Via Engadget

So those graffiti ads didn't go down so well, "take a running jump here" didn't really take off, and that whole "racism is awesome" campaign in the Netherlands wasn't so hot -- lesson learned, right? Not so much. While it seems Sony has had its fill of offensive messages -- for now, at least -- they've managed to pull off one of the least convincing viral marketing campaigns in recent memory, sparking that special kind of public outcry that it seems we all keep pent up for Sony offenses. The controversy centers on these "all i want for xmas is a psp" fools you might've seen floating around YouTube. Bloggers "charlie" and "jeremy" have been posting up ridiculous rap videos, remarkably slick print-out ads and oh-so-indie t-shirt iron-ons in an effort to convince "j's parents that a psp would be teh perfect gift." Oh, and you all can feel free to use the material for your own ad campaign on the 'rents. Sounds harmless, and we're sure it would be if Sony just put its name on the proceedings from the get-go, but waiting for Something Awful forum members to point out Zipatoni (Sony's apparent viral marketing firm on this campaign) as the domain registrar, and everybody else to laugh at the sheer audacity of Sony for thinking they'd get away with this one, probably wasn't the best foresight on Sony's part. Feel free to peep a couple ridiculous YouTube vids after the break, but just make sure you don't get sucked in, it's all a scam we tell you! Oh well Sony, at least those Bravia ads are still pretty neat.

Videos Here and Here. ...

via engadget

It wasn't too long ago that ole Steve opened a few of his famed keynotes boasting about just how much money was flowing into the iTunes Music Store, and now we've even got the option to snag feature films and TV shows if our wallet so desires, but it appears that even the streamlined, previously trendy iTMS may be on the decline. It's no secret that folks looking to pick up some new tunes would like to avoid DRM at all costs, but instead of seeing CD sales skyrocket, there's simply been a general decrease across the board in the whole "music buying scene." While digital downloads initially looked to fill the void, that theory seems to have been short lived; since January, the monthly revenue going into Apple's iTMS has fallen by "65-percent," with the average transaction size falling "17-percent." Notably, it's not just Apple suffering the cashflow drought, as Nielsen Soundscan reports that the "industry as a whole" is steadily declining. Additionally, research has shown that the "median household" spent just "three dollars" about six times per year, showing that digital downloads aren't exactly "replacing the CD," but rather complimenting hardcopy sales at best. Interestingly, analysts are theorizing that the DRM-era may actually be winding down in favor of "blanket licensing," which was cast aside just years ago in favor of the "per purchase" approach. Discussions are already taking place in the UK to test the waters of such a bundle package, but we don't realistically expect the business model here to change overnight -- but considering the duties the RIAA wants to toss on anything digital, we wonder just how attractive a new plan will be. ...

For Formula One fans, there can be no better news than this latest batch of images from Formula One 06 for PS3 - it's officially licensed up the exhaust-wazoo, it looks sharp as knives and will no doubt be faster than lightning. Although it might not be called '06' when it launches over here, in March 2007.

But no matter. Point your eyes down and enjoy these new screens. There's Jenson Button's helmet to gawp at, a full-frontal shot of Kimi Raikkonen's sleek vehicle and a lot of other things so see that can't be easily wedged into a poorly constructed double-entendre. Enjoy!

News and Screens at Games radar ...

Via Gamesradar

Sega will release a brand new version of its classic space shooter, Alien Syndrome, for Nintendo Wii and PlayStation Portable in Summer next year, the developer-cum-publisher has revealed today.

As Earth Command Trooper Aileen Harding - or just Aileen to her friends, natch - Alien Syndrome hurls you into a action-orientated, RPG-lite universe of derelict spaceships and weird alien worlds, with a host of weaponry and upgrades scattered liberally around to assist you in your quest to blast and bash a hostile horde of alien beasties.

Alien Syndrome on Wii uses the motion-sensing controllers for combat in a similar way as Zelda - you'll be wafting the Wii-mote to hack up aliens, for example - as well as tinkering with items and hacking into computers. While PSP will feature Wi-Fi co-op multiplayer for up to four space cadets to pummel their way through the extraterrestrial resistance in several different modes.

Alien Syndrome was a classic late 80's space shooter that spawned across more than 10 formats, including Game Gear, Master System, and NES, as well as hitting PS2 in Japan as Vol. 14 of Sega's Ages 2500 series. And, no, it has nothing whatsoever to do with the recent announcement that Sega will be making games inspired by the Alien film franchise. So no confusion there then... ...

Via Gamesradar

Sega will release a brand new version of its classic space shooter, Alien Syndrome, for Nintendo Wii and PlayStation Portable in Summer next year, the developer-cum-publisher has revealed today.

As Earth Command Trooper Aileen Harding - or just Aileen to her friends, natch - Alien Syndrome hurls you into a action-orientated, RPG-lite universe of derelict spaceships and weird alien worlds, with a host of weaponry and upgrades scattered liberally around to assist you in your quest to blast and bash a hostile horde of alien beasties.

