via Engadget


Here in the US, we've heard some pretty terrifying experiences about selling modchips, but it seems as if higher-ups in the UK are being a bit more reasonable about the whole thing. Reportedly, UK-based MrModchips was cleared of all 26 counts against him for his role in importing and selling console modchips, as the Court of Appeal Criminal Division (Judge Justice Jacobs, in particular) ruled that said chips do not circumvent copyright protection. Better still, the defendant was "awarded full costs as a result of his successful appeal," and we can only assume he was smiling all the way out of the crowded courtroom. Chalk one up for the little guy. ...

via Games Industry


Signal Hill Capital Group's analyst Todd Greenwald has said he expects the mobile games publisher Glu Mobile to launch a range of iPhone titles.

In a report, Greenwald detailed what he was shown at the Glu Games Day - a showcase event for the publisher - and speculated as to the reason no iPhone titles were revealed.

"While we were disappointed that Glu could not show an iPhone title, Glu Mobile is clearly bound by NDA agreements tied to the iPhone App store launch in July, and was not able to say anything," he said.

"However, we believe they are hard at work on one or more iPhone titles, and will have products ready at launch." ...

via Engadget


Yesterday we went over a few of the more confusing bits of the iPhone 3G launch -- and let's be honest, the details of this launch are confusing as hell compared to the original go-round. Of course, there were a lot of burning questions to be answered from the audience, so we got an AT&T spokesperson to weigh in on what's on your mind. The most surprising answer? Contrary to reports implying otherwise, AT&T pretty much categorically claims that no matter where you buy your iPhone 3G, be it from AT&T or Apple, you have to walk out of the store an activated customer. That means no in-home activation, and definitely no buying an iPhone for your friends or family. Check it out below, more questions after the break.

Chris asks: Can these devices be purchased and given as gifts?

No. You will need to walk out of the AT&T or Apple store with the device activated.

Greekjgg asks: What if I want to buy one for work which already uses AT&T for company account? I can't activate in store, obviously, so will it be possible to to buy without a contract?

We don't have details yet but iPhones for business use will likely be provisioned through your company's IT department.

Tons of people ask: If I purchase an original iPhone from a friend will I be able to get the old data plan pricing? Or will I need to sign up at the new, more expensive rate?

Yes. You can get the old data plan price if someone gives you a device and you establish service for yourself.

Chris and SeditioN VII ask: What's the no-commitment price?

We have not yet announced the unsubsidized price.

We follow up: So you WILL be able to buy it without the two year commitment?

We haven't announced whether or not that will be offered.

Vic asks: Will long-time customers who are otherwise eligible for a free or reduced-price handset upgrades be able to lower the price when buying the iPhone 3G?

No one will pay less than $199 for the 8GB or $299 for the 16GB models. As you know, those are subsidized prices.

Matt asks: Say I just recently signed up with AT&T, standard contract. Now I want to get an iPhone 3G -- will I have to pay more than $199 for the phone because it's subsidized? For example, if I were to upgrade to a Blackberry now, I can't get the advertised $99 price (because I am a new, existing subscriber); my price is $374.

It depends on whether or not you are eligible for an upgrade.

We ask: What is the penalty for not activating the phone in 30 days? How will that be enforced?

[no comment given] ...

via Eurogamer


Following the announcement of North American videogames sales figures for May, all three platform holders have given themselves a big old pat on the back.

Nintendo probably deserves one, having actually sold more consoles than anybody else. Last month the Wii made up 63 per cent of all current-gen consoles sold, while the DS took a 71 per cent share of the handheld market. Lifetime sales figures for Wii and DS now stand at 10.2 million and 20 million respectively.

Of the top 30 best-selling games sold in May, 19 were for Nintendo systems. GTA IV may have topped the chart, but Mario Kart Wii was in second place with Wii Fit in third. Wii Play also did well - 295,000 copies were sold, bringing the lifetime total to 5.8 million.

"The Wii Wheel and Wii Balance Board accessories make game play fun for new gamers while presenting new challenges for those who have been playing a long time," said sales executive Cammie Dunaway, polishing the diamonds on the soles of her shoes.

Ignoring the fact Nintendo now owns most of the money in the world, Sony was quick to stick its tongue out at Microsoft. The company's statement said PS3 sales "eclipsed" those of Xbox 360, with a lead of more than 22,000 units sold.

Year-on-year, PS3 sales growth stood at 155 per cent. Software sales were also up, reaching 1.26m units during May - an increase of 234 per cent. And while more copies of GTA IV were sold for 360, Sony pointed out that more than 32 per cent of US PS3 owners bought the game. This means the attach rate was 6 per cent higher.

Between the start of January and the end of May, the PlayStation brand has generated nearly USD 2.27 billion in revenue - that's 46 per cent higher than Microsoft, according to Sony. For May only the figure stood at USD 133 million, 98 per cent higher than Microsoft.

