via Computer and Video Games


Sony is bullish about LittleBigPlanet's prospects, even if the game's made a somewhat troubled start.

The brilliant platformer hasn't set the chart on fire since launch, but Sony Computer Entertainment America is confident it'll have legs sales wise.

Marketing manager John Kohler told GamePro that LBP is seeing "explosive" sales and that it'll "absolutely" rack up big sales over time, calling the the title an "evergreen game for the PS3".

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via Engadget


According to two reports, Sony Ericsson and HTC are both semi-confirming Android handsets for 2009. An SE spokesman by the name of Garfield Brusewitz was quoted as saying that the company would introduce higher-end models of the Google-powered devices to start with, then supplement those handsets with cheaper versions aimed at a broader market. In another article, HTC says that it will launch one "or more" Android phones in the new year, aiming to have them on shelves by Summer.

This hardly comes as a surprise from either of these companies, as HTC has been on-board since day one of the OHA and, you know, already has an Android handset out, and Sony Ericsson's announcement of participation was naturally going to lead to some actual hardware. Now it's just a matter of getting these out the door, and... sneak peaks at CES, anyone? ...

via Joystiq


Okay, get this. CVG is reporting that the new issue of EGM features a Gears of War 3 rumor. Come on, that's just silly. Everyone knows that Cliff and the gang have "never announced" a trilogy. (Why do it now?) Besides, suggesting that Gears of War 3 will be released during holiday 2010 is just a little too obvious -- don't you think? Gears 1 in 2006. The sequel in 2008. And part three in 2010? No way. Everyone knows you're supposed to wait three years between the second and third games.

And what's this about Gears 3 featuring a "five-player co-op" mode? Ridiculous. There's no way Marcus and Dom's relationship has room for a third wheel, let alone a fourth and fifth. Move along. Nothing to see here. ...

via Eurogamer


Peter Molyneux has hinted that Fable II could be made available as a full digital release on Xbox 360.

The Lionhead Studios boss refused to confirm any concrete plans, but told GamesIndustry.biz: "I think it would be a great thing for this studio to work on."

Pressed on whether there were already plans for the critically-acclaimed RPG to be made available over Microsoft's Live service, Molyneux said: "I can't say anything else on it – I would be killed to death."

Microsoft, which already offers full original Xbox titles for download via its Marketplace service, has never formally revealed intentions to make full retail 360 titles available, but industry watchers have long predicted this could happen later in the console's lifecycle.

Molyneux's enthusiasm for a digital release comes after the success of the original Fable, which was made available for download on 360 earlier this year as part of the Xbox Originals range.

"It did really, really well," he revealed. "It was one of the highest selling, if not the highest selling, [Xbox Originals title]. I didn't track that exactly, but I know a lot of people got very excited about it when it came out."

Fable II released in Europe on October 24 and topped the UK charts after its opening weekend.

However, slowing sales, a crowded marketplace and tough economic conditions prompted UK retailer Gamestation to slash the price of the game by more than half its RRP to GBP 19.57 at the end of last month.

"Any way that more people can play it, the better," insisted Molyneux. "Normally I'd feel quite emotional about that, but at the moment I just think it's a reflection of where we are when people will struggle to spend any money at Christmas at the moment."

He added: "It's hard to see any products that aren't being discounted and it seems like retailers in this country are focusing on different products every week. If this hadn't been this time last year, I don't think it would have happened." ...

via Kotaku


Valve has issued a server-side fix to stop cheaters from taking advantage of Left 4 Dead exploits on the Xbox 360. Reported cheats allowed players to spawn infinite items and enemies in online games.

A follow-up statement from Valve says that the fix has already been deployed to address cheats on dedicated Xbox Live servers, which accounts for the majority of co-op and versus mode play.

It expects to deploy a title update "in the coming days" for Xbox 360 owners playing on user-hosted servers or via system link. Thanks, Valve! ...

via Games Industry


Blu-ray players have overtaken the popularity of their DVD counterparts for the first time ever in Japan, during the first week of November, according to data collected by GfK Retail and Technology.

The region saw Blu-ray recorders occupy more than 50 per cent of the market share for DVD recorders, in terms of unit numbers, a significant increase from 10 per cent, recorded October 2007.

