via joystiq

Arguably one of the most sought after hacks in console gaming right now is the ability to vote more than once on Wii's Everybody Votes Channel. So it's no surprise that everyone on the information super highway has been tirelessly working to fool the system. Well, the wait is finally over!

To illegally vote more than once, all you have to do is advance Wii's internal clock by one day. From there you'll be well on your way in fudging the numbers so that your party, I mean, favorite vacationing spot secures the victory. Rinse and repeat until satisfied.

In related news, the color red mysteriously beat out the heavily favored blue in a recent poll. Blue's legal counsel called the result "unsupported by the law or the facts." Red's publicist denied our request for a comment.

Video Here ...

The latest charts are in from Japan and whilst the Nintendo consoles see a drop in sales they still keep their places.

Heres the numbers

Nintendo DS Lite - 136,846
Wii - 63,618
PSP - 34,505
PLAYSTATION 3 - 20,676
PlayStation 2 - 16,192
Xbox 360 - 5,210
Game Boy micro - 953
Game Boy Advance SP - 843 ...

news via blorge

Not content with delaying the launch of the PAL version of the PlayStation 3 (PS3) by three months and charging a premium for it, Sony executives have decided to make the PAL PS3 inferior to the version of the PS3 launched in the US and Japan.

The PAL PS3 is scheduled to launch in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Australasia on 23 March 2007 (PAL is simply the broadcast system used in these countries; NTSC is used in Japan and the US).

Sony will be cost-reducing the PAL version of the PlayStation 3 (PS3) by removing PS2 chips from the PS3 hardware. Instead backwards compatibility with PS2 games on the PAL PS3 will be handled through software emulation. And as we all know, software emulation is slower and less reliable than hardware.

This will mean that while the PAL PS3 will be compatible with a broad range of original PlayStation (PS), it will only be compatible with a limited range of PlayStation2 titles.

Trying to put a put a positive spin on the situation, Sony said in a statement:

“PS3 is first and foremost a system that excels in playing games specifically designed to exploit the power and potential of the PS3 system. Games designed for PS3 offer incredible graphics quality, stunning gameplay and massively improved audio and video fidelity that is simply not achievable with PS and PS2 games. Rather than concentrate on PS2 backwards compatibility, in the future, company resources will be increasingly focused on developing new games and entertainment features exclusively for PS3, truly taking advantage of this exciting technology.”

In the statement Sony acknowledged the compatibility problems with PS2 games in a footnote, saying: “Certain PlayStation 2 format software titles may not perform properly on this system”. A web site at http://www.playstation.com will provide advice about which PS2 games will work with the PS3.

Sony looses money on each PS3 sold in the US and Japan due to high production costs, and is no doubt removing the PS2 chipset from PAL PS3s chipset to reduce the component cost.

However, given that the PAL PS3 is late, more expensive than the PS3 in Japan and Europe, and more importantly more expensive than its competitors, Nintendo’s Wii console and Microsoft’s Xbox, 360 you do have to wonder whether Sony is cost reducing the PS3 out of desperation.

If Sony really didn’t think PS2 compatibility was worth the trouble, why did the company include it in the Japanese and US versions of the PS3? And much can the company be saving by stripping the eight-year-old PS2 chip set from the PS3? It all smacks of desperation.

You do have to wonder whether cost reducing the PS3 to save a few dollars will outweigh the further negative publicity. This could well be the straw that breaks the camel’s backs, and relegates the PS3 to a niche position in the games marketplace in this round of the console wars.

Give feedback via comment ...

news via mediapost

FINALLY SOME GOOD NEWS FOR Sony: In January, the Playstation brand posted its highest numbers in its history, as PS3 sales began to pick up, taking the first few steps toward closing the gap between it and the market leader, the Xbox 360. Of course, given the bluster of Sony sales execs, you'd alternate between thinking that there was a PS3 in every living room in the country -- and that PS3s can't be had for love or money at retail. The former ain't quite right -- data released this week by the NPD Group put the PS3 in third place, with the Nintendo Wii moving 436,000 units and the 360 selling 294,000, trailed by the PS3 with 243,554. And the latter is quite effectively refuted here.

Despite its slow start, though, Sony and the PS3 have enough brand loyalty accumulated from years of dominance with the first two Playstations to ensure a solid install base in the long term. But as time draws short before the long term arrives, Sony's most glaring weakness -- aside from its high price point and lack of present killer titles -- gets worse.

Nintendo is slowly rolling out its online apps, and Xbox Live is the top online service among the next-gen consoles, both as a consumer platform and a tool for marketers to reach gamers. Sony has the Playstation Store and the Playstation Network, but nothing comparing to Live, and no apparent plans to rearrange its online offering to something more integrated.

