The Digital Pulse 07.24.06
Posted by Joshua Richey on 07.24.2006
The PS3 goes into production, Microsoft confirms the Zune, and Germany doesn't like you killing Zombies.
Hello Gamers. Welcome to another edition of The Digital Pulse; Joshua Richey here once again to guide you through the latest gaming and technology news going on around us. It's been a bit of a slow news week, but we're entering one of the most exciting time in Gaming history; with the upcoming launch's of the Playstation 3 and the Nintendo Wii. So, it should get pretty crazy here in the coming weeks.
What do you say we get into some news, huh?
The Nooz
Playstation 3 Goes Into Production
A Chinese newspaper called The Commercial Times broke a story this week regarding Sony's Playstation 3. Citing an anonymous source, the newspaper announced that Sony had put the Playstation 3 into production, and that Asustek Computer Inc., the company making the Playstation 3, is expected to deliver the first units to Sony by the end of the month.
Sony has neither confirmed nor denied the story, simply saying ‘no comment'. But the story has all but been confirmed thanks Taiwanese newspaper, the Taipei Times, who reported that Asutek is considering taking legal action against the Chinese newspaper, for leaking "information affecting clients and investors."
The news isn't all that surprising when you figure that if Sony is to have the Playstation 3 on store shelves this November, than production would have had to begin sooner rather than later.
Both Versions Of The Playstation 3 May Not Be Ready For Launch
On November 17th, Sony will be launching their Playstation 3 worldwide. Originally the plan was that consumers would have then have had the choice between a basic system and a premium system, ala the X-Box 360. But this week word is that some countries may not have that choice right away.
David Wilson (with Sony Computer Entertainment UK) spoke with GamesIndustry.biz this week to address the concern. In the interview, Wilson didn't say much to re-assure Sony fans that there would be no problems. In fact, he all but guaranteed that there would potential problems, saying: "The likelihood is that both [Playstation versions] will be made available. But at launch? I don't know."
Did Sony learn nothing from that mess that was the 360 launch?
[GamesIndustry.biz]
Microsoft Confirms Zune
As I said in last week's edition of TDP, it is hard to imagine using Microsoft's new MP3 player for anything other than playing music. However, Billboard magazine was able to get the exclusive details about Microsoft's new 'Ipod Killer' this week.
At launch, the Zune's main priority will be music, but with the release of extra gizmo's Microsoft foresees the Zune having "ubiquitous access to digital media from a wide range of Windows-powered devices in what ultimately aspires to be one part MySpace, one part iTunes and one part Xbox Live."
All of that sounds cool and all, but I'd settle for a handheld that would ‘s' my ‘d' every once in a while.
[Billboard, 1UP]
FTC Ends Hot Coffee Probe
With the announcement last week that the S.E.C will be investigating various stock option grants made by the company since 1997; Take-Two finally received some good news this week. The yearlong investigation by the FTC over the infamous Hot-Coffee mod in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas has come to an end. Not only that, but the FTC will not even be fining the power house publisher.
Take Two's CEO Paul Eibler said the following in a press release:
"We recognize the importance of maintaining public confidence in the Entertainment Software Rating Board rating system and helping the ESRB educate parents and consumers about the rating system. We look forward to putting this behind us and focusing on what we do best--creating video games."
I'm sure what Paul meant to say was: ‘We look forward to putting this behind us and focusing on what we do best -- creating car jacking, whore killing, cop capping video games."
[Gamespot]
X-Box Ships 5 Millionth 360
Microsoft surpassed a nice little milestone this past week. They sold their 5 millionth X-Box 360. Microsoft being that money famished bastards that they are didn't take much time to rejoice; rather they decided to focus on the future. Microsoft CFO, Chris Liddell, declared the following:
By holiday 2006, we believe we will have shipped more than 10 million Xbox 360 consoles worldwide and have an expected catalog of 160 high-definition games. The E&D team is carrying strong momentum into FY07 with anticipated growth expected to benefit from holiday sales of Xbox 360. E&D forecasts fiscal year 2007 guidance for Xbox 360 unit sales between 8 to 10 million consoles. The yearly guidance implies that by the end of the fiscal year we expect to sell 13 to 15 million Xbox 360 consoles since launch.
