PLAYSTATION 3 Upcoming Releases Updated

IGN has updated their chart of big releases for the PS3 in 2007.

Via IGN

Will Sony keep afloat in 2007?

Although it's been predicted that Sony Corp. (NYSE:SNE) would have to lower the price of its new PlayStation3 game console to reap the benefit of mass adoption, the company may have to do that way before it was ever planned.

True, technically, the Sony PlayStation 3 is quite a bit ahead of the Nintendo Wii and possibly even ahead of the Microsoft Xbox 360 (debate rages on here). But Sony can't rest on as an excuse that all but a few extremely avid gaming fans are going to care. The processor, graphics, pixel shading and other technical benefits are lost on most of the gaming audience who would rather feel an immersive gaming experience in totality -- not a few more millions of polygons being drawn a second. And yet it seems that Sony is placing its future the entire company's turnaround from a disastrous past few years in the hands of the tiny minority who do care about the technical features.

Case in point here -- the Nintendo Wii (half the price of the PlayStation 3) is outselling Sony's unit 4-to-1 and even a 5-to-1 in some countries, including the U.S. and Japan. Most likely, this is due to Nintendo's capability to price the unit at the correct mass adoption price point -- $250 -- while delivering an experience that is good as or better than Sony's (not just graphics, but total experience).

There will be some who argue about Sony's high price killing its early sales -- and there's quite a bit to that too -- but can Sony even afford to drop the price in 2007? I hope Sony's future doesn't rely on that or SNE investors may see a partial Titanic scenario coming.


Via Bgs

INTERVIEW: EA, Pandemic Talk Mercs 2 Deal

EA announced last week that it would be publishing Pandemic’s Mercenaries 2: World in Flames for PS3. Pandemic president Josh Resnick (pictured) tells Next-Gen that his company will be maintaining complete control over the IP; more within…

Resnick says that Pandemic was in talks with a variety of publishers regarding Mercenaries 2, but EA was the “best fit.”

He adds, “Part of the business as a developer is constantly talking to different potential publishers, but the deal with EA lets us maintain control of the development and the IP, which is really important to us.”
BioWare/Pandemic is an independent development entity, funded by private equity firm Elevation Partners. The two studios came together under a deal in 2005 valued at over $300 million.

LucasArts had published the original Mercenaries and the game was the best-selling original console IP of 2005. Mercenaries 2 is currently a PS3-exclusive.

Pandemic is also responsible for developing Destroy All Humans!, Full Spectrum Warrior and Star Wars Battlefront.

EA Partners VP and general manager David DeMartini also says that the megapublisher has been a fan of Pandemic for years. “When the opportunity for our two companies to work together came up, the terms of the deal were right for everyone and we both jumped on the chance," he states.

The partnership with EA is likely to open up new sales opportunities for Pandemic, thanks to EA’s massive resources and global reach. Last week, EA reported sales of $1.28 billion for the quarter ended December 31, beating expectations. Operating income was $215 million for the period.

DeMartini adds, “We’re all focused on giving the game the blockbuster global launch that it deserves.”

By Kris Graft

Via Ng

Sony Crowns Blu-ray Disc as Winner Over HD DVD

Sony Computer Entertainment America issued a press release today announcing that since the release of the PlayStation 3, with more than two million units shipped worldwide, Blu-ray Disc has experienced "tremendous growth in consumer adoption."

Using data provided by consumer research firm Nielsen VideoScan, Sony found out that:


Blu-ray has surpassed HD-DVD in cumulative sales.
Blu-ray titles outsold HD-DVD titles by more than a two-to-one margin during the first week of January (47.14 HD DVD titles for every 100 Blu-ray titles)
Blu-ray titles outsold HD-DVD titles closer to three-to-one during the second week of the month (38.36 HD-DVD titles for every 100 Blu-ray titles)


We expect to hear back from Toshiba soon but, in the meantime, it looks like Sony finally got one right.

