Global sales of PlayStation 3 aren't far off those of Xbox 360. And Sony is gaining on Microsoft.

The latest numbers (based on sales up to 30th September 2010) show the rival consoles only five million units apart: 39.2 million PlayStation 3s to 44.6 million Xbox 360s.

But globally PlayStation is selling faster: Sony recorded 3.5 million PS3 sales from the start of July to the end of September whereas Microsoft reported 2.8 million Xbox 360 sales.

PS3 launched a year after the Xbox 360 in the US, and even later in Europe. And while Microsoft may enjoy a current lead in the US hardware charts, on the other side of the world the PS3 reigns supreme - the Japanese barely register the Xbox 360.

The battle of this autumn's motion sensors Move (PS3) and Kinect (Xbox 360) may prove decisive. Sony's just-released money report said both PS3 hardware and software "benefited" from the mid-September (US, Europe) arrival of PlayStation Move. The numbers back this up: between January and March 2.2 million PlayStation 3 console were sold; between April and June 2.4 million were sold; and between July and September 3.5 million were sold.

Sony has billed PlayStation Move as a slow-burner whereas Microsoft is going for a big-splash entry with Kinect next month. If what Sony said about Move demand outstripping manufacturing in the US is true, we may have a proper Tortoise and the Hare-style battle ahead.

Sony noted an $85 million profit (operating income) today for the Networked Product and Services division that houses PlayStation. During the same July-September period last year, that number was a frown: a loss of $731 million. Sony picked out the "strong performance" of PS3 and its "significant hardware cost reductions and higher sales" as a major reason why things improved.

Sony's other machines - the PS2 and PSP - were bought 1.5 million times apiece during those three months. But it's Sony's old PS2 that has the yearly edge, having shifted 4.8 million consoles since January compared to PSP's 4.1 million.

Around the world, 35.3 million PlayStation 3 games were bought between July and the end of September. PSP game sales dipped to 11 million and PS2 game sales halved to 5.6 million.

Sony reckons that by March 2011, PS3 will have sold 15 million consoles, PSP 8 million and PS2 6 million. Sony's financial year starts in April; with half of it gone the PlayStation 3 count stands at 5.9 million - only 9.1 million to go!

Can Sony do it? Well, between October and the end of December 2009, Sony sold 6.5 million PS3s. A similar performance this Christmas would leave only 2.6 million to sell early next year.

Sony's total company take for the three months ending 30th September was $20.9 billion. That breaks down into Consumer, Professional & Devices ($10.7 billion), Networked Products and Services ($4.4 billion), Financial Services ($2.7 billion), Sony Pictures ($1.7 billion) and Sony Music ($1.3 billion). Doesn't quite add up, but I've rounded a couple of numbers because this isn't a maths exam.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...-at-360s-heels ...

The global total of Xbox 360 consoles sold now stands at 44.6 million, Microsoft has announced. And the game-per-console attach rate has risen to 8.9.

Those figures arrive after an "exceptional" three month performance by the house that Bill Gates built - particularly the Entertainment and Devices Division.

From the start of July to the end of September, Microsoft sold 2.8 million Xbox 360s worldwide - 38 per cent more than during the same period last year.

Halo: Reach was singled out as the reason why. Bungie's swansong generated $350 million for Microsoft in just over two weeks (from launch - 14th September - up until the end of the month). Halo: Reach sales weren't mentioned.

The Xbox 360 platform raked in $409 million for Microsoft, accounting for nearly a quarter of the Entertainment and Devices Division's total $1.8 billion take (EDD also includes Zune and Windows Phone 7).

Expenses rose, too - most poignantly those for research and development, which was up $65 million over the three months. Dun dun dun, what could Microsoft be up to?

Also noted was "continued strong Xbox Live membership", although what this means in monetary terms wasn't specified.

As a whole, Bill Gates' empire made $16.2 billion from the start of July to the end of September. Very good, although not quite as good as Apple, which trumpeted a record $20 billion haul earlier this month.

