Japan's Impress Watch provided some impressions of browser use. Using the Six Axis controller (that's the PS3 controller's Official name, in case you just woke up), you move a cursor around with the left analogue stick and use the right stick to scroll the screen up and down. Circle is for making selections, with L1 and R1 serving as back and forward buttons. Links can be open in a second window, which lines up next to the current window. The windows can be toggled between using L2 and R2. The site reports that, thanks to the PS3's compatibility with high resolution monitors, webpages are easy to look at when browsing on the PS3. ...

It looks like we weren't the only ones to notice the Playstation 3's overheating during the Tokyo Game Show. Macquarie Equities analyst David Gibson also saw some PS3s locking up and having to be reset at the big show. And he didn't like what he saw:

"While the reason for this is unknown, we suspect it may be due to overheating as a result of enclosing the units and the high temperatures at the venue," Gibson wrote. "We are concerned that such a problem has occurred so close to full production and is clearly negative news for the company."
News of the glitches caused a 2.75 percent drop in Sony shares, says Business Week.

In Sony's defense, TGS was, by all accounts, a sweltering A/C-free pit and, so far, all next-gen hardware locks up. My Xbox 360 and debug unit both lock-up if I play them for too long without leaving my entertainment center doors open.

I won't know until I get my greedy little hands on one, but I suspect the PS3's overheating issues are about the same as the issues with the 360. I can't wait to heat my house with the PS360s when they're fully installed and running. I'm already heating my lounge with the Xbox 360 and Plamsa TV. ...

We kind of wish Microsoft would stop putting their best foot forward with the marketing peeps on Zune, and instead let the product stand on its own. Having Chris Stephenson get on camera for CBS and say stuff like "brown is the new black is the new white," and "welcome to the social -- that's one of our key lines" smacks a mite bit disingenuous and wanton, but at very least they learned their lesson about package design from that internal video of theirs -- we're going to miss the "excessively human" marketing materials with "shelf presence" that "communicates the richness of the product." Ah well, one less surprise to look forward to when we finally get our hands on a unit.

Screen Via Comments ...

Nintendo revealed today that it will release an Ethernet Kit for Wii, which allows users to connect the console to a standard internet router without wireless support.

It's undoubtedly good news after concerns that the lack of an Ethernet port on the Wii meant that the console could only connect to the internet via wireless link-up.

For people without a wireless-enabled router, this would mean purchasing a new router or the almost non-existent Nintendo WiFi Connector (that USB dongle thingy). But with the Ethernet Kit available, non-wireless gamers have nothing to worry about.

Those of you who connect your DS to the internet with the Nintendo WiFi Connector can use the same device to connect the Wii. And most wireless routers will also be compatible with the Wii's built-in WiFi technology. So everyone should be online with Wii. Bring on Mario Kart! ...

Recent concerns about PS3's imminent launch and the stability of the console's hardware have caused Sony shares to drop 2.75 percent, according to a report on The Associated Press.

First up, in a report released yesterday, Macquarie Equities analyst David Gibson stated that PS3 units had to be reset frequently at this year's Tokyo Game Show, pointing the finger at overheating.

Sony, of course, has denied hardware issues with PS3 exist, with company spokesperson Nanako Kato saying the TGS phenomenon was likely caused by one-of-a-kind temperature irregularities, according to The AP.

Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (investment firm), chose to drop Sony's stock rating earlier today from 'buy' to 'neutral'. The reason? 1) confusion over PS3's release and 2) poor PSP sales may have a greater impact on Sony's earnings than expected.

As a result of all this, Sony's shares fell $1.11 on the Tokyo Stock Exchange to $38.98.

What will concern gamers though is the TGS 'overheating' matter. Should we be worried? Clarifying Sony's position on the issue, Nanako Kato said that roughly 200 PS3 units were positioned closely together and situated in kiosks with poor ventilation, which resulted in overheating problems.

"It's not a problem with the PlayStation 3 unit itself," Kato maintained. "For a normal player at home, there shouldn't be any problem." ...

Griffin Centerstage is an iPod case that doubles as a stand, giving you hands-free viewing by simply flipping open the anodized aluminum cover. It's available in four colors, along with a clear hardshell polycarbonate material that still lets you operate the iPod's click wheel. Available in time for the holidays, it'll be $25.

Finally, an iPod case that does more than just sit there protecting that precious bauble. My friend who regularly uses one of those cheap airline cups to hold his iPod in place while watching movies in flight will love this thing. Bravo.

http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/centerstage/ ...

Lucasarts project lead Chris Williams has revealed the scale of the company's next gen ambitions in his keynote address to the inaugural London Game Career Fair, currently under way at the Café Royal on Regent Street.

