sony
December 16th, 2009 at 01:45pm
Under PSP
After a strong 2009, Sony plans to focus its efforts in the coming year on some new initiatives — notably the still unnamed and, with a “Spring 2010 release,” curiously under-promoted PlayStation Motion Controller, 3D games, and the PlayStation Network. In a recent GamePro interview, Sony marketing head John Koller said the company will be focusing on these “three big pillars” going forward, and detailed its plans to expand on each. “I think the areas that are going to be really critical to our success will be family games, as well as shooters and sports games … they’re areas that quite honestly, I think Project Natal and the Wii are going to have trouble matching,” he said of the company’s motion controller plans.
Without getting too specific, the PlayStation Network will apparently be seeing the addition of “a number of very critically demanded features” in the coming year, while the company strives to reach day-and-date release parity between UMD-based PSP games and their digital counterparts from third-party devs on PSN. He even teased the concept of “placing you as a consumer into the game physically” — an idea he called “the Holy Grail of gaming.” We get the feeling 2010 is going to be kind of a weird year, folks.
Sony’s Koller calls ‘motion control, 3D gaming, PSN’ focal points of 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Continue Reading Sony’s Koller calls ‘motion control, 3D gaming, PSN’ focal points of 2010
Tags: 2010, 3d, 3d-games, business, john-koller, marketing, playstation-motion-controller, playstation-network, psn, psp-go, sony
By Mister-X
Continue Reading Sony’s Koller calls ‘motion control, 3D gaming, PSN’ focal points of 2010
December 10th, 2009 at 09:35pm
Under Xbox 360
The US games industry’s performance numbers are out for November and,
as expected, software sales were
lead dominated by Activision / Infinity Ward’s
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 on Xbox 360 and PS3. The game sold 4.2 million copies during the month on Microsoft’s console, while the version for Sony’s machine sold 1.9 million. Coming in an extremely strong second was
New Super Mario Bros. Wii at 1.4 million copies, proving that 1) people still love the plumber and 2) if a Wii game is published by Nintendo, it sells like crazy (well, unless it also has “
Wii Music” in its title).
Nintendo lead in hardware sales, with the number of DS units sold skyrocketing by 262% to 1.7 million units — that’s better than the same month last year. Wii sold over two million last November; this year it hit 1.26 million for the month, indicative of the year-long decline in sales the console’s been experiencing. Its competitors, Xbox 360 and PS3, sold 820 thousand and 710 thousand units, respectively.
-DS: 1.7M
1.2M (+262%)
-Wii: 1.26M753K (+149%)
-360: 820K570K (+228%)
-PS3: 710K389K (+121%)
-PSP: 294K119K (+76%)
-PS2: 203K85K (72%)
Check out the software sales chart after the break.
Continue reading November NPD: Modern Warfare 2 sells 6 million, DS dominates hardware
November NPD: Modern Warfare 2 sells 6 million, DS dominates hardware originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Continue Reading November NPD: Modern Warfare 2 sells 6 million, DS dominates hardware
Tags: hardware, microsoft, nintendo, npd, npd-monthly, sales, software, sony
By Mister-X
Continue Reading November NPD: Modern Warfare 2 sells 6 million, DS dominates hardware
December 10th, 2009 at 06:35pm
Under PSP
OK, everyone, let’s gather in a circle and repeat: Oh, lords of downloadable games, please guide PixelJunk Shooter to sales. For now is the time of retail and PJS has been released into the wastes. May it find an audience in this unforgiving time.
Meanwhile, PSP Go (and normal PSP) owners have some downloadable games and even a couple PSP minis to choose from. Check out the full PSN update after the break.
Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list:
(Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
Continue reading PSN Thursday: PixelJunk Shooter drops into dangerous territory
PSN Thursday: PixelJunk Shooter drops into dangerous territory originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Continue Reading PSN Thursday: PixelJunk Shooter drops into dangerous territory
Tags: bomberman-party-edition, frogger-returns, pixeljunk-shooter, psn, psn-store, psn-thursday, revenge-of-the-wounded-dragons, sony
By Mister-X
Continue Reading PSN Thursday: PixelJunk Shooter drops into dangerous territory
December 8th, 2009 at 09:46am
Under PS3
Another flurry of Twitter tweets has revealed that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’s next patch, 1.06, is currently in certification at Microsoft and will arrive in due course. From a post by Infinity Ward’s Robert Bowling:
“For those playing [MW2] on Xbox 360. The same fixes that are in 1.06 are coming to you, it’s currently in Microsoft cert. Out of my hands.”
