Source - Gamesindustry

Andy Parsons, senior vice president of Pioneer Electronics, has told the media that he expects between four and seven million units of the PlayStation 3 to ship worldwide by the end of 2006, representing an "explosion" for Blu-Ray players.

Speaking to video technology website The Digital Bits, Parsons said that the PS3 - which is set to launch later this year - "is going to represent an almost overnight population explosion of Blu-Ray capable players."

"That's not something that's really happened before," he commented. "The PlayStation 2 helped, because that came well down the road after DVD launched, but it did help to get a lot of players out there. But this is something new - the PS3 is launching right at the forefront of Blu-Ray Disc."

The PlayStation 3, which will be the only next-generation console to incorporate a next-generation DVD player, is expected to launch in Japan by summer, with US and European launches to follow before Christmas - although some analysts believe that the European date could be pushed out to March 2007.

"If Sony ships the kind of numbers we expect them to this year, that will provide a very rapid growth of players out there hungry for titles," Parsons continued. "We've been hearing between 4 and 7 million units could ship."

Parsons' comments come in the wake of projections earlier this week from Pacific Crest Securities analyst Even Wilson, who predicted a Japanese launch in summer, followed by November in the United States and March in Europe - with just a million units available for launch in each territory.

That outlook is far more pessimistic than Parsons', and suggests that less than three million units of the PS3 could ship worldwide by the end of 2006. However, publisher sources have indicated in recent weeks that they believe the PS3 will launch in Europe before the end of the year, suggesting that Parsons' figures could be the more accurate of the two. ...

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc has removed six listings for PlayStation 3 titles from its Japanese website, PlayStation.jp, and has stripped all mention of the PlayStation 3 console from the forthcoming releases page.

The titles, including new Everybody's Golf, Gran Turismo and Genji games, were originally listed alongside PSP and PS2 releases for 2006, as we reported yesterday, and represented the first confirmed PS3 titles from SCEJ.

However, the listings - which merely showed titles for the games, and gave no indication of whether they were set to be launch titles or not - have now been pulled without explanation - presumably indicating that they weren't meant to be revealed this early on.

A Sony spokesperson contacted by GamesIndustry.biz this afternoon declined to comment on the reason for the removal of the titles from the site, saying simply that" "We are working on the launch of PlayStation 3 and a confirmed list of titles will be announced at the appropriate time." ...

Source - Gamesindustry

Software development tools specialist SN Systems, a subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment, has been awarded Game Developer Magazine's Front Line Award for its PSP software development tool, ProDG.

ProDG, which is complimented by accessory products such as ProView and Tuner, has helped to establish SN Systems as the market leader in PSP development tools, and is utilised in 20 of the 24 PSP games scheduled for release in the US.

The product won Game Developer Magazine's prestigious Front Line award in the Programming Tools category, beating competition from a broad range companies and software development products, including Intel's VTune Performance Analyzer.

Andy Beveridge, SN Systems director, commented: "It’s a great honour to win this award and be acknowledged by the industry and the very people that use our tools on a daily basis. We’d gained plenty of experience from previous platform launches and knew what we had to do to get it right from the start. It’s been a very busy year for everyone at SN Systems and this is a perfect finish to 2005."

"Rest assured, we will continue to build on the success of ProDG for PSP by continuing to evolve the product further, ensuring it remains the market leader and first choice for all PSP game title developers," he added.

The eighth annual Front Line Awards, created by Game Developer Magazine, aims to recognise and reward excellence and innovation in game development tools. Companies who have enhanced the art of software development with tools that enable faster and more efficient game creation are honoured each year, with nominations coming from Game Developer Magazine readers and industry professionals. A panel of professional game developers specialising in each of the categories selects the winners, based on various criteria including utility, innovation, value, and ease of use.

Full details of the 2005 Front Line Awards winners and finalists in each category can be found by visiting the official awards website. ...

