via Eurogamer


Microsoft and Bungie are under fire from Xbox 360 owners experiencing disc-read errors from their new copies of Halo 3.

For some, that compounds existing problems with scratched discs in the Legendary Edition.

In both cases, Microsoft has already said that it will replace busted copies of the game, including Limited Edition versions, for free until the end of the year.

But that hasn't done much to quieten the discord on forums. A typical thread on Bungie's website now stretches to 30 pages, including anecdotal accounts of Microsoft support staff "confirming" that a bad batch of Halo discs exists and culminating in a 230-strong list of people claiming to be experiencing the disc-read problem.

Indeed, Eurogamer TV's own Johnny Minkley has had the same problem, although it's equally possible that he just put it in upside down or clogged it up with chest hair.

In other Halo-related developments, it's being reported that a bug which prevents players transferring Campaign mode progress between Xbox 360s is being tackled by Bungie at the moment.

The issue apparently occurs when you try to resume a Campaign having either moved the hard disk to another Xbox or used a memory unit to transfer it, resulting in an "unsafe to respawn" error that dumps you back to the main menu. Fortunately, you can still load any mission or insertion point to reclaim most of your progress, and a fix is expected soon.

And finally, tech boffins at Beyond3D reckon Halo 3 has joined a relatively poorly populated club of Xbox 360 games that run natively at 640p, rather than 720p, and then upscale.

It's well known that Bizarre Creations had to run PGR3 at 600p to achieve their desired frame-rate, so it wouldn't be completely surprising to discover that Bungie had been forced to do likewise to achieve their ambition.

Not that most will notice, of course. In fact, they would have got away with it if it weren't for those meddling kids. ...

via Eurogamer


In case you hadn't noticed, the European PlayStation Store was updated with a handful of bits and bobs yesterday.

Among its biggest treats were new demos for the excellent SEGA Rally and not-so-good Folklore, as well as fresh content for MotorStorm, Ninja Gaiden Sigma and Spider-Man 3.

MotorStorm fans will now be able to race a new truck and mud plugger around some dirty land in the Capitano & Varjack vehicle pack for GBP 1.49 (EUR 2.12); Ninja Gaiden Sigma owners will be able to master a series of challenges based around alacrity in the Speed Master pack for GBP 2.99 (EUR 4.27); and Spider-Man 3 fans will be treated to a new Goblin character in the functionally named Goblin pack for GBP 3.99 (EUR 5.69).

But if you want to sit back and relax, you can always take in new videos for InFamous, PES 2008 and Feel Ski, or just decorate your background with new Heavenly Sword and WarHawk wallpapers.

That's a little more content than the US Store was treated to, with Jericho and NBA 2K8 demos (the Jericho demo will be here next week), MotorStorm and Ninja Gaiden Sigma content, plus a spattering of game trailers making up their arrangement.

Last week Sony released LocoRoco Cocoreccho in the PlayStation Store for a meagre GBP 1.99. We've just published our thoughts on it, which come in the form of a solid recommendation for one of the best PSN additions to date. ...

via Eurogamer


Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has told Eurogamer that Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction has been delayed - and won't now be released until November.

The game was originally supposed to be out on 23rd October in both the US and Europe, as announced recently.

But now a post on the PlayStation blog has revealed a new North American release date of 30th October, with the demo arriving on PlayStation Network "by October 11th" over there.

A Sony spokesperson told Eurogamer a specific date for the European release of R&C has yet to be confirmed. However, he did say it will hit the shops some time in "early November", with the demo due out in "mid-October".

According to SCEA's Greg Phillips "the extra wait will be worth it". He said Insomiac "has been hard at work squeezing every last detail, dance move and tool of destruction" into the game.

It certainly looked spanky when we got the chance to go hands-on earlier this month - check out the preview for more info. ...

via Eurogamer


Sony has revealed plans to pull Gran Turismo HD Concept from the Japanese Store, in preparation for Gran Turismo 5 Prologue next month.

This means PS3 owners in Japan have until Sunday to download GT HD, before seeing it disappear forever.

Sony Europe currently has nothing to announced regarding the future of the PSN game here, echoing silence in the US [echoing silence? - Ed].

Gran Turismo HD Concept was released alongside the PS3 here in March. It gives you a feel for what the full fifth instalment in the series will be like when it appears sometime in the future.

We had a great time with it, and thoroughly recommended it to anyone listening. We'd also recommend you get your hands on it while you still can. Better safe than sorry.

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is yet to be dated for Europe, but we still carry a torch for the PSN version turning up here before Christmas and Blu-Ray offering to follow next year.

We'll keep you posted. ...

via Eurogamer


Sony has declined to comment on rumours that its recent FCC filing was for a new 40GB PS3.

The code number for this phantom model is listed on the official Federal Communications Commission as CECHG01. Detectives among you will realise this is not the same as the existing numbers for the 60GB (CECHA01) and 80GB (CECH01) units. How very cunning.

