It has proved the most controversial announcement to emerge from E3 2006 - but UK retail has nevertheless cautiously backed Sony's PlayStation 3 launch strategy, believing pricing issues to be largely irrelevant with a pre-Christmas sell-out likely.

Early adopters are expected to devour initial shipments of the console - set to launch at GBP 425, as revealed last week by GamesIndustry.biz. But specialist vendors and analysts are now warning that the Japanese giant faces a far stiffer challenge in convincing the wider market to adopt Sony's crucial Blu-Ray next-gen DVD technology.

"Given the machine is likely to be a sell-out this side of Christmas, I think the price point is irrelevant for the first six months," specialist retail chain CeX' marketing manager Jonathan Cronin told GamesIndustry.biz. "The launch frenzy will be there - this is the new PlayStation, not the new Xbox. Four million units globally before Christmas? I don't think you'll be able to buy one off the shelf."

"We welcomed Sony's PS3 announcement at the E3 convention, putting an end to the speculation surrounding a UK launch date," offered Gamestation group product manager Anna Downing. "The November 17th date sets up an extremely competitive and exciting Q4, with consumers potentially having the choice of three 'next-gen' consoles on the market. We're anticipating that demand will outstrip supply."

Steve O'Brien, boss of leading independent retailer Action Replay, agrees. "With the amount of product coming into the UK I think Sony could have quite comfortably priced it at twice the price and still sell-out twice over," he suggested. "In the first round of any console sales it's the fanboys and hardcore gamers who buy it. I think the strength of the brand is key."

With hardware shortages a certainty during the launch window and no confirmation on UK-specific number, however, most retailers are expected to refrain publicly from criticising Sony's pricing strategy for fear of risking their allocation.

But regardless of this, not everyone was so charitable. "Such high prices are a difficult thing to push at retail level especially with the continued problems of distribution, release dates, and product availability that have dogged UK product releases for some time," insisted Steve Aspinall, owner of indie V-Ten Entertainment. "And that's without the mass-discount culture convincing the consumer to wait a few months, and the uncanny shortage of convincing software for the platform, not to mention the continued implication that next gen gaming cannot take place without a next-gen television set."

Many, including Sony itself, certainly agree that the firm faces a serious challenge in convincing consumers to buy into Blu-Ray - fingered as one of the main causes of PS3's hefty price tag - as it enters a format war with Toshiba's rival HD-DVD technology. Particularly if they are to swallow SCE UK boss Ray Maguire's assertion that PS3 is a "bargain".

And with Microsoft hinting that Xbox 360 plus the standalone HD-DVD player due this Christmas will weigh in for less that Sony's system, pressure continues to pile on the market leader.

"If you've got a PS3 next to a 360 you need to be able to see the difference if you're going to be asked to pay more. Microsoft must be pleased there's a nice price differential there," commented CeX' Cronin.

"People will say PS3 is expensive because they haven't got a clue what's in it - they just see it as another box to play games on," argued leading videogames industry analyst Nick Parker of Parker Consulting.

"It's totally abstract to the consumer, a lot to get your head around. Sony has future-proof technology - everything you'll need if you're seriously into accessing games, movies or music on demand."

"It's getting people to understand that their DVD player is basically going to be out-of-date in a couple of years' time. If you buy a PS3 now you'll get a games machine and next-generation movie technology," Parker continued.

"When PS2 came out DVD was already understood by the consumer - but who knows what Blu-Ray is? Sony needs to convey the value in the price; it's a longer term problem for them."

Via Gamesindustry ...

The success of The Da Vinci Code, the Columbia Pictures movie based on Dan Brown's best-selling novel, could be a key weapon for Sony when it comes to launching the PlayStation 3 this November.

That's according to analysts at Bloomberg, who reported this week that the firm - which owns Columbia Pictures - may be planning to launch the movie on Blu-Ray almost simultaneously with the arrival of the PS3.

The Da Vinci Code has just recorded the second largest worldwide opening weekend ever, with only Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith clocking up a better box office performance. Over USD 77 million was taken in the United States alone, despite the critical drubbing received by the film.

Bloomberg's report implies that Sony may choose to put heavy marketing behind the high-definition Blu-Ray version of the movie when it is released to retail later this year, using it as a vehicle to educate consumers about the Blu-Ray product.

