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| Sony announces 'snackable' 100MB Minis for PSN Store |
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Over in beautiful Cologne, Germany, Sony has just confirmed what we've suspected for months now. Exclusive to the PSN Store, loyal Sony gamers will soon have access to a new segment of titles, ones that'll be available anytime and anywhere that there's an internet connection. The 100MB (or less) selections -- which are being officially called Minis -- are designed to take advantage of the "smaller development cost on the PSP," and if all goes well, we'll see 15 games (such as Tetris, Hero of Sparta, MiniGore and Fieldrunners) launching on October 1st. There's been no mention yet of how expensive these "snackable" apps / games will be, but we're holding Sony to its promise of 50 by the end of 2009.Filed under: GamingSony announces 'snackable' 100MB Minis for PSN Store originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 8/18/2009 6:15 PM (81d 15h 42m ago) |
| Sony finally hacks $100 from 'old' PlayStation 3 price, starting today |
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After begging, pleading and imploring Sony for months on end to lower the barrier to entry on its PlayStation 3 console, the company has at long last relented. Starting today (supposedly, anyway), all existing PS3 consoles will retail for $100 less than they did yesterday, though it looks as if most e-tailers have yet to ratchet their tags down to reflect the change. Of course, you could wait just a few more days and snag a PS3 Slim for the low, low price of $299, but the question is -- will you? Do tell in comments below.Filed under: GamingSony finally hacks $100 from 'old' PlayStation 3 price, starting today originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 8/18/2009 6:14 PM (81d 15h 42m ago) |
| Sony unveils slimmer PS3: $300, lands in September |
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digg_url = 'http://digg.com/playstation/Sony_unveils_slimmer_PS3_300_lands_in_September'; Hardly a surprise, but Sony got on stage today at GamesCom and confirmed what we've all knew deep down in our hearts: the new, slimmer PS3 is really real. It'll be out in the first week of September, and will retail for $300 (or 300 Euro, or 29,980 Yen). It's smaller and lighter, has a 120GB HDD, and packs "all the same features" of the regular PS3 while consuming 34 percent less power and taking up 32 percent less space. Existing PS3 SKUs have their prices dropped a hundie apiece tomorrow in anticipation, so be sure to grab a space heater while you've still got a shot -- though we're not sure why you'd pay $300 for an 80GB PS3 when you can wait a couple weeks and get 120GB in a cuter package. A couple pics of the unveil are after the break.Continue reading Sony unveils slimmer PS3: $300, lands in SeptemberFiled under: GamingSony unveils slimmer PS3: $300, lands in September originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 8/18/2009 6:14 PM (81d 15h 42m ago) |
| Nintendo's Wii MotionPlus selling well, and Wii Sports Resort ain't even out yet |
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For a device that took a solid year to go from "debuting at E3" to "shipping," we're pretty surprised to see that Nintendo's Wii MotionPlus held as much steam as it did. With overall video game sales dropping in June for the first time since 2000 (when looking at year-over-year figures, anyway), the Big N still had a few hundred thousand reasons to smile. Aside from the 361,700 Wii consoles and 766,500 DS units that shipped in June, the company also managed to sell 169,000 Wii MotionPlus dongles -- and that's not including the ones that were packaged with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10, of which 272,400 units were sold. The real kicker, however, is that the accessory's real partner in crime (that'd be Wii Sports Resort) has yet to be released. It's good to be king, ain't it Mario?Filed under: GamingNintendo's Wii MotionPlus selling well, and Wii Sports Resort ain't even out yet originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Jul 2009 03:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 7/20/2009 10:41 PM (110d 11h 15m ago) |
| GameStop hits the sauce for the 4th, offers up bizarre Wii bundles |
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Are you in the market for a "Summer Fun" Wii bundle to get your Independence Day started right? Oh, yeah? Fantastic, 'cause GameStop has just the packages for you. For the low, low price of $249.99, the aforementioned bundle consists of a Nintendo Wii console, a water gun and... wait, what? Amazingly enough, GameStop has seen fit to bundle a $0.25 water gun with a Wii and call it a bundle; heck, it's even limiting them to two per household. If that's not strange enough for you, there's also the Pirate Tattoo bundle and Take a Bath with a Buddy (a rubber ducky, just so we're clear) bundle. Talk about really taking advantage of that whole "freedom" thing.Read - Summer Fun bundleRead - Pirate Tattoo bundleRead - Take a Bath with a Buddy bundle[Via Joystiq]Filed under: GamingGameStop hits the sauce for the 4th, offers up bizarre Wii bundles originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 7/06/2009 5:51 PM (124d 16h 5m ago) |