Gfk also reports that Blu-ray machines are replacing DVD recorders 1.5 times faster than the latter replaced VHS machines. DVD recorders exceeded 50 per cent after 82 weeks. In comparison, Blu-ray recorders achieved the same results in only 53 weeks. ...

via Games Industry


Sony's Michael Denny has said the company is at the forefront of realising user-generated content on home consoles, following the success of online titles LittleBigPlanet, Buzz and SingStar.

LittleBigPlanet users have created almost 180,000 levels, and played them over 22.4 million times online, according to Sony. Denny has also revealed that Buzz players have created over 100,000 quizzes for the game, which have been played over seven million times.

"I think if you look at Worldwide Studios heritage in Europe, we always - whether it's internally or externally - work on innovative new products," said Denny, in an exclusive interview published today.

"Although we've had the success in the social genre we want to move that on as well, like finding new experiences with LittleBigPlanet and user-generated content. In the console field that's an area we can rightly claim leadership to now. We want to look at more areas of that."

The imminent public launch of Home is another crucial step in Sony's online goals, but Denny, who's responsible for all internal and external development studios for Sony in Europe, wants to continue to push for more online innovation from all products in 2009.

"In some of the more established genres, like shooters with Killzone 2 – we've had some great results in the beta trial, certainly in the online space. I don't think people have really seen enough of Killzone 2 – the customisability, the clan support, the tournament support. We're really excited where that can go," he added.

Dedicated communities have helped Sony establish some of its biggest properties online, said Denny, enabling titles like SingStar and Buzz to evolve as they've moved on to the PlayStation 3.

"With community spaces, SingStar is now an online community of over 300,000 users. With Buzz as well, look at that going online in terms of user-generated quizzes, there's over 100,000 user-generated quizzes that have had over seven million plays. Those have helped us transition those titles into an online space on PlayStation 3," he said.

The full interview with Michael Denny, where he discusses the future of Sony's London Studio, hopes for Quantic Dream's Heavy Rain, and more, can be read here. ...

via Games Industry


Sony Computer Entertainment has confirmed that the PlayStation division is currently involved in the review affecting the wider Sony business

Sony announced this morning that it will axe 8000 jobs and reduce investment in manufacturing, although SCE would not detail whether those cuts will have a direct affect on the PlayStation group.

"In order to stay competitive in the accelerating global network environment, we will always carefully review and make structural changes, if necessary, in order to further expand and strengthen the PlayStation business around the world," said Sony Computer Entertainment in a statement.

Sony said today that its electronics division has been affected by the current economic downturn, and it plans to downsize or withdraw from "unprofitable or non-core businesses."

However, some believe the announced measures won't be enough to help the company, with one analyst stating that Sony needs to prove which parts of the company are going to achieve profits in the future, rather than reduce headcount.

"The number sounds big, but this staff reduction won't be enough," said Katsuhiko Mori, fund manager at Daiwa SB Investments, to the BBC.

"Sony doesn't have any core businesses that generate stable profits - the next thing we want to see is what is going to be the business that will drive the company." ...

via Eurogamer


Sony Worldwide Studios bigwig Michael Denny has described Heavy Rain as an "interactive drama" that will be played in people's heads more than it is on control pads.

Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, Denny revealed that the game had been made to appeal both to core and casual gamers, using mature content and situations with real consequences.


French developer Quantic Dream is making Heavy Rain exclusively for the PlayStation 3. The studio has had success in the adventure game genre with Fahrenheit and Omikron.

Heavy Rain was announced proper during the Leipzig Games Convention this August, in which a trailer showed a lady pull up on a motorbike and enter a suburban house. Some shocking discoveries later, and Madison - the woman - was desperately looking for a hiding place as an ominous figure approached.

Context-sensitive controls will be central to this cinematic and emotional experience, as will Quick Time Events. But Madison, apparently, will not be. The trailer shows a separate and unrelated story, which left us all a bit confused.

And we still are, as concrete details on Heavy Rain - due late next year - remain scarce.

We hope to uncover a few of those secrets for you very soon. Until then, head over to our Heavy Rain preview from August to find out more. ...