Microsoft's release of the Xbox 360 Elite is unlikely to improve the company's market share in 2007, according to IDC analyst Billy Pidgeon.

Although the company is aggressively challenging rivals Sony and Nintendo in the gaming market, Pidgeon sees software, not hardware, as the key driver for new consumers.

"The Xbox 360 Elite may sway some gamers waiting to decide on a new system, but I don't expect the Elite to have much an effect on the 360's market share this year," said Pidgeon, speaking exclusively to GamesIndustry.biz.

"The higher price and the 120GB hard-drive upgrade should increase revenue for Microsoft and for retailers, but system-selling games such as Halo 3 will increase the 360's position more significantly."

Although Nintendo and Sony insist their consoles are a different offering and therefore in different markets, Microsoft is not afraid of acknowledging and tackling the console competition.

"Microsoft is very aggressive in seeking market share. The 360 is in more direct competition with the PS3, but Microsoft is going after first place and sees Nintendo as a competitor as well," commented Pidgeon.

The online space for home consoles has always been a focus for Microsoft's Xbox brand, and the release of the 360 Elite further confirms the company has its sights set on dominating the area.

"With the 360, Microsoft is extending the online capabilities of Xbox Live including downloads of long form video as well as games and game add-ons, and the point of increasing the hard-drive to 120GB is to enable 360 Xbox Live gamers to download more items more often," offered the analyst.

"Extending Live to Vista systems will also increase Microsoft's online audience, which is an important metric now and going forward," he added.

Pidgeon estimates that Microsoft may soon lower the Premium Xbox 360 console to the same price as the Core model, and he also questioned the USD 179 price of the new hard-drive, to be released at the same time as the Xbox 360 Elite.

"It'd be better for Microsoft to sell through existing Core systems before lowering the Premium SKU to the Core price, which would achieve both a price cut and a value add," said Pidgeon.

"It will be interesting to see how the 120GB hard-drive will do as an upgrade options for current Xbox 360 owners. Uptake on the larger hard drive will increase the potential for Xbox Live downloads, but the price is a bit steep."

via gibiz ...

via engadget



Seven years after the inimitable Ben Heckendorn's original VCSp, we're presented with the latest iteration in his portable console's lineage. The new VCSp is apparently Ben's most finely crafted portable Atari system to date, even featuring the skillful placement of cartridge-as-screen-shade and the fine white plastic frame roughly the size of a chunky Game Boy Advance. The best part: if you ask nicely (can hack up some cash) Ben might even consider making one for you.

More Info ...

According to CNET, Cingular [aka, the new AT&T] has "confirmed" June 11 as the release date for Apple's iPhone. Keep in mind that confirmation in this case is unofficial as it supposedly comes from a front-line sales support person. See, after a call to Cingular's customer service, CNET was transfered to sales where they were told of the magical date. Of course, all this makes perfect sense as the 11th also marks the kickoff of Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference where Steve and Co are always keen to announce new wares

via engadget ...

Divineo USA have just posted on their website for sale a Wiikey clone, heres what they say:




Personally id stick to the original version of the modchip but each to their own. ...

Mike Hayes, president and chief operating officer of Sega Europe, has brushed off concerns for Sonic's future brought on by the run of disappointing review scores for the iconic mascot in recent years.

Despite the Sonic 'Adventure' series and the more recent Sonic the Hedgehog game on 360 and PS3 being met with negative reviews, Hayes told CVG that Sega is "not at all" worried about the future of the blue blur. "Sonic is as popular now as he ever was", he ensured us.

Interestingly Hayes described Sega as a relatively young developer in respect to how long it has been developing for non-Sega platforms. "One thing to bear in mind is that Sega made software for its own hardware. We've only been making software for other companies' platforms for four years so, unlike THQ, EA or Activision, we've got to play catch-up in learning how to work with first-party platforms."