By: César A. Berardini - "Cesar"

Via Tb

SplitFish Clarifies January 30 Sony PlayStation 3 Force Feedback System News Release

SplitFish GameWare, a leader in video game hardware innovation, today responded to the growing interest and speculation stemming from their January 30 press release regarding their SensorFX force feedback system that they have developed for the PlayStation 3 and other next-generation video game consoles.

According to SplitFish president, Ken Tetterington, “SplitFish is devoted to bringing our controller technologies such as the SensorFX and EdgeFX to the PlayStation 3 and other next generation gaming systems so that consumers can have the most exciting, immersive gaming experience possible. We have met recently and continue discussions with Sony Computer Entertainment of America specifically related to SplitFish’s up coming PS3 gaming technology portfolio. However, SCEA have not, as they have stated, yet seen our very recent force feedback technology.”

“We have a very amiable relationship with Sony,” continued Tetterington, “Our goal is to work in cooperation with Sony to provide a win-win situation for PlayStation 3 owners.”

The new SplitFish dynamic force feedback system was designed to insure compliant operation with the new tilt, motion and directional sensor technologies currently found in the next generation consoles. While the SplitFish EdgeFX uses a mechanical feedback system, this new technology produces a whole new aspect of force and tactile feedback.

This low power consumption force feedback technology uses no moving parts to produce meaningful sensory feedback. A broad range of intensity and sensation compliment the ability to derive feedback sensations from isolated areas on the controller, one side or the other, movement from front to back or all areas at the same time. As an example, a gamer playing a racing game can feel variations in pulse, strength and location allowing them to feel intensity differences between a smooth guardrail swipe and a full frontal slam into a wall.

The patent pending SensorFX has two modes, one for games that have force feedback support already built in and the other mode that relies on motion tilt sensing and button use and other actions to trigger the SensorFX tactile feedback. SplitFish plans to work with video game publishers and next-generation hardware manufacturers in an effort to establish standard support for this full directional force feedback technology.

Via Dtg

PS3 FW 1.51 - more info

Just a little over a week after we last heard from the company, Sony has released yet another version of its PS3 firmware. This latest update now brings it all up to version 1.51, and according to the System Software Update section of the PlayStation website, this new version contains the following additions:

The PLAYSTATION®3 system software update may include security patches, new or revised settings and features and other items, which will change your current operating system. We encourage you to check this page from time to time for software updates and to always maintain your system to use the latest version of the system software.

An update to the PS3™ system software was released on February 2, 2007. If you update your PS3™ system, the system software will be version 1.51.

English | Español | Français
Notices
Do not perform updates using any data other than the official update data provided by Sony Computer Entertainment over a network or on disc media, and do not perform updates by methods other than those described in the product documentation. If an update is performed using data from another source or by another method, there is no guarantee of proper operation and Sony Computer Entertainment will not be responsible for repairs or service under warranty.
The system software included within this product is subject to a limited license from Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Refer to http://www.scei.co.jp/ps3-eula for details.
This update is for customers who own PS3™ systems sold in North America. DO NOT update your PS3™ system through this Web site if you purchased your system outside North America. There is no guarantee of proper operation with other models sold outside North America.
If your PS3™ system software version is 1.51 (or later), you do not need to perform this update. To check the version of your system software, go to (Settings) > (System Settings) > [System Information]. The information is shown in the System Software field.
If you have not updated to system software version 1.50, features and other items (listed below) not yet installed on your system will also be installed as part of this update.
If you have already updated to system software version 1.50, only the feature revisions from version 1.51 will be added.
Depending on the software title, you may not be able to play without first updating the system software.
Depending on the system software version, screen images shown here may be different from the actual product.
The PLAYSTATION®3 system software version 1.51 update (with 1.50) includes the following:

Users
You can now select an image to use as the User icon from [Photo].

Settings
[Key Tone] has been added as an option under [Sound Settings].
[Delete Backup Data] has been added as an option under [System Settings] > [Backup Utility].
WEP 128, WPA-PSK (TKIP) and WPA-PSK (AES) have been added as security methods that can be used with [AOSS™] under [Automatic].*
* If you have already set up for AOSS using an earlier version of the system software, you must perform AOSS setup again to use the security methods listed above.
* When [Automatic] is selected, the security method to be used is automatically set.
* AOSS is a trademark of Buffalo, Inc.