Bowling also reminds players that, while Microsoft will be suspending those of you who choose to take advantage of current glitches in the game from Xbox LIVE, Sony chose not to punish players in this way. According to Bowling:
“No. PSN chose to not take any action against glitchers.”
Bowling also goes on to detail what the current PS3 patch, 1.06, actually does:
“PS3 update 1.06 is the javelin fix, care package glitch fix, and addresses areas where players could get into geo. Like rocks on Afghan.”
So Xbox 360 owners will just have to sit tight for now, unfortunately.
Continue Reading Modern Warfare 2 patch 1.06 in MS certification, fixes Javelin and care package glitches
Tags: callofdutymodernwarfare2, infinityward, microsoft, News, patch, sony, xbox360
By Mister-X
Continue Reading Modern Warfare 2 patch 1.06 in MS certification, fixes Javelin and care package glitches
December 4th, 2009 at 12:58pm
Under PSP
While speaking at the Develop Jury Service (a pow-wow for industry figures to discuss current gaming trends and topics), Traveler’s Tales founder Jon Burton questioned the prolonged survival of the PSP Go platform, since UMD games can often be purchased new or pre-owned at a lower price than the digital versions compatible with PSP Go. “I own a PSP Go but don’t want to buy LittleBigPlanet, for instance, as I can get it 20-percent cheaper on UMD from Amazon and could resell it once I’m finished with it,” Burton explained. “But if I download it, I get no discount, and no chance to resell — how annoying is that?”
According to Burton, PSP Go’s all-digital system is more than just a minor inconvenience. He later added, “I’m betting on Sony making PSP Go games much cheaper than the UMD versions, or the PSP Go will die.” Oh no! The PSP Go is far too tiny and adorable to die so young. Listen to the man, Sony!
Traveler’s Tales founder: PSP Go will die if downloads don’t get cheaper originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Continue Reading Traveler’s Tales founder: PSP Go will die if downloads don’t get cheaper
Tags: jon-burton, jury, psp-go, sony, travelers-tales, umd
By Mister-X
Continue Reading Traveler’s Tales founder: PSP Go will die if downloads don’t get cheaper
December 4th, 2009 at 03:07am
Under Uncategorized
15 years ago yesterday, Sony’s original little videogame console that could, the PlayStation, was launched in Japan, delivering what most would consider the biggest shake-up the console industry (and the games industry in general) had received in quite some time.
In an era of Nintendo and SEGA dominance in the hardware market, Sony’s PlayStation ended up throttling its competitors, the Nintendo 64 and SEGA Saturn, in most ways that matter, such as developer support, quality high-profile games, and console sales, becoming the new dominator and paving the way for the PlayStation 2’s unmitigated success years later.
The tally of original PlayStation units sold stands at an incredible 125 million, selling well past the date it was discontinued (March 23rd 2006), after the console’s re-release in the form of the PSOne in 2000 refreshed market performance.
One could even postulate that, had it not been for the PlayStation, classic titles such as Final Fantasy VII, Metal Gear Solid and Resident Evil may not have even existed, or at the very least, taken much longer to appear or perhaps even have been released in wildly different forms.
Thanks PlayStation, and happy birthday!
Continue Reading PlayStation turns 15!
Tags: birthday, News, playstation, sony
By Mister-X
Continue Reading PlayStation turns 15!
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:30am
Under PSP
A CVG source (singular) claims that Logitech is developing a UMD drive add-on for the PSP Go. The source has neither price nor release information, merely stating that the “only problem is that it’ll make the PSP a little bulky.” Logitech’s UK office told the outlet that it’s unaware of such a device and that it “may be something the US office is working on.” We’ve contacted both Sony and Logitech for more concrete information.
Beyond the fact that such an add-on would undermine what the Go represents (not quite the “only” problem, is it?), the likely price of such a device, in addition to the base cost of the PSP Go, would not compare well to the already lower cost of a regular PSP with UMD drive. Now, if the add-on could “install” your old games, that would be something …
Update: Logitech tells Joystiq: “This is not something that our company is working on.”
Logitech denies it’s developing PSP Go UMD add-on [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Continue Reading Logitech denies it’s developing PSP Go UMD add-on [update]
Tags: add-on, logitech, psp-go, rumor, sony, umd
By Mister-X
Continue Reading Logitech denies it’s developing PSP Go UMD add-on [update]
December 1st, 2009 at 11:07am
Under DS+ PS3+ Wii / Nintendo
Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft have all released figures and indications of their various consoles’ sales successes over the Thanksgiving sales period in the US, and by the looks of things, they all have some big sales numbers to shout about.