| Microsoft's Kim lays out ten-year Xbox 360 lifecycle |
| | It's no secret that Sony's has a ten-year lifecycle (or longer) in mind for all of its consoles, but Microsoft has so far been a bit less clear cut when it comes to talking about its long-term plans. That now looks to be changing, however, as Microsoft Shane Kim has told VentureBeat that the company "firmly" believes that the Xbox 360 "has a life cycle through 2015," or exactly ten years since it launched. That minor revelation came in the same interview where Kim also discussed Project Natal at length, which, he notes, would fit "mid-cycle" into the Xbox 360's lifetime, so who knows what Microsoft has in store for the 360's twilight years.[Via gamesindustry.biz]Filed under: GamingMicrosoft's Kim lays out ten-year Xbox 360 lifecycle originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 6/05/2009 3:45 PM (155d 18h 12m ago) |
| Motion control wars: Xbox 360 and PS3 are playing catch-up with Wii next year, who will do it right? |
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It doesn't come as a surprise that Sony and Microsoft are hard at work at motion controls for their respective consoles: Nintendo is eating their lunch. The Wii's incredible appeal with the average consumer -- due primarily to the accessibility and charm of its Wiimote motion controls -- has also created an annoying divide in the industry (real or perceived) between consumers who use embarrassing gestures to control meaningless mini-games, and those who memorize incredibly complex control schemes to control deeper and more "mature" experiences. There's been a small amount of crossover, of course, but since Sony and Microsoft have lacked most of the gestures option, a majority of it has taken place on the Wii -- the inclusion of an accelerometer in Sony's Sixaxis controller has had little impact on gameplay, and Sony's EyeToy 2 has had even less impact on the average gamer.Of course, that's all about to change next year, with the emergence of the Microsoft's Project Natal and Sony's PlayStation motion controller. Typical thinking would suggest that Sony and Microsoft will be attempting to capture a slice of the casual gaming market that the Wii has so well dominated, while also expanding on the Wii's capabilities at serving the hardcore gamer -- some capabilities which Nintendo itself is attempting to add to the Wii with the even more imminent MotionPlus add-on. So, does anyone here have what it takes to serve up the next generation of gaming controls to everybody, or do cost considerations and the current state of the console wars dictate an ongoing rift in the market? Let's weigh our options...Continue reading Motion control wars: Xbox 360 and PS3 are playing catch-up with Wii next year, who will do it right?Filed under: Gaming, PeripheralsMotion control wars: Xbox 360 and PS3 are playing catch-up with Wii next year, who will do it right? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | ... |
| | 6/05/2009 3:40 PM (155d 18h 16m ago) |
| Sony adds PSP access to PlayStation Network video store, 16 new content partners |
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Tucked in between the "worst kept secret" PSP Go and motion control demos at its E3 press conference, Sony also revealed new content for the PlayStation Network video service, and the ability to download video directly to the PSP, no PS3 or PC intermediary needed. No word on when to expect the new content exactly, but it will include video from Showtime Networks, Starz, G4 & E!, Summit Entertainment, The Weinstein Company, HDNet & Magnolia Pictures, Anime Network, Media Blasters, Right Stuf's Nozomi Entertainment, Starz Media's Manga Entertainment, Toei Animation, Viz Media, WEP, UFC, TNA and Video Action Sports. Looks like Sony will have easy on the go access to video store content up and running before Microsoft gets its Zune integration act together, but whether that compares to 1080p instant streaming promises remains to be seen (Hint: first one with direct Hulu access wins, we're just saying, guys.) Check out Sony's trailer embedded after the break.Continue reading Sony adds PSP access to PlayStation Network video store, 16 new content partnersFiled under: Gaming, Handhelds, Home Entertainment, Portable VideoSony adds PSP access to PlayStation Network video store, 16 new content partners originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 6/03/2009 4:25 PM (157d 17h 31m ago) |
| Microsoft's Project Natal demo video has us jumping with anticipation |