More than 20 million pieces of content were downloaded from the PSN Store during May, including 11.6 million in North America. In total, there are now over 9 million registered PSN accounts worldwide and more than 160 million pieces of content have been downloaded.

Sony described PSP sales for May as "solid", and revealed PS2 sales were up 6.7 per cent over the previous month.

"The media have hailed 2008 as the year of the PS3, and with solid sales and growth opportunities ahead, we feel consumers are saying the same," said Sony bossman Jack Tretton.

Your Mum, said Microsoft, pointing out that Xbox 360 now has a global installed base of more than 19 million. It also has a better attach rate than any other console, with 7.7 games sold per machine.

Of the 25 top-selling first-party franchises, 21 sell best on Xbox 360. That includes GTA IV - 871,000 units have been sold for Microsoft's console, which means the Xbox 360 game is outselling "the other platform's" version by a ratio of two to one.

More third-party games are sold for Xbox 360 than other consoles, with USD 110 million in game sales generated during May. In this generation, 59 per cent of third-party games sold have been for 360.

And besides, Microsoft went on, gamers like hanging out with us best. The company quoted the results of a Nielsen survey that found gamers aged between 10 and 26 spend an average of 75 hours per month playing Xbox 360, compared to 53 hours playing PS3. The figure for Wii was 35 hours.

And besides and besides, the battle's not over yet. "We still have quite a few aces up our sleeve," the company's statement ends. "See you at E3 next month!"

It's not known whether "up our sleeve" is a reference to a new tattoo as per previous E3s, but perhaps not seeing as Peter Moore's left. Rumours Shane Kim will drop his trousers to reveal VIVA PINATA has been stamped across his buttocks, with an interesting interpretation of the dot over the second 'i', are completely made up. ...

via Kotaku


Get ready Guitar Hero III fans, for your doom (at least according to Luke) comes on June 19th, the official release date for the Coldplay track pack on the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live. The three-pack of songs includes the single "Violet Hill" from their upcoming album Viva la Vida, due out June 17th, along with two of the band's older tracks, "God Put a Smile Upon Your Face" form A Rush of Blood to the Head and "Yellow". Seriously, "Yellow"? Did that even have guitar in it? I'd head over to Amazon and check out the excerpt from the song to check but that would mean I voluntarily listened to it, and I made a pledge never to do so again after they played it on the local "alternative" radio station for the millionth time.

Anyone overly excited by this track pack? Speak up, so we might poke you with sticks and try to figure out what makes you tick. ...

via Eurogamer


Rising Star Games has plans to deliver an exclusive fantasy role-playing adventure on Wii.

It's called Little King's Story and is made by Marvelous Entertainment, who gave us various Harvest Moon games.

It will be out here early next year and tells the story of a young boy who finds he has magical powers when he puts a crown on. His adventure begins after he becomes king and returns to the village he grew up in.

In a mixture of real-time strategy and simulation, your task is to expand your village into a wonderful kingdom, fending off any rival nations in your goal of uniting the land.

"Little King's Story has an art style that is very 'story-book' in look and one that we feel will be universally loved. The game has a fairytale quality that will intrigue and delight gamers the world around," said Marvelous boss Yasuhiro Wada.

Sounds quite promising. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude developer High Voltage Software has released eighteen new screenshots of The Conduit, the game CEO Kerry Ganofsk hopes will 'look like a 360 title'.

The shots show a variety of environments and locations, from an underground laboratory corridor, a military base, more corridors and more military base, and a couple of exterior shots just to spice things up a bit.

We think it looks okay, but hardly reaches the dizzy heights of 360 graphics. More worryingly is the complete lack of innovation in the level design and colour palette. Didn't we see those corridors in GoldenEye a decade ago?

The Conduit is currently without a publisher and consequently without a street date.


Screenshots ...

via Kotaku


According to a report over at GamesIndustry.biz, Sony's next motion-sensing controller is closer to fruition than we may have though. Citing various industry sources, GI explains that the company is working on a controller that breaks into two pieces, each containing an accelerometer for Wii-like motion sensing capability. The story mentions that working versions of the new controller have already been delivered to certain development partners.

Nothing official from Sony on this of course, but GI remains confident that something concrete will be announced in the coming moth, possible at the E3 expo this July. ...

via Kotaku


It almost goes without saying, but Nintendo of Europe's managing director Laurent Fischer deeply regrets stating that "geeks and otaku" were the only people concerned about running out of space on their Nintendo Wii due to WiiWare and Virtual Console titles, comments that ticked off gamers and developers alike. Speaking to videogaming247, Fischer offered the following by way of apology.


You know, in all honesty "geek" and "otaku" are way low in the list of things I've been called that cause me offense, but I can certainly see how some people would get upset. As for Laurent, all I can say is always talk as if what you say is going to end up on the front page of a major gaming blog, because it generally is. ...