Alien Syndrome on Wii uses the motion-sensing controllers for combat in a similar way as Zelda - you'll be wafting the Wii-mote to hack up aliens, for example - as well as tinkering with items and hacking into computers. While PSP will feature Wi-Fi co-op multiplayer for up to four space cadets to pummel their way through the extraterrestrial resistance in several different modes.

Alien Syndrome was a classic late 80's space shooter that spawned across more than 10 formats, including Game Gear, Master System, and NES, as well as hitting PS2 in Japan as Vol. 14 of Sega's Ages 2500 series. And, no, it has nothing whatsoever to do with the recent announcement that Sega will be making games inspired by the Alien film franchise. So no confusion there then... ...

via slashdot

Sony is up to the same old tricks again. Following in the footsteps of their fake PSP Graffiti campaign, Sony has hired marketing company Zipatoni to set up a YouTube-based viral marketing scheme for the Sony PSP. The company did this by registering the domain alliwantforxmasisapsp. There are no disclaimers to show it isn't 'real', but the website's whois points out it's setup by Zipatoni."
From the C&VG article:
...

Via Gamesindustry

I-play CEO David Gosen has told our sister site, MobileIndustry.biz, that more games will be played on mobile phones than consoles in the future - meaning that mobile offers the best way to reach a mass market audience.

Speaking in an exclusive interview, Gosen said, "If you look at the console industry, over 300 million consoles have been sold in the last 25 years, while 800 million phones get sold every year. Which one's mass market? It has to be the mobile device.

"2006 marks the first time that there will be more touch points for mobile gaming than there will for console," he continued.

"In terms of revenues, of course, console's far greater, but more games will be played on mobile than they will on console. So if you are a brand owner, if you're looking to get your content out to the mass market; mobile offers tremendous scope to do that."

According to Gosen, there are already 2 billion mobile subscribers around the globe, and the market is set to reach a value of US$ 6 billion by 2010 - with annual growth of between 30 and 35 per cent predicted.

"Although console's been successful, it's been successful for a pretty tightly defined niche of players. I think that's perhaps starting to change, and will take time, but mobile is true mass market," he argued.

Before joining I-play in 2004, Gosen spent five years working at Nintendo Europe, where he helped to launch the GameCube and Game Boy Advance. While he concedes that Nintendo is likely to attract new, non-traditional gamers with the DS and Wii, he believes that there is still a way to go.

"If you look at who plays mobile games, 50 per cent of players are women. That doesn't happen in console land, so again, we've got a whole range of new players that we can bring into gaming through mobile," Gosen said.

However, he continued, there will be benefits for console publishers and platform holders as mobile gaming becomes more popular.

"I think mobile can be a recruitment device; someone that gets a great gaming experience on mobile can easily move up to console, or move to handheld and then move to console.

"The more people we get into playing games in general, whether it's on mobile or on DS, is a bigger pool for all of us," Gosen concluded. ...

Via gamesindustry

FIFA '07 is number one in the all-formats chart for a third week running, having seen off rival PES6 once again and beating launch titles for Nintendo's new Wii console.

EA is also occupying the number two slot with Need for Speed: Carbon - the bookies' favourite to be Christmas number one.

Pro Evolution Soccer 6 is up one place to number three, following increased sales of the PSP and Xbox 360 versions, while Call of Duty 3 drops into fourth position.

Making its debut at number 5 is The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - one of six of the 14 Wii launch titles to go straight into the all-formats chart.

It's estimated that around two thirds of those picking up one of Nintendo's new consoles also bought a copy of Zelda, making it the best-selling Wii title so far - followed by Wii Play, which comes bundled with a remote controller, and is at number nine in the all-formats top ten.

Ubisoft lined up no less than seven Wii titles for day one, and Red Steel was the third most popular game for the console, followed by Rayman Raving Rabbids at four, Monster 4x4 World Circuit at eight and GT Pro Series at nine.

In the all-formats chart Red Steel debuted at 19, while Rayman went in at number 30. The highest climber of the week was Happy Feet, also a Wii launch title, up seven places to number 11.

Nintendo's handheld is still going strong, with 14 DS games in the top 40 - including Yoshi's Island DS at number 36, which has almost doubled sales during its second week of release, and Big Brain Academy at 39.

Xbox 360 title Project Gotham Racing 3 is up 14 places to number 36, and Xbox 360 Live Arcade Unplugged has appeared in the chart for the first time at number 35. ...

News from eurogamer

Reports from magical lands off beyond the seas suggest that Nintendo has quietly upgraded the flimsy Wii remote strap without telling anyone.

Photographs have emerged comparing the cord that attaches the wrist-strap to the base of the Wii-mote sold in the US/Japan with one sold in the Australian market - with the latter noticeably thicker.

Nintendo UK declined to comment on the photograph. "We are evaluating the wrist strap to determine how to minimise the risk of breakage when a player lets go of their controller during enthusiastic gameplay," a spokesperson told us. TRY SWAPPING IT FOR A FAT ONE.

As for Europe, it's anecdotal, but neither of my Wii remotes has the thicker strap, despite my being a fat-handed dork prone losing his grip who could've done with one. ...