After being delayed multiple times, Sony's BDP-S1 Blu-ray is finally available for purchase. They should be in stores now, if not later this week.

Sony's BDP-S1 has 1080p and HDMI outputs, along with the ability to play back just about all Blu-ray format discs out there now. If you're looking to save $400, and can actually find one in stock, a PlayStation 3 can also play back Blu-ray movies in 1080p and has HDMI as well.

Via Gizmodo ...

Sony is planning to release a series of firmware upgrades to make sure PlayStation 3 reaches its full potential, which means there will be no need for a new Sony console until at least 2010.

Paul Holman, vice president of technology for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, claims that PS3's Cell processor has "a heap more processing headroom than was initially anticipated and that this is resulting in the development of new gaming capabilities". He then revealed that Sony will attempt to "harness this power with firmware upgrades and new features".

These new features could include the ability to download third-party operating systems to the console, as Holman has witnessed a PS3 handling a Linux application. While that isn't the most exciting news ever, it's clear that Sony is aware that PS3 has masses of potential and that it will have to work hard to exploit it fully.

Holman also mentioned that a firmware upgrade will be in place for the European launch as well as 20 more PS3 titles than were available at the US launch.

via gamesradar ...

Via Gamespot

Department store and online retailer Littlewoods has started taking preorders for Sony's PlayStation 3 console on its Web site. Customers can choose from a variety of bundles, all for the 60GB PlayStation 3, starting at £549 (approx. $1,086) for a PS3 and the Motorstorm game.

Other bundles include a £609 ($1,204) bundle that matches the console and two games--Resistance: Fall of Man and Call of Duty 3. The most expensive bundle is going for £699 ($1,383) and includes four games--Genji: Days of the Blade, Motorstorm, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Tony Hawk's Project 8.

Extra controllers can be bought for £39 ($77). Twelve games are listed, and can be bought for £55 ($108) each. Other game titles include Singstar, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas, and Pimp My Ride. The Web site promises delivery "within 17 weeks."

The store is also offering preorders for the Nintendo Wii--due to be released in Europe on December 7--although the delivery time for the consoles could be up to nine weeks.

When asked if it was going to start preorders, a Woolworths rep told GameSpot, "It is too early to take PS3 preorders. It is vitally important to have visibility of stock levels before taking customer orders to avoid disappointing any customers." A spokesperson from Argos said, "All I can tell you is that we will be [offering preorders] in the near future but the date has yet to be finalised." And one retailer who requested anonymity said of the Littlewoods preorders, "Are they mad?" ...

via eurogamer

Bookmaker Paddy Power has predicted that EA's Need for Speed will top the all-formats software chart for the third year running this Christmas.

NFS: Carbon is the favourite with odds of 8/13, followed by fellow EA title FIFA 07 at 4 to 1. NFS: Most Wanted took the number one spot last year, while NFS: Underground 2 achieved the same feat in 2004.

Hit Xbox 360 shooter Gears of War has been given odds of 10 to 1, along with Rainbow Six: Vegas and Vivendi's new movie tie-in, Eragon.

Also in the running are Tony Hawk's Project 8, Superman Returns, Call of Duty 3 and the latest instalment in the WWE Smackdown vs. Raw series, plus family-oriented titles Bratz: Forever Diamonds and Happy Feet at 80 to 1. The full list of odds is available at PaddyPower.com.

"Need for Speed is the game to beat every year and this year it's no different," said Paddy Power's Sharon McHugh.

"There are some great games out there - FIFA 07 is proving to be very popular with enhanced features that have made it go straight to No.1 in the charts. Gears of War has also been hailed as one of the best games this year, but the fact it's only available on the Xbox 360 means it won't be able to compete with Need for Speed."

ELSPA MD Mike Rawlinson said Christmas 2006 is likely to be "another great year" for videogames, adding, "There are lots of strong competitors as always and it is impossible to tell if the favourite will make it or be pipped to the post last minute. There is a great selection of games that will appeal to various age groups and styles of gameplay to battle it out." ...

Speaking to smarthouse.com.au Paul Holman, vice president of technology at SCEE said that recent talk of Sony moving focus from hardware to software following recent changes in its board room "is a bit far fetched". He said, "To say that there will be no PS4 because of a management change is a bit far fetched."