Game
New for 1.51: Support for PLAYSTATION®3 format software titles has been expanded.

Friends
The method for saving your password / signing in automatically under PLAYSTATION®Network has been changed. There are now two separate options.
Other
You can now enter text in Korean using the on-screen keyboard.
You can update your system software by any of the following methods:
System Update »
Update using the PS3™ system's System Update feature.

Update using a PC »
Download update data using a PC and save on storage media* or a USB Mass Storage device. Copy the update data to the PS3™ system's hard disk and perform the update.
*An appropriate USB adaptor (not included) is required to use storage media with some models.

Update using disc media »
Update using update data that is included on a game disc.

Read Full Story >> Via (us.playstation.com)

Rumble company admits to Sony negotiations

In a report by GameDaily Biz, Canadian company SplitFish GameWare Inc. has admitted to initiating discussions with Sony over its new SensorFX technology, according to the company's president, Ken Tetterington. The company maintains that its new dynamic force feedback system would operate successfully without interfering with the motion and directional sensor technologies found in consoles such as the PS3's SIXAXIS controller.

Yet in an earlier report, Sony spokesman Dave Karraker denied being in contact with SplitFish, and furthermore, stated that Sony has no immediate plans to implement any sort of rumble function into the PS3's controller.

Tetterington respectfully disagrees, informing the reporter that, "SplitFish is devoted to bringing our controller technologies such as the SensorFX and EdgeFX to the PlayStation 3 and other next generation gaming systems so that consumers can have the most exciting, immersive gaming experience possible. We have met recently and continue discussions with Sony Computer Entertainment of America specifically related to SplitFish's up coming PS3 gaming technology portfolio. However, SCEA have not, as they have stated, yet seen our very recent force feedback technology."

Irresistible force, say hello to immovable object.

Via N4g

220,000 PS3’s At UK Launch

eSony Computer Entertainment UK’s managing director, Ray Maguire, has put a figure on the number of PlayStation 3 machines (PS3) that will be available at its UK launch, on 23 March.

Towards the end of an interview with SPOnG (the Super Players On-line Gamebase), he revealed his estimation to be 220,000 units, with the hope of getting a few more units if, “he goes down on bended knee.”

His rough maths to get to this figure is based on one million units being delivered to Europe as a whole for launch, and the UK having a 22% slice of that, making it the single largest market in Europe.

Maguire was keen to point out that it will be the largest launch the games industry has had to date, “Probably over four times PlayStation One, and close to double the amount of PS2s. So, it’s going to be a logistical nightmare – that’s a lot of trucks to get around.”

PS3 fanboys will also be excited to hear that, “Product is already on its way, on ships, at the moment, and there is more being generated every single day.”

The other point of interest will be the confirmation that the UK price for the 60Gb will be £425, despite the wails from prospective UK owners. There will be no lesser model (20Gb) sold in the UK, as there are in other places around the world.

The success of the PS3 is not a done deal however. The xBox 360 has been selling well for over a year and the Nintendo Wii has done pretty well too. Our observations at the GameOn exhibition recently saw much of the public interest directed towards the Wii rather than the PS3.

Via Dgl

PSM: PS3, 360 are even

Next-gen console war a draw, according to US mag
Words: Ben Richardson

PlayStation-centric US magazine PSM has put PS3 and Xbox 360 through a series of rigorous tests in a "definitive head-to-head comparison," and has come out with what must be a surprising result for subscribers: the next-gen console war is a dead heat.

PSM offers a balanced case for pledging your allegiance to either platform, even roping in the editor-in-chief of the US Official Xbox Magazine to defend Xbox 360. Although, with one section pointing out that "PS3 wins if... You're a loner who doesn't plan to use community features much," it seems the barbed comments have been reserved for PS3.

After admitting that "360 is more impressive [in terms of having 'big' games]" and the Xbox interface "offers a lot more functionality than PS3's," we had to double check the flannel panel to make sure that Peter Moore hadn't sneaked a spot as the month's special guest writer.

Via Grd