Nintendo arguably has the most to boast, with 550 000 Wii consoles and an incredibly astounding 1 million DS/DSi consoles sold over the week of Thanksgiving in the US (which encompasses November 22nd through November 28th), adding up to over 1.5 million Nintendo consoles sold in this period alone!
To put these numbers into further perspective, Nintendo points out that this means 150 of their consoles were sold every minute of the week, or more than 2.5 consoles were sold every second.
As a result of these numbers, Nintendo sales and marketing VP Cammie Dunaway earned the right to release this modest statement:
“Holiday shoppers are finding value in our products’ prices, and through a gameplay experience that is unique to Nintendo.”
Quite.
Sony’s sales numbers for the week of Thanksgiving were relatively impressive, too, as 440 000 PS3 consoles were sold during this period. Sony’s Sr. Corporate Communications director Patrick Seybold stated:
“The 2009 holiday season got off to an amazing start for PlayStation, with all key retailers showing a significant increase for PS3, PSP and key holiday titles over Black Friday and the holiday weekend.
“In today’s economy, consumers are drawn to items that offer the most value for their money, making the PS3 an ideal choice for those who want a comprehensive gaming and entertainment system all in one package.”
Nice.
Last, but not least, Microsoft only gave a rough indication of the sales performance of its Xbox 360 console, as Director of Product Management for Xbox 360 and Xbox Live Aaron Greenberg tweeted on his Twitter account:
“Great [BlackFriday] results just in, biggest sales week of the year for [Xbox360], more than 2xs previous week sales.”
According to data from VGChartz, last year the Xbox 360 sold roughly 390 000 units over the Thanksgiving week, which leads us to believe that this year the console could have sold as much as 800 000 units, but this isn’t yet confirmed.
What does this mean for the upcoming Christmas sales period in the US? Will we see increased sales numbers, numbers on par with Thanksgiving, or a reduction?
My bet is the Christmas period is going to be a whopper of a show, and may in all likelihood dwarf the relative sales figures we’re seeing displayed after the craziness that is the Thanksgiving shopping gauntlet. What say you?
Source: Gamasutra, Gamasutra again, Twitter and VGChartz
Continue Reading Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft win big over Thanksgiving sales period
Tags: dsi, microsoft, News, nintendo, sales, salesdata, sony, thanksgiving, us, xbox360
By Mister-X
Continue Reading Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft win big over Thanksgiving sales period
November 25th, 2009 at 06:00am
Under Xbox 360
Keeping in line with recent contributions to President Obama’s STEM education initative, both Microsoft and Sony have signed on for development software support to UK school Kingston University. A recent press release from the school boasts a “state-of-the-art laboratory aimed at providing the next generation of game developers with the skills needed to take computer gaming into the future,” even employing “Xbox and handheld PSP game consoles” at each workstation.
According to Darrel Greenhill, games technology program head at KU, students are “working to industry standards even before they’ve left the classroom” with the donated software. Currently the university offers games programming and games technology degrees for undergrads, but will also begin offering post-graduate game development degrees in 2010. Unfortunately, no official date has been set for when computer gaming will reach “the future.”
[Via Develop]
Sony & Microsoft offer software for UK university education program originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Continue Reading Sony & Microsoft offer software for UK university education program
Tags: donation, education, game-developers, game-development, kingston-university, microsoft, sony, uk
By Mister-X
Continue Reading Sony & Microsoft offer software for UK university education program
November 23rd, 2009 at 07:20pm
Under PSP
This past week has been one long LittleBigDisappointment for early PSP Go adopters due to unforeseen technical snafus which prevented SCE Studio Cambridge’s adorable platformer from jumping onto the PSN. Fortunately, the latest “Sack it to Me” news update brings word that the game will finally be available to download tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 24.
Perhaps even more newsworthy than that is the fact that the studio has already launched a patch for the title which “will improve the performance of some of the physics and tools in the Create mode.” To download the game-specific update — a fairly new feature on the handheld — make sure you’re connected to the internet, select the game’s icon on the XMB, press Triangle, and select “Update.” Now, sit back, and prepare to witness unthinkable technowizardry in the palm of your hand. Or hands, should you still be using the original double-wide PSP.
LittleBigPlanet PSP coming out on PSN tomorrow, patch available now originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Continue Reading LittleBigPlanet PSP coming out on PSN tomorrow, patch available now
Tags: littlebigplanet, patch, psn, psp-go, sce-studio-cambridge, sony
By Mister-X
Continue Reading LittleBigPlanet PSP coming out on PSN tomorrow, patch available now