Sony needs to mobilize its fanboys the same way Microsoft has: it's hard to believe how passionate 360 owners get about their Gamerscores or their buddy lists -- it's all the fun of social networking with added violent competition. Call it the Playnation, call it anything but the Playstation Network -- but until there's a more coherent online offering from the PS3, it'll spend a lot longer in third place.

give feedback via comment ...

news via gaming-age

Nintendo of Japan's site updated today with a revelation that Neo Geo games will be coming to the Wii's Virtual Console download service sometime this year. So far there haven't been any specific game announcements and we don't know the pricing structure for these games. We should hear more soon, possibly as early as March at GDC.

feedback via comment ...

news via nintendojo

Nyko Technologies unveiled today its newest members to the Wii accessories family with the announcement of a Classic Controller Grip and the Click Grip for Wii.

The Classic Controller Grip looks to add grips to the standard Wii Classic Controller, while also adding a "docking fin" to eliminate the dangling nature of the Wii Remote when attached to the Classic Controller.

In an effort to help minimize the number of Wii Remotes flying out gamers' hands, the Click Grip will replace the standard battery cover of the Wii Remote, providing a rubberized, textured grip in pink, blue and gray flavors.

The Classic Controller Grip and Click Grip are both set to release in Spring 2007, and will retail for $14.99 and $5.99, respectively.

feedback via comment ...

news via worthplaying

The Godfather The Don's Edition for the PS3 and The Godfather Blackhand Edition for Nintendo's Wii offer brand new ways to go from Soldier to Don as you gain control of the streets of New York. Follow the path of an Enforcer or Operator; each with its own unique perks and abilities to earn. Now you can chat up specific characters to get the skinny on dirty cops, take down two additional revised compounds of rival Families, execute five new contract hits, and call in larger Corleone Hit Squads when the going gets tough. With The Godfather The Don's Edition also having the new Shipyard and Rail yard transportation hubs to explore and exploit; your path to the head of La Cosa Nostra is wrought with all new perils and excitement.

The Godfather The Don's Edition takes full advantage of the SIXAXIS controller for PS3; manhandle your controller to manhandle your opponent. For improved, hyper-intuitive Blackhand Control in The Godfather Blackhand Edition, use gestures with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to really beat down your opposition, or point directly at the screen using the Wii Remote for pinpoint firearm accuracy.

Developed by EA Redwood Shores, The Godfather The Don's Edition, and The Godfather Blackhand Edition, not yet been rated by the ESRB, are scheduled to ship in March 2007.

give feedback via comment ...

news via worthplaying

The Godfather The Don's Edition for the PS3 and The Godfather Blackhand Edition for Nintendo's Wii offer brand new ways to go from Soldier to Don as you gain control of the streets of New York. Follow the path of an Enforcer or Operator; each with its own unique perks and abilities to earn. Now you can chat up specific characters to get the skinny on dirty cops, take down two additional revised compounds of rival Families, execute five new contract hits, and call in larger Corleone Hit Squads when the going gets tough. With The Godfather The Don's Edition also having the new Shipyard and Rail yard transportation hubs to explore and exploit; your path to the head of La Cosa Nostra is wrought with all new perils and excitement.

The Godfather The Don's Edition takes full advantage of the SIXAXIS controller for PS3; manhandle your controller to manhandle your opponent. For improved, hyper-intuitive Blackhand Control in The Godfather Blackhand Edition, use gestures with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to really beat down your opposition, or point directly at the screen using the Wii Remote for pinpoint firearm accuracy.

Developed by EA Redwood Shores, The Godfather The Don's Edition, and The Godfather Blackhand Edition, not yet been rated by the ESRB, are scheduled to ship in March 2007.

give feedback via comment ...

new release via pj1115

Heres what he had to say-

HideMov is a PRX module for use with one of Dark_AleX's OE firmwares that stops the PSP's video menu from finding any files until a button combination is pressed. That way, you have full control over who can watch your videos!

When launched with the XMB, the module forces the PSP to be unable to find any videos, so it just returns: "There are no videos". When the button combination ([Home]+[L]) is pressed, the PRX lets the video menu find you files again, and you can your movies at will!

For extra security, you can re-disable video's with another button combination ([Home]+[R]). With this utility, you can prevent people from rooting around your personal stuff with ease!

However, there are two things to remember:

* If you've entered the video menu while it's unclocked, and then you lock it, anyone can still see what you've got in the menu (the PSP cache's it). To "refresh" the video menu, just go into the memory stick option of another feature (such as game, saved games, photo, etc)!, and the cache will be cleared! (Pj1115 is trying to find a way to fix this).
* This isn't completely secure. If someone knows what they're doing, they can disable the module from the OE recovery menu!

I'm not going to make any implications as to what this could be used for, other than that it can be used to hide your videos. End of story. If I get any serious complaints about the utility (such as its potential purposes) then I will make efforts to stop distribution.

Have fun, but as always, read the readme file!

Download and give feedback via comment ...