via Games Industry


Sony's John Koller has said that the company remains committed to the UMD format despite suggestions that support from movie companies is waning.

Speaking to Pocket Gamer Koller, who is senior marketing manager for PSP, said, "We'll never walk away from our base. Whether it's movies or game content, third parties have an incredible opportunity to utilise it.

"UMD possesses many strengths, from size to form factor to portability," He continued. "Duplication of UMDs is much easier, cheaper than cartridges. We've really optimised time and cost by going with a disc-based format."

Koller's comments follow news that the most recent PSP firmware update includes an ISO loader which would allow users to play games stored on the Memory Stick. Some have speculated that Sony would be moving away from the UMD format in favor of downloadable content.

Koller admitted that the UMD has a downside. "There's no question the biggest weakness is related to porting games from other platforms. Publishers are concerned about the size of UMD because they can't cram a DVD game on to it," he said.

Castlevania creator Koji Igarashi told Pocket Gamer about a different kind of disadvantage: "The slowness of the seeking speed of UMD is a weakness," he stated, adding that "loading speed becomes a big problem for UMD".

While not specifically addressing the loading speed, Koller said "UMD is a unique medium to create games, and developers need to understand that when tackling the system."

"The future of UMD is bright," he proclaimed. ...

via Games Industry


Microsoft is taking a charge of more than USD 1 billion in the most recent quarter due to the cost of a new extended warranty program for the Xbox 360.

According to a Reuters report, Microsoft cited "an unacceptable number of repairs to Xbox 360 consoles".

Microsoft expects to charge between USD 1.05 and 1.15 billion before taxes for the quarter ended June 30.

The company said that customers who experience general hardware failure indicated by three flashing red lights will now be covered by a three-year warranty.

Microsoft did not confirm or deny earlier reports that a design flaw was to blame for overheating, or that it had made internal changes to the Xbox 360 to add a new heatsink. ...

via Games Industry


Sony has apologised to the people of Manchester for using a recreation of Manchester Cathedral in the game Resistance: Fall of Man.

Last month the game caused uproar for using the environment in the hit PS3 shooter, offending the church with media outrage prompting a response from the Prime Minister.

Now a humbled Sony has taken out a full page advert in the Manchester Evening News apologising "unreservedly" for any offence caused.

"It is clear to us that the connection between the congregation and the cathedral is a deeply personal and spiritual one," offered David Reeves, president of SCEE.

"As a result, it is also clear that we have offended some of the congregation by using the cathedral in our science fiction game. It was never our intention to offend anyone in the making of this game, and we would like to apologise unreservedly to them for causing that offence, and to all parts of the community who might also have been offended." ...

via Games Industry


The DS may still be outselling all other consoles put together in Japan, but sales of Sony's consoles were up last week according to the latest figures from Media Create.

During the week ending July 1, PlayStation Portable sales rose by 5000 units to reach 38,305, while 16,316 PS2s were shifted - an increase of 26 per cent.

PlayStation 3 sales were also on the rise, up by 20 per cent to hit 11,914 units.

Although the DS is still going strong sales were down slightly from around 164,000 units to 157,435. Wii sales rose by over 8000 to reach a figure of 73,919 consoles.

Xbox 360 sales are still trailing - just 3154 consoles were purchased last week.

Game Boy Micro and Game Boy Advance sales stood at 377 and 179 respectively. ...

via Games Industry


Sony Corp. has put an end to rumours that a PlayStation 3 price drop is imminent, with president Ryoji Chubachi stating that there are "no immediate plans" to introduce a cut.

The rumours emerged following an advertisement from US retailer Circuit City which indicated that SCEA was to cut USD 100 off the price of the console. An official announcement was expected next week at the E3 Media and Business Summit.

But according to Bloomberg, Chubachi has said there are "no immediate plans as of now" to reduce the price.