Source - Gamesradar

We've got the latest shots of a Capcom contribution to PSP in form of Extreme Ghouls 'n' Ghosts, a revamped version of its classic 2D action game, directed by the original's creator Tokurou Fujiwara.

As always, it stars intrepid knight Arthur as he battles and hops his way through legions of lance-wielding evil creatures.

The game has maintained its fierce difficulty but there are a few differences, such as Arthur's ability to shoot down while jumping in the air, haul himself up on to ledges and collect different projectile weapons. It's still basically a 2D game but some 3D effects have been used to add a sense of depth to the levels.

Capcom has included more extra lives to pick up, so you won't have to try to get through the game with just a suit of armour and a pair of pants. Also, the route through the game will be far from linear thanks to branch and warp points that allow you to decide your route and even retrace your steps.

Unfortunately Capcom has yet to confirm that Extreme Ghouls 'n' Ghosts will be getting a European launch, but we have been told that it will be "more than likely".

A UK release is yet to be confirmed for Extreme Ghouls 'n' Ghosts for PSP ...

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News From Lik Sang

For those of you who are desperate to score a specific color of the Nintendo DS because of the damn shortage situation in Japan, we have good news. Today, the Asian version of the popular handheld has seen release of 4 new flavors, with Candy Pink, Pure White, Red and Turquoise Blue, bringing the total to 6, as Silver and Black were already out earlier. With that latest expansion, the range is now as deep as in Japan, if you except the special limited editions of course. The Asian version differs from the Japanese version only for the fact that it comes with a 220 Volts power supply (with UK plug) in order to fit with the electricity outlets found in Hong Kong homes. It is region free and therefore will play any NDS game released anywhere in the world. The language on screen in the navigation mode can be set to English. Price is US$ 149.90 for all different models, and all colors are available now. ...

News From Lik Sang

Who says Santa only comes once a year? Over the past weeks since Christmas we've received bundles of cool new toys from Mario and Goomba remote controlled figures and computer mice, to Tekken 5 Busts, Naruto and Bleach plushes, and many, many more.

Nintendo Figures and All Sorts of Hot Gadgets

First out of the bag are four of Nintendo's most recognizable faces, Mario, Yoshi, Donkey Kong and Goomba. Each Super Mario Bros. star is brought to life by Banpresto through large 12 cm (4.7 inches) figures at US$ 12.95 apiece. All are brightly colored and fully adjustable so you can set the scene for your very own Super Smash Bros. fight. You may however want to avoid displaying them on the mantle with the good china, just in case they go Toy Story on ya. On the other hand if you'd like that, Nintendo fans and small furry animals alike will go wild over the next items, mini remote controlled Mario and Goomba figures! That's right, these 4cm dudes (1.6 inches) can't wait to take a stroll around your office desk, or sneak up on your pet hamster! Best of all though, the remote controller is a replica of the classic Famicom pad, and each character is US$ 16.95 only.

Microsoft's blue glowing ergonomic 20 button laser mice be dammed, the next items we received this week are the coolest pointers you can buy for your PC or Mac. Officially licensed by Nintendo, these two button USB mice are 9cm (3.5 inches) in size and in the classic design of sprites Mario and Goomba from Super Mario Bros. No longer will Nintendo fans like this guy have to hack up a perfectly good NES pad and Logitech mouse, they can treasure these instead for only US$ 14.95 each!

More than just guaranteed eye catchers for your gaming grotto, we have the Nintendo Dotgraphics figures with sound. These 3D pixel style works of art come on stylish black display stands and are 9cm (3.5 inches) in size. Including Donkey Kong, Mario Bros. Super Mario Bros., Ice Climber, Balloon Fight, The Legend of Zelda and two more secret titles, they're sure to bring back fond memories (unless your recollection of playing Super Mario Bros. largely consists of wrestling your six larger brothers for the frigg'n NES controller!) At a fantastic US$ 8.90 each, you'll have to grab them fast, but first you can jump over to the official website here and click on the various displays to hear the sounds they produce.

