via Games Industry


NCsoft North America CEO Robert Garriott has released more details on the reasoning behind the company's deal with Sony, and what gamers might expect from the union.

In a statement on the PlayNC.com web site Garriott stated that the first PS3 title from the company could be released as early as Q4 2008, and that the company "won't just be porting our games over."

He also hinted that there may be more to come from the relationship, and specifically that it allows NCsoft to develop "across all of Sony's console hardware platforms…perhaps the PSP."

The company may also choose to set up a new office outside of the Austin, Texas, base, and future titles could branch out from the traditional subscription model, and add "micropayment systems and free-to-play games with membership options."

On working with the Japanese console giant, Garriott was unsurprisingly complimentary.

"We like their vision of where they are going and we believe Sony complements our strategy moving forward." ...

Releasd Today at Play Asia



In commemoration of the series' 10th anniversary, a special Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Slim & Lite PSP™ limited edition bundle, designed by Tetsuya Nomura has been released.

This bundle contains a silver colored Slim & Lite PSP™ console with Final Fantasy VII 10th Anniversary insignia, a Buster Sword strap and a copy of the game (with a special print cover that differs from the original game release). The bundle is limited to exactly 77,777 units and each console bears its unique number on the back of the UMD™ drive.

A first batch of the PSP PlayStation Portable Slim & Lite - Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Bundle is in stock today. More units are confirmed to arrive on or before Friday, clearning all remaining pending preorders. We still have a few units left, new orders are now welcome at US$ 399.90 to ship by end of this week as well. ...

via joystiq

You know what we say? Lair-Shmair. Who cares if there's a killer-app on PS3 if they're going to keep updating the firmware all the time? It's like getting a new console every couple of weeks! (Sure, 360 owners can say the same, but that just because they have to keep mailing them off for repair.) Take, for instance, firmware 1.93 coming in the "next few days" that ... well, it fixes a network disconnect problem created by 1.92. Hmm. ... Let's move on.

On PSP, you've got the upcoming 3.71, which adds "many features that readers [of the Sony blog] have requested." No, they're not talking about any at the moment except for themes, which was actually in 3.70. Either way it's a "must-download," if only to protect ourselves from the ever-approaching homebrew menace. ...

via joystiq

You know what we say? Lair-Shmair. Who cares if there's a killer-app on PS3 if they're going to keep updating the firmware all the time? It's like getting a new console every couple of weeks! (Sure, 360 owners can say the same, but that just because they have to keep mailing them off for repair.) Take, for instance, firmware 1.93 coming in the "next few days" that ... well, it fixes a network disconnect problem created by 1.92. Hmm. ... Let's move on.

On PSP, you've got the upcoming 3.71, which adds "many features that readers [of the Sony blog] have requested." No, they're not talking about any at the moment except for themes, which was actually in 3.70. Either way it's a "must-download," if only to protect ourselves from the ever-approaching homebrew menace. ...

via gibiz

Online gaming business worth $11.8bn by 2011

Online gaming is leading the digital entertainment market, outselling both the video and music business, according to a new report from Strategy Analytics.

The firm calculates the online gaming market generated USD 3.8 billion in 2006 and it's expected to grow to USD 11.8 billion by 2011, with online sales accounting for one third of all software revenue in the industry.

"The rapid growth of the addressable market for digital distribution of both PC and console games will clear the way for distribution of mainstream hit titles which has up to now been restricted to the physical retail channel," said Martin Olausson, director of digital media research.

The continued uptake of broadband and opportunities in the MMO genre will help attract new business to online gaming, says the report.

"The main driver for sustained growth in the online games market will be the continued uptake of broadband services around the world," added David Mercer, principal analyst at Strategy Analytics.

"Additionally, the very lucrative revenue opportunity in both the massively multiplayer segment and the electronic sell through market will continue to attract new entrants into the online games market." ...

via gibiz

Cumulative sales of Nintendo's Wii have now surpassed sales of the Xbox 360, making it the best-selling console of the current hardware generation.

According to a Financial Times report, consumers have purchased 9 million Wii consoles, 8.9 million Xbox 360 consoles, and 3.7 million PlayStation 3 consoles.