Hardware has to be legally checked over by the FCC before it can manufactured and sold in shops - it is a US legal requirement covering all sorts of bits and bobs that use the radio spectrum, including things like Wi-Fi.

However, the listing is far from confirmation that this is the 40GB PS3 model rumours pointed to earlier this week, which arose from a story on Sky's website that a Taiwanese company called FoxConn was making a new GBP 299 SKU.

And on closer inspection, the FCC listing unveils a subsidiary company of China-based AsusTek as the maker, the hand behind the current 80GB model.

It is a fishy conundrum, not unlike the sort of thing Sharky & George use to unravel. So speculate away. ...

via Games Industry


The Sims 2: Bon Voyage has taken the top spot in the latest German software chart, compiled using data from Media-Control GfK International.

While Nintendo platform titles remained popular, taking up six of the top ten titles, neither of top two were Wii or DS titles, as Sierra's World in Conflict took second spot.

Pokemon and Brain Training titles still sold well, while Super Paper Mario, Pony Friends, Heavenly Sword and Medal of Honor filled out the rest of the chart.


The full chart:

1. The Sims 2: Bon Voyage (PC)
2. World in Conflict: Uncut Edition (PC)
3. Pokemon Diamond (DS)
4. Super Paper Mario (Wii)
5. Medal of Honor Airborne (PC)
6. Dr Kawashima's More Brain Training (DS)
7. Dr Kawashima's Brain Training (DS)
8. Pokemon Pearl (DS)
9. Heavenly Sword (PS3)
10. Pony Friends ...

via Games Industry


Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII has remained at the top of the Japanese software sales chart for a second consecutive week, despite pressure from new entries which include a new Metal Gear Solid title.

Portable Ops Plus, an expansion to the original PlayStation Portable title sold 93,000 units in its first week of release, according to data from Media Create, while Crisis Core racked up another 109,000 in the week ending September 23.

Pokemon titles took third and fourth places, while four other new entries, including Super Mario Strikers and Samurai Warriors: Katana also made the new top ten, with Nintendo platforms accounting for seven titles, and Sony platforms for three.


The full top ten is as follows:

01. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (PSP)
02. Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Plus (PSP)
03. Pokemon Fushigi no Dungeon: Toki no Tankentai (DS)
04. Pokemon Fushigi no Dungeon: Yami no Tankentai (DS)
05. Katekyoo Hitman Reborn!! DS Flame Rumble Kaien Ring Soudatsuen! (DS)
06. Super Mario Strikers (Wii)
07. Kiniro no Corda 2 Anchor (PS2)
08. Mario Party 8 (Wii)
09. Samurai Warriors: Katana (Wii)
10. Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles - Ring of Fates (DS) ...

via Games Industry


The PlayStation 3's new flagship title, Heavenly Sword, was top of the Spanish software chart for sales in the week ending September 23.

The data, compiled by Media-Control GfK Interational demonstrated a far wider variety of platforms represented than we've seen in the past, with each of the top five games on a different system.


The full chart is as follows:

1. Heavenly Sword (PS3)
2. WWE Smackdown! Vs. Raw 2007 Platinum (PS2)
3. Super Paper Mario (Wii)
4. The Sims 2: Bon Voyage (PC)
5. Dr Kawashima's More Brain Training (DS)
6. Pro Evolution Soccer 6 Platinum (PS2)
7. Pokemon Diamond (DS)
8. Colin McRae: Dirt (PS3)
9. WWE Smackdown! Vs. Raw 2007 Platinum (PSP)
10. Dr Kawashima's Brain Training (DS) ...

via Games Industry


While the release of the PSP Slim and Lite in Japan has reignited hardware sales of the console, numbers for other platforms dropped further, according to the latest retail data from Media Create.

Sales of the PSP, which in the figures isn't divided into individual SKU, hit nearly 280,000 in the week ending September 23 - that's up from 95,000 the previous week, and far more than normal chart-topper, Nintendo DS, on just over 70,000.

In fact most of the other platforms dipped once again as, with the PSP aside, hardware numbers continued to tail off.

The PlayStation 3 dropped by 18 per cent on the previous week, while sales for the PlayStation 2 dipped by 13 per cent, the DS by 12 per cent, and the Wii 5 per cent.

The only console to buck the trend, other than the PSP, was the Xbox 360, which saw sales jump by over a third - although that only represented a increase of about 400 additional consoles, to a total of 1687.

The hardware sales list in full:

1. PlayStation Portable: 277,794
2. Nintendo DS: 70,523
3. Nintendo Wii: 24,992
4. PlayStation 2: 11,373
5. PlayStation 3: 10,732
6. Xbox 360: 1687
7. Game Boy Advance: 382
8. Nintendo GameCube: 15 ...