Doing so alongside the launch of PlayStation 3, which is expected to be the cheapest Blu-Ray player on the market when it arrives in mid-November, could help to drive demand for the machine and to alleviate the danger of consumers steering clear of the system due to its high price tag.

Via GIBiz ...

SEGA® Europe Ltd, today announced Tenchu: Time of the Assassins exclusively for the PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) system. SEGA has partnered with FromSoftware and K2 studios - developers of the popular Tenchu: Fatal Shadows (released in 2005 for PlayStation®2) - to continue the legacy of the flagship franchise, which is set for release on June 23rd, 2006.

The complex 3D environments the series is known for have been carried over on the PSP in their entirety. Enhanced stealth manoeuvres challenge your ninja skills, and all-new kill moves add yet more realism and entertainment to this ninja-based action adventure. Now, every enemy is susceptible to carefully planned stealth kills – even the end level bosses!

“Tenchu’s gameplay offers all the strategy of a stealth game but none of the frustration” commented Matt Woodley, Creative Director of SEGA. “This next release represents SEGA’s commitment to providing compelling new content to the handheld market”

All of the classic Tenchu characters return in scenario mode, including Rikimaru, Ayame, Rin, and Tesshu. Each character is tied to a different story, and each story offers different levels to play through. In addition to the scenario mode, there is also a ‘free mission’ mode that’s comprised of 50 independent missions to enjoy after you have completed the single-player campaign.

Tenchu: Time of the Assassins also features a robust multiplayer component that allows players to connect via a local (Ad-Hoc) connection to play cooperative and head-to-head games. A compelling level editor gives players a powerful tool for allowing them to create their own stages and share them with friends, also via ad hoc download.

Tenchu: Time of the Assassins is set for release on 23rd June 2006 exclusively for the PSPTM. For press assets concerning Tenchu: Time of the Assassins and other SEGA titles, please go to www.sega-press.com . ...

Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto has described Sony's decision to include motion-sensing technology in the PS3 controller as "flattering", whilst criticising the company for simply producing the same games with better graphics.

In an interview with Canadian publication the Edmonton Sun, when asked if he thought Sony had copied Nintendo's idea for the Wii's remote controller, Miyamoto replied: "It’s kind of what always seems to happen. But the fact that they looked at what we were doing and decided it was a good path is kind of flattering; it kind of reinforces in our minds that we’re doing the right thing."

"What they’ve done is just take your standard controller and add in this motion-sensing device that’s similar to what we did back on the Game Boy Color many years ago. Maybe if they were to completely copy and go with a remote and a nunchuk and two motion sensors, I might be a little more concerned. But I don’t think they’re anywhere close to that."

Miyamoto went on to discuss Sony and Microsoft's showings at E3, stating: "They’re talking about the next generation of the same old videogames - it’s the same old experiences with new graphics."

"And while there are people who enjoy that, we’re really talking about the next leap in interactive entertainment, and really bringing interactive entertainment not just to videogame fans but to everyone."

However, questions have been raised as to whether gamers want to play with a controller that requires plenty of physical movement, rather than one which allows them to simply sit on the sofa. But according to Miyamoto, there are plenty of options available: "The fact of the matter is, if you want to, you can play in much the same style as you did before."

"You can sit with Zelda and just with little movements you can control the game perfectly well. Similarly with tennis, by kind of slapping the Wii remote against your hand, you can play the game that way if you really want to."

"As people get better and better at the individual games, it may be that their motions drift from the more exaggerated to the less exaggerated. But at the same time, I tend to find that moving around a bit more tends to be more fun."

As for the Wii name, which has met with a mixed reception in the UK, Miyamoto said that some Japanese gamers have also found it hard to get used to: "In Japan, a lot of gamers thought it was a strange name, and the comment we got the most was that it doesn’t sound like the name of a game system."

"What we did find with the casual gamers or the non-gamers - because it does sound so different and unique - it doesn’t sound like a game system. And that’s a plus for them."

Via GIBiz ...

THQ's executive VP of worldwide publishing, Kelly Flock, has described the extended agreement with Yuke's as a "huge win" for the company - adding that the ongoing WWE lawsuit will not affect the deal.

The WWE filed suit against a number of parties, including THQ and JAKKS Pacific, in October 2004 - alleging that the WWE videogame licenses they hold were obtained through bribery.