He added that any decisions regarding the price point of PlayStation 3 "is a matter" for the gaming arm of the business, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Chubachi also said that Sony Corp. is looking likely to meet its operating margin target of 5 per cent for the year ending March 2008. ...

Import Gaming store Play Asia have posted all of this weeks import gaming releases, heres the full list from Play Asia

Xbox360™:
Colin McRae DiRT US US$ 59.90
Hour of Victory US US$ 59.90
Overlord ASIA US$ 49.90
Ratatouille US US$ 49.90
Ratatouille ASIA US$ 44.90
The Bigs US US$ 59.90
The Darkness US US$ 59.90
Transformers: The Game US US$ 59.90

PlayStation3™:
Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII JPN US$ 64.90
Boku no Natsuyasumi 3 JPN US$ 59.90
The Bigs US US$ 59.90
The Darkness US US$ 64.90
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas US US$ 64.90

Nintendo Wii™:
Chicken Shoot US US$ 39.90
Driver Parallel Lines US US$ 49.90
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix US US$ 49.90
Pokemon Battle Revolution US US$ 49.90
Ratatouille US US$ 49.90
Transformers US US$ 49.90

PlayStation2™:
Ape Escape 3 (PlayStation2 the Best Reprint) JPN US$ 20.90
GI Jockey 4 (Koei the Best) JPN US$ 34.90
God of War II KOR US$ 59.90
Grim Grimoire US US$ 49.90
Ratchet & Clank 4th Girigiri Gingano Giga-battle (PlayStation2 the Best Reprint) JPN US$ 20.90
Sangokushi IX (Koei Selection) JPN US$ 24.90
Super Robot Taisen OG: Original Generations KOR US$ 59.90
Winning Post 7 (Koei the Best) JPN US$ 34.90

Nintendo DS™:
B-17: Fortress in the Sky US US$ 24.90
Chibi-Robo: Park Patrol JPN US$ 48.90
DS Calorie Navi JPN US$ 39.90
DS:Style Series: Anata mo DS de Classic Kiite Mimasenka? JPN US$ 39.90
DS:Style Series: Chikyuu no Arukikata DS (France) JPN US$ 29.90
DS:Style Series: Chikyuu no Arukikata DS (Italia) JPN US$ 29.90
DS:Style Series: Chikyuu no Arukikata DS (Thai) JPN US$ 29.90
DS:Style Series: Hana Saku DS Gardening Life JPN US$ 39.90
Dokidoki Majo Saiban JPN US$ 48.90
Doko Demo Yoga JPN US$ 39.90
Hoshigami Remix: Ruining Blue Earth US US$ 34.90
Kado-Chan Shiki Doko Demo Kin Trai-Navi JPN US$ 42.90
Kururin Doughnuts: Okashi Recipe JPN US$ 39.90
Puchi Puchi Virus JPN US$ 29.90
Ratatouille US US$ 34.90
Touchmaster US US$ 34.90
Treasure Gaust: Gaust Diver (Crimson Red) JPN US$ 48.90
Treasure Gaust: Gaust Diver (Deep Purple) JPN US$ 48.90

Sony PSP™:
Final Fantasy US US$ 39.90
Hayarikami Portable (The Best Price) JPN US$ 29.90
Hot Wheels Ultimate Racing US US$ 24.90
Jeanne D'Arc (PSP the Best) JPN US$ 29.90
Ratatouille US US$ 39.90
Rengoku 2: The Stairway to H.E.A.V.E.N. (Hudson the Best) JPN US$ 29.90
The Bigs US US$ 39.90
TraxxPad US US$ 39.90

PC Games:
Attack On Pearl Harbor ASIA US$ 36.90
Colin McRae: DIRT ASIA US$ 36.90
Dungeon Siege II: Deluxe Edition ASIA US$ 36.90
Haikyou Gakuen (Slim Version) (DVD-ROM) JPN US$ 64.90
Jade Empire: Special Edition ASIA US$ 36.90
Lost Planet: Extreme Condition ASIA US$ 34.90

