Clever or just plain sneaky?
That's the question that came to mind immediatedly after hearing Sony's announcement regarding the European release of the PS3.
Now I knew it was going to cost a few quid and yes, I had prepared myself that it would amount to around £425, but still.
In the official statement, Sony said: "Responding to retail and consumer demand, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe confirmed that initially only the 60GB model would be available, with the 20GB model to follow later in the year dependent on demand."
Do people REALLY need 60GB if they intend on saving a few games on it?
I realise that it is much better to have more and not need it than to not have it at all, but isn't it a bit sneaky?
Personally, (and I can hear my feelings echoed in households around the country) I'd rather pay a few quid less and just be able to buy it now.
Sony obviously knows the level of demand and so expects people to pay the full whack instead of waiting a few months. See? That's the clever bit.
Anyways, for those of us who probably will spend the money and get it sooner rather than later, this is for you... The Sony PS3 will be launched in the UK on March 23 at a price of £425.
An expected 1million PS3 units will be made available during the initial launch period across Europe.
A line-up of more than 30 game titles for PS3 will also be launched alongside it, including eagerly awaited titles published by SCEE such as Resistance: Fall of Man, MotorStorm, Genji: Days of the Blade, Formula One Championship Edition and Ridge Racer 7.
A range of titles in every genre will also be available at launch from the world's leading third party publishers, including Electronic Arts, Activision, Namco Bandai, Sega, Take 2, Ubisoft, Vivendi Universal, and Sony Online Entertainment.
In addition to games on disc, a range of fully-featured downloadable games will debut on the PlayStation Network.
These will include gaming icons such as Tekken: Dark Resurrection and Gran Turismo HD Concept.
Concurrent with the European launch, a new System Update to further enhance the entertainment potential of PS3 will be issued.
Announcing the launch details, Ray Maguire, managing director of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe UK said: "Following the hugely successful launches of PS3 in Japan and North America, we are absolutely delighted to be able to bring significant numbers of PS3 to the UK.
"To be able to launch with over 30 titles including retail versions and great downloadable gaming experiences across every genre shows that this is our strongest launch line-up in the history of PlayStation, and is what PlayStation fans in the UK have been crying out for."
Tuesday 30 January 2007
Friday 26 January 2007
January 26
Ever felt like you're working in the wrong industry?
Having looked at the latest sales figures for computer software and games, I think I might just have ticked the wrong box in my school careers talk.
According to the (much too long-winded) Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (yawn), the UK interactive entertainment software market hit a new all time high in 2006.
The year marked a new record in growth in sales, enjoying a seven per cent increase on units sold from the previous year. (Okay, yawn again... that's the boring bit over with).
The total number of units sold in the UK was a whopping joysticktastic 65.1 million units.
No wonder the association rather happily announced that these record sales across all formats totalled £1.36 BILLION.
Now that is a lot of scoobies.
Despite the rise in popularity of handheld formats on the market (notably the Sony PSP and the Nintendo DS - and the next generation consoles titles) PC software has also continued to sell increasing amounts.
This year was the best year ever for the sale of PC titles.
The most popular console software was the PS2, followed by the Xbox 360, the Xbox, Wii and GameCube (sorry, who?) followed.
These were the most popular game titles of 2006:
1. FIFA 07.
2. Pro Evolution Soccer 6.
3. Need For Speed: Carbon.
4. Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories.
5. Lego Star Wars 2: The Original Trilogy.
6. The Sims 2: Pets.
7. Cars.
8. Tomb Raider Legend.
9. The Sims 2.
10. WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2007.
Having looked at the latest sales figures for computer software and games, I think I might just have ticked the wrong box in my school careers talk.
According to the (much too long-winded) Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (yawn), the UK interactive entertainment software market hit a new all time high in 2006.
The year marked a new record in growth in sales, enjoying a seven per cent increase on units sold from the previous year. (Okay, yawn again... that's the boring bit over with).
The total number of units sold in the UK was a whopping joysticktastic 65.1 million units.
No wonder the association rather happily announced that these record sales across all formats totalled £1.36 BILLION.
Now that is a lot of scoobies.
Despite the rise in popularity of handheld formats on the market (notably the Sony PSP and the Nintendo DS - and the next generation consoles titles) PC software has also continued to sell increasing amounts.