The other contributors to Microsoft's total were Microsoft Business Division ($5.1 billion), Windows & Windows Live Division ($4.8 billion), Server and Tools ($4.0 billion) and Online Services Division ($0.5 billion).

Microsoft's next money report comes at the end of January. Numbers should be astronomic, if the imminent Kinect can live up to the hype Microsoft has built around it. There will also be the global launch of Windows Phone 7 - out now in Europe/Asia, out in US/Canada from 8th November - to consider.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...obal-360-count ...

Microsoft's chief of staff for its Interactive Entertainment Business Aaron Greenberg has hinted the company is prepared for a mixed media response to its initial Kinect titles.

"I don't know how reviewers will grade those games because they're so unique and so different to what the reviewers have played with controllers," he admitted to sister site Eurogamer.

"We'd love to see great reviews but I don't think you'll see the same type of correlation between reviews and actual sales of the game."

When asked if he was worried about a possible negative response, he claimed that "I'm not nervous. I know what the media thinks; we know they love Dance Central, we've heard they think it's the killer app. They're excited about Child of Eden. We've even had a lot of good feedback for Kinectimals from the core."

Greenberg also reasserted recent Microsoft claims that "this will be the largest launch we've ever had as a business," even feeling that "We'll definitely sell more sensors than the Wii sold when it launched or the Xbox 360 sold when it launched."

There was no budging from earlier sales projections either. "We feel safe we'll do three million this holiday, which puts us in pretty high territory for even a consumer electronics product."

The chief of staff also batted away questions about the need for a new Xbox, claiming Kinect would rejuvenate the 360. "I think we're five years in and we safely feel like there's at least another five years left in this generation."

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...es-correlation ...

Sega Sammy's games division has recorded an operating loss for the first half of the financial year of ¥1.3 billion ($16.1m / £10.1m) - an improvement on the ¥38.8 billion ($482.2m / £303.2m) loss for the same period last year.

Sales of home videogame software were up year-on-year from ¥15.7 billion ($194.6 / £122.3m) to ¥18.7 billion ($231.8m / £145.7m).

However, strong performances by the Pachinko, Amusement and Arcade departments helped the entire Sega Sammy corporation record a profit of ¥24.3 billion ($301.9m / £189.9m), compared to a loss of ¥6.3 billion ($78.4m / £49.3m).

Sales for the six months were up 41.1 per cent to ¥217.8 billion ($2.7bn / £1.6bn).

Sega described the home videogame business as slow outside of Japan, revealing it sold a total of 6.6 million games worldwide in the first half.

"In the home video game software industry, the demand was generally weak in the US and European markets due to the headwind like sluggish personal consumption," said Sega Sammy.

"The Group needs to adapt to changing business environment in which the market demand for new content geared to social networking service (SNS), smartphone is expanding."

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...deogame-losses ...

The PlayStation 3 already has its fair share of impressive exclusive titles.

Blockbuster games such as Uncharted 2, Metal Gear Solid 4 and Killzone 3 have set the bar pretty high for upcoming titles.

Fortunately the lineup is looking very strong indeed. Over the next few days we'll be counting down 42 of the most anticipated upcoming PS3 exclusives.

42. Final Fantasy Versus XIII: Need more emo boys hitting each other with big swords and making moody comments in your life? You'll love this.


41. The Sly Collection: Sucker Punch's three PS2 Sly Cooper platformers on one Blu-ray, uprated to HD (and Honor Among Thieves gets full 3D). Bargain.

40. Yazuka: The End: Who plays ping-pong during a zombie apocalypse? Yakuza, that's who. Robot arms, ball-gags, karaoke, braineating...it's all here.

39. Horizon: Due 'sooner than you think,' expect sci-fi in the Heavy Rain engine about a once-captive man and a repressed woman. Will be incredible.

