Reader Pete was lucky enough to attend a presentation that Microsoft and Toshiba were giving about their respective HD DVD players—Microsoft with a production sample Xbox 360 attachment and Toshiba with their HD-A2 and HD-XA2 second-generation HD DVD players.

We got to view some HD-DVDs discs that aren't out yet, and the picture quality was absolutely stunning. [redacted] made it clear that we couldn't discuss what titles we saw. These were 4th or 5th generation HD-DVD titles, and they really have the VC-1 encoding down to a science. They told us to keep the actual bit-rates secret, but they are only slightly higer than regular DVD bitrates which is astounding. (and we're talking about 1080p 24fps video here).

We watched everything on a 50" Pioneer Elite 1080p plasma, which i kind of thought was cheating - everything looked incredible on it. The 360 was hooked up via component, outputting 1080i. Definitely no 1080p over component - that's blocked by the AACS copy protection. The plasma, however reconstructed the 1080p from the discs perfectly, and it you would expect it to for $10k.

Some things I found out, and can talk about is the 360 HD-DVD drive can be plugged into a PC and it will be recognized as an optical drive, but will not play HD-DVD movies. I asked what if you have the proper HD-DVD software on the PC, to that [redacted] said that he didn't know, it hadn't been tried yet- maybe there's something there...

He toed the old 360-won't-have-hdmi line. He cited cost as the deciding factor when they were developing the hardware. He said that the HDCP and the ICT flag will never be a issue becasue the install base of the 360 HD-DVD drive will be so large (he said millions, mabye tens of millions) that any studio that decided to implement ICT would be roasted alive in the press. They wouldn't say how many HD-DVD drives would be available at launch (Nov 17, i think), but later on during different questions/conversations they said there would be "a couple hundred thousand", and "several hundred thousand" for the holidays. Random 360 HD-DVD bits - all the HD-DVD decoding is done in software, the HD-DVD drive will come with the media remote and the King Kong HD-DVD.

We all got "preliminary" spec sheets on the new HD-A2, and HD-XA2 - no new info there, although the HD-A2 is supposed to drop next week, HD-XA2 drops in Nov/Dec.
I asked if the old models would ever get 1080p output through firmware, to which they replied an definitive no, but the old players would not be abandoned, firmware-wise.

So to summarize, the 360 HD DVD can be hooked up to a PC, and has a slight chance it can be used as a player if you have the right software. The first generation HD DVD players from Toshiba are SOL and will never get 1080p, and the Xbox 360 HD DVD will only have 1080i via component. ...

Nintendo Taiwan plans to import a larger number of Nintendo DS Lite game console in October but observed that some distributors are hoarding inventory on hand in order to earn a better profit during Christmas time, according to Hakuyu, the official DS Lite distributor in Taiwan.

The distributor said it plans to import 10,000 DS Lites for the Taiwan market on October 30, following a consignment of 6,000 units in September. Hakuyu said supply from Nintendo is still unstable as distributors from other regions are all demanding more game consoles amid increasing sales.

Supply is further aggravate as some distributors are holding on to their inventory of DS Lites in order to earn a better profit during Christmas. Hakuyu said it would evenly distribute the upcoming batch of DS Lites to all sales outlets. ...

Sony may fall behind rivals in the initial phase of the next-generation game console race, but is likely to grab the top spot eventually, Japan's top video game magazine publisher, Enterbrain, said on Friday.

Sony and Nintendo Co. Ltd. will in November start rolling out their latest game gear, the PlayStation 3 (PS3) and Wii, setting a stage for a three-way showdown with Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox360.


"The PS3 will have a tough time globally at the initial stage. Its launch titles in Japan and exclusive software titles overseas are quite limited," Enterbrain President Hirokazu Hamamura told a seminar.

"But its overwhelmingly realistic graphics will give it a long life span. It will stay competitive even when a game console battle breaks out among a newer generation of machines in 2010. Sales should grow every time Sony cuts prices," he said.

Costs of manufacturing consoles come down as production yields improve, helping game makers cut prices to stoke fresh demand.

Enterbrain expects Sony to sell 4.13 million units of the PS3 worldwide in the current business year ending March 2007. Sony itself aims to ship 6 million units over the same period.

The publisher also expects Nintendo to sell 5.47 million units of the Wii by March, compared with Nintendo's own target to sell 6 million units.

Besides the lack of game titles at the start, PS3 sales will be hampered by its high price tag, Hamamura said.

Sony expects a model of the PS3 with a 20-gigabyte hard disk drive and a Blu-ray high-definition optical disc player to sell for $499 in the United States, about twice as much as the Wii price.

But in the longer term, Enterbrain expects the PS3 to outsell both the Wii and Xbox 360, helped by its lifelike graphics and a rich pool of potentially popular game software that will be released in 2007 or later.