The smarthouse story ran with the headline PS4 in 2010, but we can't see that happening at all, the console won't even go on sale in Europe until 2007 and Sony has already said that PS3's life cycle could last up to ten years - not that we can see that happening either...

Speaking of PlayStation Store, Holman added, "The site will have movie trailers, 1080p Blue Ray movies and game clips as well as full movie and game titles for direct purchase by a consumer. We believe that this will appeal to PS3 users while also allowing new developers to market their developments to the PS3 user."

Holman also said that he expects 20 new PS3 games to be available from the European launch next March.

Via CVG ...

You may have spotted the brave chap dressed as a giant Wii Remote in our Japanese Wii launch report - the man who we've named 'Wii-mote Man'. Well, we've done some research and discovered Wii-mote Man's official website, and we love his cardboard controller-waving antics so much we thought we'd share them with you all.

Not even our own Mike Jackson - a man who regularly sports a pair of Mario and Luigi pants (we're told) - shows this much devotion for all things Nintendo. Though to be fair, we'd strongly discourage anyone planning to dress up as a giant Nintendo controller on the Tube this Thursday, as thing's are very different in Japan. Over here you'd probably get beaten up by a railway tramp.

If you spot Wii-mote Man anywhere else be sure to let us know!

Screens at CVG ...

Via CVG

Wii is a core gaming device while PS3 is a broader entertainment solution says Sony

14 CommentsSony's general manager for Australia and New Zealand has had enough of the negative PS3 press: "The Wii-type functionality is more just a sub-element of what the PlayStation 3 offers," he told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"Wii is a core gaming device. It's a more fun, intuitive sort of product to pick up, where the PS3 is a broader entertainment solution; so you can have your fun, enjoyable gaming ... but then you have a whole suite of other applications ... such as Blu-ray media playback, the ability to access your music, access your photos and the interoperability with the PSP", he added.

Wii launches across Europe this Friday. ...

Via CVG

Wii is a core gaming device while PS3 is a broader entertainment solution says Sony

14 CommentsSony's general manager for Australia and New Zealand has had enough of the negative PS3 press: "The Wii-type functionality is more just a sub-element of what the PlayStation 3 offers," he told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"Wii is a core gaming device. It's a more fun, intuitive sort of product to pick up, where the PS3 is a broader entertainment solution; so you can have your fun, enjoyable gaming ... but then you have a whole suite of other applications ... such as Blu-ray media playback, the ability to access your music, access your photos and the interoperability with the PSP", he added.

Wii launches across Europe this Friday. ...

Via CVG

Nintendo's Wii mini-game titles Wii Sports and Wii Play have dominated the Japanese game charts, outselling all other Wii software - including Zelda.

According to Famitsu, Wii Sports - which unlike Europe and the US is not a hardware pack-in the Far East - topped Wii software sales over the launch weekend shifting 176,800 units, which means that over 47% of Japanese Wii owners picked it up with their console.

Wii Play did similarly impressive numbers in Japan this weekend, almost matching Wii Sports at 171,888 units sold - again, meaning that 46% of Wii owners snapped it up.

Surprisingly this leaves Nintendo's flagship launch title Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess lagging in third place having sold 145,068 units - that's an attach rate of 39% - still impressive numbers, but not enough to beat the mini-game champions.

Seemingly these numbers would also suggest that Nintendo's Strategy of attracting new audiences is working - at least in the Land of the Rising Sun, that is. Or, maybe Japanese punters just aren't excited about Link's latest? No, that can't be it.

Additionally, Famitsu also says that the Wii hardware itself managed to sell in the number of 371, 936 - basically confirming yesterday's reports that the console sold out of its 400,000 shipped units, and further suggesting that - with Nintendo of America's claimed 600,000 sold included - the Wii now stands at 1 million units flogged worldwide.

Here's the full list of Japanese Wii sales numbers, according to Famitsu:

Wii Hardware: 371,936

Wii Sports: 176,880
Wii Play: 171,888
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess: 145,068
Odoru Made in Wario: 63,086
Swing Golf Pangya: 12,673
Ennichi no Tatsujin: 10,192
SD Gundam SCAD Hammers: 9,801
Red Steel: 8,823
Tamagotchi Pika Pika Daitouryou: 6,994
Elebits: 6,505 ...