38. Dynasty Warriors 7: Its 'dynasty' stretches back a decade, which is a lot of hacking and slashing by anyone's count.

37. Prince of Persia Collection: Sands Of Time, Warrior Within and Two Thrones - all together, in HD, and exclusive to PS3. All three games are still great.

36. Starhawk: Lightbox Interactive's new direction for its popular tactical multi-player battler Warhawk takes it right into space. And that's all we know.

35. Disgaea 4: This Insanely deep tactical RPG series is finally embracing HD and ditching old-school stylings for something more hi-res. Mad and beautiful.

34. Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath: In this HD remake you play as a bounty hunter who uses live animals as ammo for his weapons. Imaginative, funny.

33. Ape Escape Fury Fury: First-person, on rails, Move-controlled monkey catching action. Looks bonkers, but should be a solid party game.

32. No More Heroes: Heroes' Paradise: Suda 51's stylish brawler is coming to PS3 and adds PlayStation Move support for Travis Touchdown's lightsaber.


31. Dead Nation: This top-down PSN zombie apocalypse shooter offers co-op play for four undead hunters. It's out soon, so keep an eye on the Store.

30. Virtua Tennis 4: Roger Federer and his licensed tennis chums smashing each other round the court. Move compatible and supports 3D for rich folk.

29. Time Crisis: Razing Storm: Light-gun (now Move) shooter returns as terrorists and mercs join forces to attack the USA from behind a series of boxes.

28. Sorcery: This Move compatible wizarding game impressed at E3, but has since gone quiet. Live out Gandalf fantasies next year. "You shall not pass" etc.

27. The Fight: Lights Out: Probe the gritty, underground world of bare-knuckle boxing with your Move controller and Eye camera. They won't laugh.

26. Echochrome 2: Boldly colourful, pleasingly surreal PlayStation Eye / Move controlled puzzler that you control merely with light and shadow.

25. Singstar: Hoping to ape the success of Just Dance on Wii, Sony are bringing Move-friendly Singstar Dance to PS3. Expect energetic pop.

24. Explodemon: This platformer is part Bomberman, part Mega Man. Our hero, who looks a bit like a tiny Iron Man, can explode to jump obstacles and kill foes.

23. Agent: It's the 1970s and you're travelling the world slotting people in a shadowy world of espionage. Rockstar's latest is quiet, but it's still coming.

22. Socom 4: This Move-controlled squad shooter offers a more serious brand of war for those with a wand, but not fancying Killzone 3. If 'they' exist.

21. Heroes on the Move: In a nutshell: Move-controlled, co-op platforming action featuring Jak & Daxter, Ratchet & Clank and Sly Cooper. Ace.

20. Yakuza 4: Yakuza 4 was built in less than a year from Y3's engine. A new structure with four lead characters promises much, but story will still be king.

19. Twisted Metal: Post-apocalyptic 16-player car combat from what's apparently PlayStation's longest running franchise. By David 'God Of War' Jaffe.


18. DC Universe: Action-based MMO with the heroes and villains of, yes, DC comics. Don't fancy Batman, Superman or Wonder Woman? Make your own hero.

17. Final Fantasy XIV: With a flexible job system, this MMORPG lets you customise your characters without a traditional experience points set-up.

16. The Agency: Online class-based RPG that ditches witches for spies. Think gadgetry, glamour - airships, oil rigs, mansions and islands.

Check back tomorrow to see part two of the countdown where we'll be taking a much deeper look at a few more of the hottest upcoming PS3 exclusives.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...VG-General-RSS ...