Those software titles, many of which are sequels to existing games played on the blockbuster PlayStation 2, include "Metal Gear Solid 4 Guns of the Patriots" from Konami Corp..

By the end of 2009, Enterbrain expects Sony's PS3 sales to total 34 million units, surpassing an estimated 25 million Wii sales and 28 million Xbox 360 sales. ...

New from SuccessHK



Little Einsteins, Playhouse Disney TV series, now comes to your GBA! Take kids on wild adventures with characters from the show. Multiple challenges await -- from steering Rocket to avoid obstacles in the air, matching pieces of music, dancing over flower buds and making art come to life. A different piece of art opens each mission. Fly over mountains and through canyons, as well as gather instruments to play music. ...

New from SuccessHK



Product Features of SONY PSP PSP Emergency Charger 4800mAh

Store energy in the lithium battery with the PSP AC adaptor
Spply the power to the PSP game console at any time
ON/OFF switch
LED indicator
4800mAh lithium battery

More Description of SONY PSP PSP Emergency Charger 4800mAh

This product stores electric energy in the lithum battery with the PSP AC adapor and then supply the power to the PSP console at anytime.

Weird thing is that the price is Price:USD 0.00

If thats not a typo then cheapo chargers for all ...

News from Play Asia

In these classic gaming news updates you will find a frequent summary of all classical titles which were added to our site. Availability is subject to frequent changes and fast decisions are recommended as we usually have only very few copies of those titles that are listed below. As always we are trying to expand our catalogue regularly.

In case a title is already listed as sold out, we recommend you to subscribe to our Personal Agent on the item's product page. We are monitoring your subscription and try to restock the title if possible. Once the game is back in stock, you will automatically receive an e-mail notification from us.

Further, if you are looking for any title that is not listed on our website yet, you are always welcome to contact our customer service with your request. We will try our best to track down the requested title and add them to our website with one of our next major updates.

If you are interested in Classic Games, and you wouldn't read this otherwise, we know you are interested in The Encyclopedia of Game.Machines. Covering 33 years of video games history on 224 full colour pages. Ships within 24hrs as well and makes a good addon to an order of any classic game.


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Product additions from October 13th, 2006

Before the weekend now the last of our restock updates for this month including a lot of different systems including PC-Engine™, NeoGeo™ and many more. We have around 500 other new classic games in stock already which are added on a daily basis and will be published in our next classic gaming news next week step by step.

PC-Engine™

Aero Blasters [pre-owned] JPN US$ 39.90
Ai Choaniki [pre-owned] JPN US$ 39.90
Akumajo Dracula X: Chi no Rondo [pre-owned] JPN US$ 159.90
Alien Crush [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Asuka 120% Maxima: Burning Fest [pre-owned] JPN US$ 34.90
Avenger [pre-owned] JPN US$ 19.90
Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon [pre-owned] JPN US$ 24.90
Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Collection [pre-owned] JPN US$ 24.90
PC Genjin 3: Bonk's Big Adventure [pre-owned] JPN US$ 39.90
Cadash [pre-owned] JPN US$ 39.90
Circus Lido JPN US$ 69.90
City Hunter [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Cosmic Fantasy 2: Bouken Shounen Ban [pre-owned] JPN US$ 24.90
Darius Plus [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Devil Crash [pre-owned] JPN US$ 39.90
Dragon Knight III [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Fausseté Amour [pre-owned] JPN US$ 99.90
Final Soldier JPN US$ 34.90
Final Soldier [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Gain Ground SX [pre-owned] JPN US$ 69.90
Galaga '88 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 19.90
Gradius [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Gradius II: Gofer's Ambition [pre-owned] JPN US$ 44.90
Gunhed [pre-owned] JPN US$ 54.90
Hellfire S: The Another Story [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Hit the Ice [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Iga Ninden Gaiou [pre-owned] JPN US$ 64.90
Image Fight [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Kyuukyoku Tiger [pre-owned] JPN US$ 34.90
Liquid Kids [pre-owned] JPN US$ 64.90
Magical Chase [pre-owned] JPN US$ 159.90
Magical Chase PC-Engine FAN Edition [pre-owned] JPN US$ 149.90
Neutopia [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Nexzr [pre-owned] JPN US$ 79.90
Ninja Gaiden [pre-owned] JPN US$ 54.90
PC Denjin [pre-owned] JPN US$ 39.90
PC Genjin [pre-owned] JPN US$ 44.90
PC Genjin 2 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 39.90
PC-Engine DUO Console [pre-owned] JPN N/A
PC-Engine DUO-R Console [pre-owned] JPN US$ 219.90
Pocky & Rocky [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Popful Mail [pre-owned] JPN US$ 79.90
Rainbow Islands [pre-owned] JPN US$ 84.90
Record of Lodoss War [pre-owned] JPN US$ 24.90
Shinobi [pre-owned] JPN US$ 34.90
Soldier Blade [pre-owned] JPN US$ 54.90
Star Parodier [pre-owned] JPN US$ 69.90
Startling Odyssey [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Steam Hearts [pre-owned] JPN US$ 99.90
Street Fighter II Champion Edition [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Summer Carnival '93: Nexzr Special [pre-owned] JPN US$ 74.90
Super Darius [pre-owned] JPN US$ 39.90
Super Real Mahjong P IV Custom [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Taito Chase H.Q. [pre-owned] JPN US$ 19.90
Terra Cresta II [pre-owned] JPN US$ 99.90
Toilet Kids [pre-owned] JPN US$ 54.90
Violent Soldier [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Ys I + II [pre-owned] JPN US$ 44.90
Ys IV: The Dawn of Ys [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90