This year was the best year ever for the sale of PC titles.
The most popular console software was the PS2, followed by the Xbox 360, the Xbox, Wii and GameCube (sorry, who?) followed.
These were the most popular game titles of 2006:
1. FIFA 07.
2. Pro Evolution Soccer 6.
3. Need For Speed: Carbon.
4. Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories.
5. Lego Star Wars 2: The Original Trilogy.
6. The Sims 2: Pets.
7. Cars.
8. Tomb Raider Legend.
9. The Sims 2.
10. WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2007.
Thursday 11 January 2007
January 11
First there was the iPod, now there's the iPhone.
It was always going to happen wasn't it?
Where there's a will there's a way, and where there's a dollar or two to be made that will WILL be greater.
This week saw the launch of the slick new device which is sure to propel Apple to new heights of the fortune tree.
According to Apple bosses the iPhone will "reinvent" telecommunications. And reading the device's spec details it isn't difficult to appreciate why.
It will go on sale in the US in June, priced from $499 (just under £250), and should hit Europe late this year.
Just 11.6 millimetres thick, the handset has no conventional buttons but instead uses a large touch-screen.
As well as functioning as a music and video iPod it offers new services such as "visual voicemail", which shows users a list of their messages so they can go straight to the ones they want to listen to most.
A full touch keyboard is available for text messaging and there is a built in a two megapixel camera.
The phone, which runs the Mac OS X operating system, will display album artwork on its 3.5ins screen when it is being used for music.
Special sensors automatically deactivate the screen and turn off the touch pad when the device is raised to the ear.
Excuse me... but wow. I'm impressed.
Ever keen to feed the cash cow, Apple have come up with a convenient way to make sure the money flows in.
A 4GB model with a two year contract will cost $499 in the US, or punters can splash out $599 (just under £300) for an 8GB model.
Mobile service provider Cingular will be Apple's exclusive partner for the iPhone there.
Just to make its launch that little bit more of a special occasion, Apple bosses also showed us even more of a glimpse into the future.
During the event one of the hosts unveiled a wireless set-top box that will allow users to watch films they have downloaded from the internet on their TV.
He also announced that digital movies from Paramount, as well as Disney, will now be available on iTunes.
Apple anticipates bringing the iPhone to Europe in the fourth calendar quarter of the year, and to Asia in 2008.
The firm will begin taking orders for the $299 (£150) wireless Apple TV box this week and the devices will be available next month.
They will come with a 40-gigabyte hard drive that stores up to 50 hours of video.
If any proof is needed of whether iTunes downloading has truly taken off in recent times consider this: Apple has sold more than two billion songs on iTunes, equivalent to 58 songs per second, or five million a day since 2001.
Crikey...
Here's the latest releases reviewed:
Title: Wario Ware: Smooth Moves
Platform: Nintendo Wii
RRP: £39.99
Hit count: 4/5
Get ready for the ultimate party game extravaganza!
Wario Ware: Smooth Moves will have you and your friends competing in a series of wild and wonderful challenges as you use the Wii Remote in ways you would not have imagined possible.
Sequel to the hugely popular Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS games, Wario Ware: Smooth Moves is the latest in the Wario Ware franchise but this time it can make full use of the Wii Remote.
Featuring over 200 fast paced and action-packed microgames, players are challenged to hone their reactions and use the Wii Remote in an array of wonderful and wacky ways.
Each game only lasts a few seconds and requires the player to perform bizarre actions with the Wii Remote, such as sauteing vegetables, hula hooping (by holding the Wii Remote against your hip) and even slotting Grandma's teeth into her mouth.
Great fun for all.
Title: Ys Strategy
Platform: Nintendo DS
RRP: £29.99
Hit count: 4/5
This game is destined to become the real-time strategy benchmark title on Nintendo DS. Ys Strategy contains charismatic and absorbing heroes and heroines in a beautiful fantasy world.
Fight for supremacy by managing resources, building units and choosing the right strategy for real-time battles.
Title: Flushed Away
Platform PS2
RRP: £29.99
Hit count: 3/5
The creators of Shrek and Madagascar have teamed up with the makers of Wallace and Grommit to bring to life the movie, Flushed Away.
Now's your chance to get in on the action...
The game lets players relive the movie and beyond as they assume the roles of Roddy, Rita and take the wheel of the Jammy Dodger watercraft.