But that hasn't stopped THQ from recently announcing a long term strategic agreement with Yuke's, in which the publisher holds a minority interest, to produce further WWE games.

"Our new agreement with Yuke's is a huge win for THQ, as we have a long-term, multisystem agreement with arguably the best wrestling development studio in the world," Flock told Gamespot.com.

"Going forward, we will be able to bring fans that experience across multiple game systems beginning with WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2007 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PSP, and PlayStation 2 beginning this fall. The lawsuit does not play a role in securing this relationship with Yuke's."

Flock went on to confirm that THQ is no longer planning to produce platform-specific wrestling games, stating: "Part of our strategy working with Yuke's is to bring multiple systems under one development house... This means fans can look forward to playing our SmackDown! vs. RAW series across multiple systems."

"As the publisher of the number one wrestling video game brand in the world, we are eager to take this franchise, along with new WWE video game properties, to new heights by offering them to current-generation, next-generation, and handheld gamers."

News from Gamesindustry ...

The Minnesota House of Representatives has passed a new bill which proposes a USD 25 civil penalty for minors who knowingly buy or rent Mature or Adult Only ESRB-rated videogames.

Taking note of the recent failed legislative proposals in other US states, Republican representative Jeff Johnson's bill would not impose fines on retailers and merchants, but simply requires videogames outlets to clearly display ESRB ratings signs and information - which is something the majority of stores already comply with under the industry's self regulatory system.

Johnson, who is running for Attorney General, told Minnesota Public Radio: "We were trying to pass the narrowest bill possible just to try something different from a constitutional challenge standpoint," but admits that he fully expects the ESA to challenge the proposal and already foresees the potential legal obstacles in attempting to secure the bill's implementation into law.

"There are two potential constitutional problems," Johnson stated. "One is that we are using the ESRB ratings. I can see a court saying you can't use private industry to create the law, but there's no way around that because everything else anyone has tried has been unsuccessful."

Johnson's second issue is one which has overshadowed each of the videogames legislation proposals, regardless of their constitutional validity, in that "so far no court has found a strong enough link" between violent or graphic videogames and youth violence or aggressive, anti-social behaviour.

The Minnesota bill will become law on August 1st if it is signed by the Governor and withstands any legal challenge in the interim. Whilst the attempt to penalise consumers for infractions of ESRB ratings is an unusual step to take, it is at the very least a move towards working with the industry regulated videogames ratings rather than simply overruling or replacing them.

That said, the constitutional foundations and the evidentiary basis for political intervention in the sale or rental of videogames in the US remain arguably unsound and it is highly likely that another court ruling will see the bill overturned.

Via Gamesindustry ...

Nintendo has announced that the DS Lite, the redesigned version of its multi-million selling dual screen handheld, will launch in Europe on June 23rd, priced at GBP 99.99.

The original DS has already proved hugely popular with consumers around the globe, with 16 million units sold so far. The new model is around 60g lighter and two thirds of the size of the original, and features four screen brightness settings. It will be available in Europe in a choice of two colours - white or black.

Nintendo has lined up a healthy selection of software titles to coincide with the launch of the DS Lite. Brain Training, the mind exercising game which has taken Japan by storm, will launch here on June 9th. A new edition of Nintendogs - subtitled Dalmatian & Friends - will hit the shops a week later, followed by New Super Mario Bros. on June 30th.

July 7th will see the arrival of music maker Electroplankton and Big Brain Academy, a more lighthearted version of Brain Training.

via GIbiz ...

Nano and Mickey fans, here's some news for you. On this Nano, you'll find a Mickey engraved and you'll also get a bunch of stickers for the front, a protection pouch, a lanyard to wear the thing around your neck, a membership card to prove that this is an official limited edition (999 pieces will be made) and a nice box to store the whole lot.

Source ...

Vobbo has updated his PCEngine Emu for the GP2X:

Fixed a stupid bug - SET instruction is emulated again... heh

ARM CPU-CORE (V0.9) - updated ARM Core, now about 90% of instructions completed...
Fixed a few bugs in ARM cpu core, and coded more instructions in ARM.
Fixed Average FPS meter to reset after rom selection
Added frame-limiter code, now alot more games run at over 60fps, So we now have a VSync!

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