PC-FX™

Boundary Gate: Daughter of Kingdom [pre-owned] JPN US$ 24.90
Can Can Bunny Extra DX [pre-owned] JPN US$ 24.90
Der Langrisser FX [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Dragon Knight 4 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 44.90
Megami Tengoku II [pre-owned] JPN US$ 39.90
Pia Carrot e Youkoso!! [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90

Mega Drive™

Beast Warriors [pre-owned] JPN US$ 14.90
Devil Crash MD [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Forgotten Worlds [pre-owned] JPN US$ 24.90
Gynoug [pre-owned] JPN US$ 44.90
Hellfire [pre-owned] JPN US$ 24.90
Pepen ga Pengo [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Phantasy Star II: Kare Razaru Toki no Owari Warini [pre-owned] JPN US$ 24.90
Rainbow Islands Extra: The Story of Bubble Bobble [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Sonic Spinball [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Sonic the Hedgehog [pre-owned] JPN US$ 14.90
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 19.90
The Super Shinobi II [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Wonder Boy V: Monster World III [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90 ...

New for Xbox 360 in Asia:



From the manufacturer: Put a face to your gaming experience and make the most out of your Xbox Live® Gold subscription with crystal clear video chat and messaging. Both Xbox Live Vision packages also include the Xbox Live Arcade hits UNO and Totemball, available for download from Xbox Live Marketplace.

Initial supply of the Asian Version Xbox Live Vision camera is in stock today, available at US$ 39.90 only. The Japanese Version of this product is on preorder to ship early November at the same price. Also available is the US Version Xbox Live Vision Gold Pack (w/ 12-Month Gold Subscription) at US$ 79.90 respectively.

Product features:

Maximize your Xbox Live Gold subscription with video chat and video messaging (Gold membership required for video chat).
Put a face on your gamertag and make yourself known to the people on your friends list.
Bring gesture-based games to life using your body movements to control the action.
Supports games designed with "face in game" technology for a personalized gaming experience—add your face to your character in-game.
Crystal-clear images are a snap with VGA 640H x 480V video at 30 frames per second and still photos at 1.3 mega-pixels.

More Info --> http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-...9-en-84-n.html ...

News from Play Asia

Welcome to this week's Movie/Music news roundup, containing all new Japanese and Hong Kong Video and Music releases from this week listed at Play-Asia.com. Around 150 new items are covered in this week, including new J-Pop, Anime as well as Japanese, Hong Kong and Western movie releases and much more.

Here's a summary of all new releases that were published between Saturday, October 7th and Friday, October 13th If some specific item that you are looking for is missing, please don't hesitate to contact our customer service with your request.


J-Pop Music releases (36)
Anime Soundtracks & Drama CDs (2)
Hong Kong Version Music releases (5)
Hong Kong Version Movie releases (12)
Japanese Movies (1)
Non-Japanese Movies / Japanese Version (74)
Anime DVD releases (4)
J-Pop DVD releases (10)
Idol DVD (4)

More info --> http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-...9-en-84-n.html ...

The a rumor circulating that first-party Wii games will be priced higher than previously announced is still a lingering question of debate. EB Games and Gamestop websites started everyone talking yesterday after listing Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Mario Galaxy at $59.99.

This could very well be another instance of retail websites getting their pricing wrong and releasing it to the public. However, if true, Nintendo will have gone against statements made at last months New York Wii press conference where they clearly said first-party titles will retail for $49.99. We contacted Nintendo early yesterday morning and they are aware that this information is out there, but have yet to make a statement.

We receive numerous tips every day from readers scouring the EB Games and Gamestop websites looking for any little detail of information. It would be really nice if the company would realize that consumers are taking their website pricing as gospel and running with it. This is either a case of another EB Games and Gamestop website screw-up or Nintendo broke its word. Both sides of this coin ain't pretty. ...