning of... [More]

The Darkness

The Darkness is based on the popular comic book franchise and is scheduled to be released next winter. Under development by Starbreeze Studios, The Darkness video game is based on the best-selling comic book series from Top Cow Productions and utilizes a Starbreeze internally developed next-generation game engine. The Darkness... [More]

1UP: Everything we know about the PlayStation 3

1UP has an informative 7-page article on everything you could want to know about Sony's PS3. If you have any questions about the PS3, chances are they're answered in this article. "What will the system cost? How powerful will it be? What kind of online structure will it have? Some... [More]

Stranglehold

Stranglehold, a third-person shooter, is expected to be the successor to John Woo's Hard Boiled. Players will play as a digitized Chow Yun Phat, whose character, Inspector Tequila, has his wife kidnapped by the Russian mob. The game is said to feature "Massive Destructability" settings, allowing players to shoot and... [More]

PS3 not shown at 'Destination PlayStation'

With just one day to go before the end of Sony's "Destination PlayStation" event in Miami, video game insiders at the event remain "very much in the dark" about Sony's launch plans for the PS3. "This could be interpreted as another data point supporting the theory that the PS3's launch... [More]

First Blu-Ray player and movies coming May 23

Sony has announced that the first Blu-Ray movie titles will be released May 23, alongside the first Blu-Ray player, the Samsung BD-P1000. Both Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and MGM Home Entertainment will be releasing films on May 23, followed by another wave of releases on June 13. Titles to be... [More]