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We're itching to get our own, uh, body time with Microsoft's Project Natal real time motion-capture accessory for the Xbox 360, but until that happens we're eagerly soaking up every last bit of footage we can -- like this teaser video shown during this morning's keynote. Lots of little tidbits here, like voice and face recognition, custom texture scanning and mapping, video chatting, and all sorts of use-your-whole-body gameplay applications. Of course, we don't know how much of this is real and how much is TV magic, but it certainly seems like Natal's got tons of potential -- check the video after the break.[Via Joystiq]Continue reading Microsoft's Project Natal demo video has us jumping with anticipationFiled under: GamingMicrosoft's Project Natal demo video has us jumping with anticipation originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 6/02/2009 5:30 PM (158d 16h 26m ago) |
| Microsoft announces "Project Natal" motion controller for Xbox 360! |
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digg_url = 'http://digg.com/microsoft/Microsoft_Makes_you_the_controller'; Yes, it's real. Now you'll be able to change a tire... virtually. At E3 today, Microsoft finally took the wraps off the that rumored motion controller we'd been hearing about. Apparently the small, black device -- codenamed "Natal" -- will allow for an astoundingly wide range of actions by utilizing a group of sensors (the box itself sits beneath your TV), and the accessory will be capable of juggling multiple users during a single session. The demo Microsoft showed off included a skateboarding game (replete with a young man "air" ollie-ing), and a family playing a racing game (the dad was changing a tire, the daughter driving).The add-on will offer features such as auto sign-in for players to Xbox Live (based on complex facial recognition), and sports extremely detailed body tracking which will be able to follow the individual movements of separate limbs. During the press event, the company demoed a painting app, which lets you use your entire body to handle virtual painting supplies, allowing you to do things like throw buckets of paint onto a canvas. Another title was shown off which featured a women interacting with a young boy on the screen -- one of the company's creepier demos in recent memory. Unfortunately for us, Microsoft says the device won't be released during 2009. We're working on snagging some face time (literally!) with a demo unit, so stay tuned... E3 is off to a wild start!Update: Video added after the break!Continue reading Microsoft announces "Project Natal" motion controller for Xbox 360!Filed under: GamingMicrosoft announces "Project Natal" motion controller for Xbox 360! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 6/01/2009 8:41 PM (159d 13h 16m ago) |
| Xbox 360 getting full retail games delivered on demand |
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digg_url ='http://digg.com/xbox/Xbox_360_getting_full_retail_games_delivered_on_demand'; Microsoft's E3 keynote was so jam-packed the company decided to wait until afterwards to announce what might be the biggest new feature of them all: on-demand access to full retail games. The service will launch in fall with 30 titles to start, and new games will be added weekly, with pricing to match retail. The best part? Purchases can be made directly with a credit card, no pesky Xbox points required. More pics of the system after the break.Update: Don't get your hopes up, MS tells us that the point system isn't going anywhere, it's just being supplemented with credit card purchases. Also, game rentals aren't happening yet, but they said it "sounds great for the future."Continue reading Xbox 360 getting full retail games delivered on demandFiled under: GamingXbox 360 getting full retail games delivered on demand originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 6/01/2009 8:40 PM (159d 13h 16m ago) |
| Microsoft touts 30 million Xbox 360s sold, 20 million Xbox LIVE members |
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Sony may have been the first to claim the 20 million users number, but most will no doubt agree that Microsoft has a considerably stronger claim to that title, as their just-announced 20 million users apparently includes only "active members," and doesn't include users that have simply signed up to use their online forums. Even less debatable are Microsoft's latest sales numbers for the console, which now officially top 30 million worldwide. As Microsoft points out, that translates to a whopping $14.5 billion in sales across all Xbox 360 categories, or an impressive $5.9 billion in game sales for third-party publishers. Other tidbits include the fact that Xbox 360 users own 8.3 titles each on average, and that Xbox LIVE has seen a 136% increase in new members since the launch of the New Xbox Experience last year.