These are just the latest in our massive ever growing line-up of Nintendo toys, figures, keychains, gadgets and more, all of which you can feast your eyes on in our dedicated Nintendo category. Before last week though, we also snapped up a lot of cool Capcom, Bleach and Naruto collectables over the Christmas holidays, and for all you avid merchandise fans out there we still have these in stock:

Detailed Figures from the Darkness of Biohazard 4

Whether or not you're picking up a copy of the latest Biohazard Deadly Silence this week, chances are the revolutionary Biohazard 4 has and will always have a special place in your memories (and possibly worst nightmares!). Hence toy manufacturer Agatsuma has covered all major characters in their series of seven mini figures, including Leon Kennedy, Ada Wong, Ashley and Chainsaw Ganado just to name a few. Fully painted and ready for display right out of the box, these great collectible items are a wonderful US$ 4.95 each. They even come with some free candy to hold off any larger zombie appetites that may arise after picking up these figures

If you're after something larger though, at US$ 19.95 we still have stock of the massive 18 to 22cm (7 to 9 inches) figures of Leon Kennedy with and without a jacket, Ada Wong, Verdugo, and Chainsaw Ganado. Or if you're looking for more Capcom Goodies, you can't go wrong checking out our whole range here.

Namco and Capcom Punch out High Quality Busts for Tekken 5 and Capcom Fighting Jam

Next, Capcom Fighting Jam packs the entire explosive Beat'em Up legacy of the Japanese master developer, so it's only right that this ambitious title got honored in toy form too, courtesy of Max Factory. For US$ 6.95 each there are six famous fighters from SF II, III, Alpha 3, Darkstalkers and Red Earth, including celebrities Ryu, Pyron, Demitri Maximoff, Alex, Guy and Leo. On the other hand if you're a Tekken follower TomyTech have the perfect accessories to jazz up your home entertainment center at only US$ 7.95 each. These Tekken 5 Magstage Figures are highly detailed mini busts of Jin Kazama, Ling Xiaoyu, Feng Wei, Asuka Kazama, Hwoarang and Raven. Either or both the Capcom figures and Tekken busts would look even better still next to the weapon of choice for serious 2D Beat'em Up brawlers

New Keychains and a Cute Hard as Nails Plush Doll Series for Bleach

Besides Naruto, there's one other manga and anime gamers go gaga over right now: Bleach. Beyond titles for GameCube and PSP already out, then NDS next week and PS2 next month, we recently received the Bleach 2 in 1 Keychains. Featuring five characters ...

Nintendo's Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Reggie Fils-Aime, had a chat with News.com recently, and laid it on the line about the company's plans for the new year -- and about what Nintendo really thinks of the competition. Among other things, Fils-Aime dissed the PSP, saying that "the buzz for the DS is huge and growing, and the most anticipated handheld titles are on our platform, not on Sony's." He also hit the Xbox 360 for being overpriced, insisting that a full-on 360 rig with accessories would cost customers $700, while the Revolution will run for under $300 (though we somehow doubt Nintdendo will shy away from selling or endorsing high-priced Revolution accessories). Ah, not since Sim Wong Hoo have we seen such braggadocio; spin on, Reggie, spin on! ...

cubiCPixel has updated the Snowboarding Game Tricked Out to V0.3, heres the info:

Hello world,

Just finished with the music player of Tricked Out. You can now listen up to 5 different loops of music from either the sound menu or by using the arrows during gameplay, play stop...

These beats can be changed... just rename your music as music1.wav, music2.wav, music3.wav etc... They have to be mono .wav sounds. The code is quite simpler than I thought. They will loop doh since I use 16 seconds loop sounds. You can also stop all sounds.

Either than that the level engine works. I just need to finish my graphics. I'm currently using graphs from a previous flash game I made... Works for now,

see ya latter :-x

cubiCPixel

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