He went on to say: "We also produce Sonic in varying studios. We're aware that some titles haven't performed quite so well but then you've had titles like Sonic Heroes, Sonic Rush on DS, Sonic on PSP and Secret Rings on Wii, which all did great."

via cvg ...

via cvg

We're still 99 percent in the dark where LEGO Batman is concerned, but first artwork released suggests that the Dark Knight's sidekick Robin will be appearing alongside Bats in the game.

Look at the art - how cool is that?

What's currently confirmed about LEGO Batman is that a) it's being developed by LEGO Star Wars chaps Traveller's Tales, b) is heading to multiple platforms and c) is due out in 2008. We can't wait. Seriously.

And we'll add a d), e) and the rest of the alphabet as soon as we can.

Screen Via Comments ...

There's been a bit of hustle and bustle surrounding the release of BioWare's Mass Effect this afternoon, as several European websites report a June 22 exit for the RPG stunner - though Microsoft is keeping quiet.

Italian site Spazio Games (we can't read it without giggling either) first reported the date, penning the European release alongside a US exit on June 5.

Other European news ops have since claimed the dates as real, though Microsoft expectedly refused to comment when contacted this afternoon.

Whether they turn out to be right or wrong, the sci-fi effort has long been expected sooner rather than later - especially seeming as the official website has gone into media overdrive.

Fuel was added to the fire when BioWare co-boss Ray Muzyka told IGN that Mass Effect would be absent from this year's scaled-down E3 in July - blatantly because it'll already be out by then.

We recently had the pleasure to sit down and watch the entire first hour of Mass Effect in action and couldn't be more excited. Look for our full write-up on that soon.

We will of course be the first to shout from the rooftops when Microsoft starts jotting on the Xbox 360 release calendar.

via cvg ...

The man responsible for the visual design of all Sony's PlayStation consoles, Teiyu Goto, has revealed the story behind that boomerang-shaped controller which was mocked by the world and his dog at E3 in 2005. You couldn't escape the comedy jpegs of batman holding the pad either.

"President Kutaragi wanted something different for the controller," Goto told Official PlayStation Magazine. "Quite frankly, we had set aside the ergonomic aspect in favour of the image it conjured up. We wanted to present an avant-garde model for the show, running a risk of being criticised."

It's safe to say that the criticism quickly followed. When asked about his personal thoughts on the controller and if he liked it, Goto replied, "It was very futuristic visually, but practically speaking you only had to hold it to realise how it compared to the Dual Shock 2. You know there are so many players who are used to the PlayStation controller; it's like a car steering wheel and it's not easy to change people's habits."

But the design was dropped and the Sony reverted back to the Dual Shock 2 model, which eventually became SixAxis. "The desire for change for there, but the legacy of the PlayStation was stronger - the slightest change to the controller could annoy players and the risk wasn't worth taking. Also PS2 and PS3 provide backwards compatibility; the ergonomics should be the same when you play games from the previous generation but without having to bring out the 'wired' controllers. It is for these reasons that we reverted to the shape of the classic controller."

You can read the full interview in Issue 005 of Official PlayStation Magazine, on sale now.

via cvg ...

Xbox 360's action game of magic and guns Bullet Witch can now be boosted with new content available to download from Xbox Live Marketplace.

Bullet Witch lead character Alicia can now be decked out in a White Witch costume for free - see attached pic - and a brand new mission Dynamite Beauty can be yours for 20 Microsoft Points.

In addition, new versions of the 'Clad in Streaming Black' mission', one featuring 'Great Spells' unlocked and the other a heightened level of difficulty are available for 20 Microsoft Points.

Plus, a Bullet Witch Xbox 360 Theme pack is available for nowt.

What's been released is only the first wave of planned download content for Bullet Witch.

The game's publisher, Atari, has informed that further free costumes for Alicia (Mummy, Schoolgirl, Secretary and Pixie outfits), four brand new missions - 20 MP each - and enhanced versions of five existing missions (20 MP each) will be released over the coming weeks.

via cvg ...