"We have 70-80 people working on next gen teams," Williams, who is currently in charge of the company's Indiana Jones project, said to a packed audience.

Williams will show the next gen versions of Indiana Jones and a new Star Wars game at his GDC keynote in London tomorrow.

"We can do real material physics now and that technology's really exciting," he said as a teaser of what's going to be on offer Wednesday morning.

Williams went on to give advice on software packages to become familiar with for those aspiring to enter the games industry professionally, specifically into project management, and offered some frank pointers on what larger publishers are looking for in terms of new talent.

"It really is working with people and sticking to schedules," he said. "Games are notoriously late, and that's something we want to correct." ...

The continued success of Nintendo's DS handheld, combined with a weak yen, has resulted in the company raising its net profit projections for the year to March by 18 per cent.

Nintendo now expects a net profit of 100 billion yen (EUR 667 million), up from 83 billion previously projected.

The company expects to shift 82 million DS game units along with 3.3 million GBA sales during the period.

Nintendo recently announced it expects to sell 10 million DS hardware units in Europe by the end of the year. ...

News from Lik Sang

It's been half a decade since the last traditionally all-new Final Fantasy game was released on the PlayStation 2, and just as long since Square Enix officially announced FF XII was in development. If you've been waiting longer for the US edition though, now you're on the home stretch with just one month till your adventure kicks off. Stake your spot in the pre-order queue now, and as with all games here, Final Fantasy XII ships free right to your doorstep. If you already bought the Japanese edition however, English language aside, this new release includes 16:9 support and scenes cut from the first release due to rating issues.

With any game in development for so long there's always the question of whether or not it’ll live up to the hype. This epic also cost US$ 35 million to produce, but thankfully if Japan's heavily respected Famitsu Magazine is anything to go by, and it is, the title is truly everything you could wish for. Becoming only the sixth game in the publications twenty year history to score a perfect 40/40 review, back in March FF XII joined the elite ranks of Vagrant Story, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Soul Calibur, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, and Nintendogs. With more than 63 million Final Fantasy games sold since 1987, Square Enix's franchise also only falls behind Mario and Pokémon in terms of worldwide popularity.



An Evil Empire vs. A Small Kingdom and Just A Few Heroes In-between

As big as a release is, every great adventure must start with a solid story. That of Final Fantasy XII takes place in a world called "Ivalice", also used in FF Tactics and Tactics Advance. During an age when magic was commonplace and airships plied the skies, the humes, bangaa, viera and moogles all called this land home. War however was on the horizon and seeking to strengthen its base of power, the great Archadian Empire began invading and subjugating its neighboring kingdoms one by one. The small Kingdom of Dalmasca was one such target.

When the occupying Archadian forces established a new consul in Dalmasca's Royal City of Rabanastre, it caught the attention of Vaan, an urchin living on the streets. To Vaan, the Empire was a hated enemy who had taken the life of his brother—his last surviving family member. Vaan hatched a plan to sneak into the castle housing the new consul and unburden him of one or two of his treasures. But before he would have the chance, Vaan got far more than he bargained for; a resistance movement of former Dalmascan soldiers rising up against the Archadian Empire was launching an assault! Amid the ensuing confusion that engulfed the castle, Vaan saw something he could scarcely believe. There, among the members of the resistance, was the figure of the sole remaining heir to the Dalmascan throne, the Princess Ashe, who'd been given up for missing...

The story follows Vaan, Ashe, Vaan's friend Penelo, the sky pirate Balthier, his partner Fran and many more on an adventure through Ivalice that traces the mysteries behind the Archadian Empire's invasion.



It's Final Fantasy, But Not As You Know It

Final Fantasy XII brings forth many drastic changes to the gameplay systems of adventures past, and beyond the location, the new title takes more from two other legendary Square Enix games, FF Tactics and Vagrant Story. Yasumi Matsuno, the man responsible for those two was the original choice for directing duties here, but part way through he had to pull out due to health problems. Despite this however, his vision certainly stayed on.

The art style for example is very reminiscent of Matsuno's works, which considering the visual mood of those was very memorable, it’s certainly a welcome shift. Taking place in the same world of Ivalice, you'll recognize several characters, the various races such as Bangaa, Viera, Nu Mou, Moogle, and Hume, plus there's an all new race to be seen, the pig-like Seeq. The two directors who took over include Hiroshi Minagawa, former art director of FF Tactics and Vagrant Story, and Hiroyuki Ito, who beyond various Final Fantasy releases, worked on Chrono Trigger, Grandia II, and even Super Mario RPG.

Read the rest at Lik Sang ...