EA and BioWare’s Mass Effect 2 is the big winner of this year’s 28th Annual Golden Joystick Awards, claiming two prizes including the coveted Ultimate Game of the Year gong – at the expense of pre-event favourite Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
Other winners include Assassin’s Creed II (action/adventure), Guitar Hero 5 (music), Forza 3 (racing), Street Fighter IV (fighting) and FIFA 10 (EA).
However, as is very much fitting with the modern face of digital gaming it was the casual sector that made a big breakthrough this year.
PopCap’s Plants vs Zombies was the only title apart from Mass Effect 2 to claim two awards – Download Game of the Year and Strategy Game of the Year. Indie favourite World of Goo claimed the Puzzle prize while Jagex beat off some high-profile competition to claim the best developer award.
Here are the winners in full:
* Action/Adventure Game of the Year
Assassin’s Creed II

* Download Game of the Year
Plants Vs Zombies
* Fighting Game of the Year
Super Street Fighter IV
* Music Game of the Year
Guitar Hero 5
* Online Game of the Year
League Of Legends
* Portable Game of the Year
Pokémon Heart Gold/Soul Silver
* Puzzle Game of the Year
World Of Goo
* RPG of the Year
Mass Effect 2
* FPS of the Year
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
* Racing Game of the Year
Forza 3
* Shooter of the Year
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
* Soundtrack of the Year
Final Fantasy XIII
* Sports Game of the Year
FIFA10
* Strategy Game of the Year

Plants Vs Zombies

* UK Developer of the Year
Jagex
* One to Watch
COD: Black Ops
* Ultimate Game of the Year
Mass Effect 2

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/41566/Gold...inners-crowned ...

Inks deal with local firm for wireless gaming device.
US connected console startup Zeebo has announced a deal with China Digital TV, which could see its technology sold in China.
Zeebo started life as a Qualcomm spin-off, making a console that would download games over 3G, and be sold in emerging markets.

So far, it has launched in Brazil and Mexico, but CEO John Rizzo tells VentureBeat that it has been working on a China deal for nearly a year.
"China is one of our largest opportunities and also the most complex because of regulations," says Rizzo.
Zeebo is apparently working with local Chinese developers to create games for the device, including Nebula Soft.
Zeebo isn't a mobile device, but it is relevant to Mobile Entertainment readers. Its 3G downloads and hardware features make it appealing for mobile games developers looking for new revenue streams in emerging markets - places where consoles like Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 (and their digital stores) have low penetration.
When Zeebo launched in Brazil, a number of mobile games publishers were on board.

http://www.casualgaming.biz/news/307...hina-hopefully ...

Way of the Samurai 3's North American release was handled in an unorthodox manner, with Agetec publishing on PS3 and UFO Interactive publishing on Xbox 360. That may not be an issue with the newly-announced fourth entry in Acquire's free-roaming samurai action series, because it's been revealed as a PS3 exclusive. Of course, the Xbox 360 port followed the PS3 version in Japan by four months, so Xbox players may still see the way.

According to Siliconera, the exclusivity was announced in a Famitsu article, which also offered some details about gameplay. You'll be able to choose your samurai's age, and then, through actions, choose to align them with one of three feuding groups. You'll also have more available actions within event scenes. Of course, during the gameplay scenes you'll always have the "slash" action.

http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/wa...lusive-to-ps3/ ...

A bumper crop of circumstantial evidence surrounding the Android-based PlayStation Phone is starting to come together today -- when it rains, it pours, as they say -- and one particularly interesting thread suggests that the ecosystem surrounding the device might be called "Z-System." An astute tipster notes that the term appears in the upper left of one of our shots, which maps to a domain -- z-system.com, naturally -- that's owned by Sony Ericsson. Turns out the company also holds trademarks for Z-System in the US and Benelux trademark offices (among others, presumably) that were filed (and approved) this year, and the filing category includes "software for interacting or playing with electronic or video games," not hardware, so that strongly suggests we're looking at a platform here. We suppose it's possible that this specific device will be called Z-System, but we're going to float the theory that its actually underlying gaming platform that'll bear that name -- possibly a premium game store and set of software libraries that together will earn a device the Z-System badge. As we already saw with the BlackPad / SurfBook / PlayBook fiasco, trademarks don't mean much until a device is actually announced -- but it's something to keep an eye on.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/27/s...ming-platform/ ...