Filed under: GamingMicrosoft touts 30 million Xbox 360s sold, 20 million Xbox LIVE members originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 May 2009 20:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 5/29/2009 8:05 PM (162d 13h 51m ago) |
| Wii MotionPlus could be a game-changer |
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Wii MotionPlus will likely make the Wiimote much better.(Credit: Nintendo)
The MotionPlus, a $20 accessory designed to improve motion detection for the Nintendo Wii remote control, will easily sell 10 million units after its market debut on June 8, an analyst contends.
Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter told Edge this week that the majority of those sales will occur when the accessory is bundled with Wii Sports Resort, EA Sports Grand Slam Tennis, and Tiger Woods PGA Tour '10 later this year.
He contends that 20 percent of U.S. and European Wii owners will buy those three titles, helping the Nintendo sell 8 million units of the Wii MotionPlus in just a few months. Pachter predicts another 2 million units will sell with new Wii consoles.
EEDAR analyst Jesse Divnich, also interviewed by Edge, isn't so quick to agree. He estimates that only 3 million units of the accessory will sell by the end of 2009 and that sales will reach 10 million units during Nintendo's next fiscal year, which starts in March 2010.
Although they don't agree on exactly when the 10 million mark will be reached, the analysts both predict that the accessory will be popular.
"I expect MotionPlus to be a sneaky success and ultimately attach to at least one third of the (Wii's) installed base," Pachter told Edge.
"Our forecast could be conservative," Divnich added. "Yearly sales could balloon much higher."
In addition to selling well, the MotionPlus is set to transform the Wii experience.
... Originally posted at The Digital Home |
| | 5/14/2009 4:15 PM (177d 17h 41m ago) |
| AMD busts out world's first air-cooled 1GHz GPU |
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The last time a GPU milestone this significant was passed, it was June of 2007, and we remember it well. We were kicked back, soaking in the rays from Wall Street and firmly believing that nothing could ever go awry -- anywhere, to anyone -- due to a certain graphics card receiving 1GB of onboard RAM. Fast forward a few dozen months, and now we've got AMD dishing out the planet's first factory-clocked card to hit the 1GHz mark. Granted, overclockers have been running their cards well above that point for awhile now, but hey, at least this bugger comes with a warranty. The device doing the honors is the ATI Radeon HD 4890, and it's doing it with air cooling alone and just a wee bit of factory overclocking. Take a bow, AMD -- today's turning out to be quite a good one for you.Filed under: Gaming, PeripheralsAMD busts out world's first air-cooled 1GHz GPU originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 May 2009 11:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 5/13/2009 3:55 PM (178d 18h 1m ago) |
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| Microsoft almost definitely planning motion-sensing 3D camera for Xbox 360 |
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If shots from the barrel of Mr. Blurrycam just aren't legitimate enough for you, how's about corroboration from The Wall Street Journal? A breaking report has confirmed that Microsoft is indeed "developing a new videocamera for its Xbox 360 videogame console that will allow players to control games with the movement of their bodies," or at least that's the good word from the all-too-supposing "people familiar with the matter." It's noted that unlike Nintendo's Wii, the Microsoft camera won't require gamers to "hold any hardware in their hands to control in-game action," but in the same vein as The Big N, it seems as if the device will debut at E3 only to sit around in a lab for a year before shipping to consumers. Boo.[Thanks, Chuck]Filed under: GamingMicrosoft almost definitely planning motion-sensing 3D camera for Xbox 360 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 May 2009 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 5/13/2009 1:41 AM (179d 8h 15m ago) |
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