Magazine & Book releases:
Arcadia Magazine [August 2007] JPN US$ 12.90
Dead Rising Delusions Replay JPN US$ 22.90
Famitsu Wave DVD [August 2007] JPN US$ 16.50
Lost Planet: Extreme Condition Artbook JPN US$ 27.90
Official Nintendo Pokemon Battle Revolution Player's Guide US US$ 14.90
Pokemon Battle Revolution: Prima Official Game Guide US US$ 16.90

Toys & Misc:
27MHz Dragonfly Set (Blue) US$ 49.90
40MHz Dragonfly Set (Green) US$ 49.90
47G-4A Helicopter (Red) [220V] US$ 28.90
Bleach EX 2 Phone Strap Gashapon JPN US$ 2.90
C3xHobby 1/7 Scale Pre-painted PVC Figure (Devil Ver.) JPN US$ 64.90
Champion High Performance RC Helicopter [220V] US$ 31.90
Excellent Model Core Queen's Blade R-1 1/8 Scale Pre-painted PVC Figure - Experienced Mercenary Echidna JPN N/A
Excellent Model Core Queen's Blade R-1 1/8 Scale Pre-painted PVC Figure - Mori no Bannin Nowa JPN US$ 53.90
Fate/Stay Night Pre-painted PVC Action Figure - Black Saber JPN US$ 20.90
Fine Scenery Noir et Blanc 1/7 Scale Pre-painted PVC Figure - Diana (White Angel) JPN US$ 60.90
Fine Scenery Noir et Blanc 1/7 Scale Pre-painted PVC Figure - Morte (Black Angel) JPN US$ 60.90
High Speed RC Helicopter [220V] US$ 27.90
High Speed X-1 RC Helicopter [220V] US$ 27.90
Jinki Extend Pre-painted PVC Figure - Tsuzaki Aoba & Moribito 2 JPN US$ 44.90
Lingerie Soldier Papillon Rose 1/8 Scale Painted PVC Figure - Papillion Rose JPN US$ 54.90
Megamisama Chuuihou 1/8 Scale Painted PVC Figure - Fauna JPN US$ 54.90
Muv Luv Alternative 1/8 Scale Painted PVC Figure - Meiya Mitsurugi JPN US$ 57.90
Neon Genesis Evangelion School Phone Strap Gashapon JPN US$ 2.49
Nohohon Stitch US$ 9.90
Persona 3: Mitsuru Kirijo 1/7 Scale PVC Figure JPN US$ 49.90
Pia Carrot G.O. Pre-painted 1/8 Scale PVC Figure: Ayano Kunugi (Special) JPN US$ 19.90
Pioneer High Performance RC Helicopter [220V] US$ 44.90
RC Mosquito Helicopter [220V] US$ 29.90
Roboraptor US$ 69.90
Robotpet Set (Pink) US$ 69.90
Robotpet Set (White) US$ 69.90
Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne The Best One Coin ...

remember, dont get the DS Link confused with the DS Linker. ...

via Gaming Bits

SEGA released several new screenshots of Condemned 2: Bloodshot. The original Condemned: Criminal Origins was visually impressive when it was released alongside the Xbox 360 in the end of 2005. The new screenshots show more of the detailed, gritty environment along with a couple of grisly images, keeping the visual bar rising. Condemned 2 will undoubtedly continue to race our hearts.

About Condemned 2: "Players will assume the identity of Ethan Thomas, former Serial Crimes Unit investigator, who has been called back to duty to track down his missing partner. The disturbing events from Ethan’s past have left him a broken man – a desperate burnout drifting aimlessly through society in an inexplicable decline. Fighting inner demons throughout his one-man investigation into a sinister conspiracy, Ethan will need to use anything and everything in the environment to survive as he unravels the mysteries shrouding the city in darkness."







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