Wii sales have now overtaken those of the Xbox 360 despite the fact that Microsoft's machine was launched a year earlier.

"The fact of the matter is that, despite the Xbox’s earlier launch in November 2005, it only sells in two markets – Europe and the US," said one analyst in Tokyo. "Japan is home turf to Sony and Nintendo, so the Xbox is not a player at all. In contrast, Nintendo has been selling well in all three major markets."

Nintendo hasn't been in the top-selling hardware position since it launched the Super Nintendo Entertainment System worldwide between 1990 and 1993. Sony has dominated the hardware market ever since the first PlayStation was released in 1994 (Japan) and 1995 (North America and Europe).

In July, Nintendo surpassed Sony in market capitalisation for the first time. ...

via gibiz

Microsoft has once again assembled an impressive collection of Japanese gaming luminaries to continue its push of the Xbox 360 in Japan.

Ahead of next week's Tokyo Game Show, the company rolled out Team Ninja's Tomonobu Itagaki, Mistwalkers' Hironobu Sakaguchi and representatives from Square Enix at a recent press event to announce format exclusives, brand new titles and release dates for high-profile games.

Team Ninja is developing Ninja Gaiden 2 exclusively for the Xbox 360, while Square Enix has unveiled two new titles – Infinite Undiscovery and The Last Remnant. Developer Mistwalker finally announced the much-hyped Lost odyssey will arrive in Japan this December with a US and Euro release in February.

The Xbox 360 has suffered from poor sales in the region, with the local charts dominated by Nintendo DS and Wii software, as well as titles for the PlayStation 2.

The latest sales data from Media Create shows that the Xbox 360 has sold 406,060 units since its release in December 2005. In contrast, the Nintendo Wii has sold over 3.5 million units since its launch a year later and Sony's PlayStation 3 has shifted over 1.1 million following a November 2006 launch.

As well as boxed games, Microsoft is also lining up a number of Xbox Live Arcade titles from some of Japan's best-loved development studios.

Dreamcast fan favourite's Rez from Q Entertainment and Treasure's 2D shooter Ikaruga will both make the jump to the download service, while Hudson Entertainment will be contributing new IP Omega Five. Warashi is also adding it's arcade shooter Triggerheart Exelica to the line-up.

As well as Japanese developed games, a number of titles from Western developers are also due for release before the end of the year, including Battlefield: Bad Company and Just Cause from Electronic Arts, Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed, Viva Pinata: Party Animals from Krome and Eidos' Battlestations: Midway ...

via /.

Via Kotaku, IGN had the chance to play both the AO- and M-rated versions of Manhunt 2, and they now have a piece up pointing out the differences in the re-rated game. If you've been curious about what is in that warez copy floating around online, they'll piece it together for you. Be forewarned: the stuff that got cut out is pretty gross.
"The content may be too much for some to stomach, but the presentation is well done regardless. Manhunt 2's storyline is made more believable with realistic voice acting, atmospheric camera angles and pans, and moody transitional effects. There's even some comedy thrown in for good measure. Take, for example, a scene in which Danny decapitates a hunter and then uses his severed head to gain entry through a security door. A guard on the other side opens a peephole and sees the decapitated head staring back at him. 'Georgie Boy!' he exclaims. 'Come on in.'" ...

via /.

The Guardian Gamesblog has up a post noting that Gamestop will be rearranging stores to meet casual gamer needs. For example, they'll be creating a section just for music games (karaoke, guitar games, etc). They'll also be putting together a 'family-friendly' area, with a focus on titles like Nintendogs, Lego Star Wars, and the like. The post is based off of an interview in The New York Times with Daniel A. DeMatteo, Gamestop's vice chairman and chief operating officer. In his mind casual games are now so important to sales that the company is having to do some 'radical retail re-thinking':
"There is a real breadth of properties now appealing to a much broader audience than we've seen before. Honestly, we are having to retool the way we think of things in our stores in terms of merchandising, layout and also customer service because it is no longer only the hardcore gamer walking in who knows exactly what he wants." ...