Manoeuvre through a dangerous underground city filled with enemies, waterfalls and traps in a struggle against the villainous Toad and his evil plans.
With lots of levels, characters and baddies, it's sure to keep the kids entertained for a while.
Sadly, not for long enough.
It was always going to happen wasn't it?
Where there's a will there's a way, and where there's a dollar or two to be made that will WILL be greater.
This week saw the launch of the slick new device which is sure to propel Apple to new heights of the fortune tree.
According to Apple bosses the iPhone will "reinvent" telecommunications. And reading the device's spec details it isn't difficult to appreciate why.
It will go on sale in the US in June, priced from $499 (just under £250), and should hit Europe late this year.
Just 11.6 millimetres thick, the handset has no conventional buttons but instead uses a large touch-screen.
As well as functioning as a music and video iPod it offers new services such as "visual voicemail", which shows users a list of their messages so they can go straight to the ones they want to listen to most.
A full touch keyboard is available for text messaging and there is a built in a two megapixel camera.
The phone, which runs the Mac OS X operating system, will display album artwork on its 3.5ins screen when it is being used for music.
Special sensors automatically deactivate the screen and turn off the touch pad when the device is raised to the ear.
Excuse me... but wow. I'm impressed.
Ever keen to feed the cash cow, Apple have come up with a convenient way to make sure the money flows in.
A 4GB model with a two year contract will cost $499 in the US, or punters can splash out $599 (just under £300) for an 8GB model.
Mobile service provider Cingular will be Apple's exclusive partner for the iPhone there.
Just to make its launch that little bit more of a special occasion, Apple bosses also showed us even more of a glimpse into the future.
During the event one of the hosts unveiled a wireless set-top box that will allow users to watch films they have downloaded from the internet on their TV.
He also announced that digital movies from Paramount, as well as Disney, will now be available on iTunes.
Apple anticipates bringing the iPhone to Europe in the fourth calendar quarter of the year, and to Asia in 2008.
The firm will begin taking orders for the $299 (£150) wireless Apple TV box this week and the devices will be available next month.
They will come with a 40-gigabyte hard drive that stores up to 50 hours of video.
If any proof is needed of whether iTunes downloading has truly taken off in recent times consider this: Apple has sold more than two billion songs on iTunes, equivalent to 58 songs per second, or five million a day since 2001.
Crikey...
Here's the latest releases reviewed:
Title: Wario Ware: Smooth Moves
Platform: Nintendo Wii
RRP: £39.99
Hit count: 4/5
Get ready for the ultimate party game extravaganza!
Wario Ware: Smooth Moves will have you and your friends competing in a series of wild and wonderful challenges as you use the Wii Remote in ways you would not have imagined possible.
Sequel to the hugely popular Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS games, Wario Ware: Smooth Moves is the latest in the Wario Ware franchise but this time it can make full use of the Wii Remote.
Featuring over 200 fast paced and action-packed microgames, players are challenged to hone their reactions and use the Wii Remote in an array of wonderful and wacky ways.
Each game only lasts a few seconds and requires the player to perform bizarre actions with the Wii Remote, such as sauteing vegetables, hula hooping (by holding the Wii Remote against your hip) and even slotting Grandma's teeth into her mouth.
Great fun for all.
Title: Ys Strategy
Platform: Nintendo DS
RRP: £29.99
Hit count: 4/5
This game is destined to become the real-time strategy benchmark title on Nintendo DS. Ys Strategy contains charismatic and absorbing heroes and heroines in a beautiful fantasy world.
Fight for supremacy by managing resources, building units and choosing the right strategy for real-time battles.
Title: Flushed Away
Platform PS2
RRP: £29.99
Hit count: 3/5
The creators of Shrek and Madagascar have teamed up with the makers of Wallace and Grommit to bring to life the movie, Flushed Away.
Now's your chance to get in on the action...
The game lets players relive the movie and beyond as they assume the roles of Roddy, Rita and take the wheel of the Jammy Dodger watercraft.
Manoeuvre through a dangerous underground city filled with enemies, waterfalls and traps in a struggle against the villainous Toad and his evil plans.
With lots of levels, characters and baddies, it's sure to keep the kids entertained for a while.
Sadly, not for long enough.
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