[1UP]
Nintendo Has Your Crack Fix
Nintendo announced this week that they will repair any Nintendo DS Lite that has attained small cracks along the hinges of the sleek new handheld. Despite considering the cracks a ‘cosmetic' error, which is usually not covered with Nintendo's warranty, they will make an exception in this case.
In a press release from Nintendo, they stated that less than .02 percent of DS Lites have actually had this problem.
Reason #429 As To Why It Would Suck To Live In Germany - Dead Rising Banned?
Okay, so Capcom's new Zombie thrashed, Dead Rising, isn't banned in Germany. But it my as well be. The USK, which is the German ratings board, have chosen not to give the game any rating. Making it damn near impossible to sell in German stores. By law, games with a rating cannot be banned at any point. However, if a game is not given a rating, than it can be banned following its release. Which appears to be USK's motivation in this case.
Rant time! How is it that Germany of all countries are the prudes in this situation? You would think that a game that involved the mercifulness killings of other would be heralded in Germany, granted their notorious past. What, it's okay to attempt to eliminate an entire sub-culture from the world, yet killing the undead is appalling?
[GamesIndustry.biz]
The Gravity Gun Will Never Be As Cool Again
Words cannot properly describe how amazing this game is looking. The game is called Portal, and it's a FPS puzzle game brought to us by Valve, makers of Half Life. The game features an astonishing new weapon that allows you to travel adventurously throughout portals. That game is set to be released along with Half Life 2: Episode 2. The trailer hit the internet this week, and now it hits TDP.
[1UP]
Call Of Duty 3 Is Looking Amazing
While were on the topic of game trailers; you have got to see the new trailer for Treyach's Call of Duty 3. You would think that between Medal of Honor, Battlefield, and Brothers in Arms that every single battle that took place during World War II had been told. Not so apparently; Activision has assured that this game will a story that hasn't been told in any WWII FPS as of yet. Here's a sneak peak at Call of Duty 3; it's pretty bitchin.
[GameVideos.com]
Sony Goes Unreal
Sony announced this week that they had come to a licensing agreement with Epic - to use the Unreal Engine for a series of games for the PC and next-generation consoles. Sony is expected to use the technology for their upcoming multiplayer DC comic game. The engine has previously been used by Microsoft Game Studios, Midway Games, and Ubisoft.
[Gamespot]
Sony Responds To UMD Cutbacks
Peter Dille, the senior VP of marketing at Sony Computer America, recently responded to the reports that many retailers are cutting back on the selling of UMD's. In an interview with United Press International, Peter says: "...we have seen studios cutting back on releasing their full content on UMD, as unlike the DVD market, the PSP consumer is targeted. We are committed to helping the studios better understand our product and our consumer, and will continue to educate them as we evolve and enhance the functionality of the PSP,"
What is there to better understand, Peter? Sony themselves are the ones most responsible for the non-existence sales of UMD's. First off, UMD's are the same price as DVDs. Not good when you consider that UMD's aren't able to play on as many formats as a DVD, and the UMD lacks features that are included on DVD. Sony also failed to make a PSP-to-TV converter, which would have allowed PSP owners to watch their movies on something bigger than a 4 inch screen. Studies show that watching Hitch is much more satisfying on a television, than on a PSP.
And If You Were Too Lazy To Read All That: One Sentence News!
So if you want the news, but don't want to read all of that, I'll simplify it for everyone. Here it is: one sentence news! All the information that you need; served in the form of a simple sentence. Here's what we learned today:
- The overpriced Playstation 3 has gone into production.
- Sony may not have both versions of the PS3 available at launch.
- The Zune is a disaster waiting to happen.
- Take-Two will not be fined for the Hot Coffee incident.
- 5 million people have bought a 360?
- Nintendo agrees: Crack is whack.
- Genocide is acceptable; killing zombies isn't.
- [sarcasm]At last, someone has finally combined a First Person Shooter with a puzzle game![/sarcasm]
- Yet another World War II game is on the way.
- Sony has got their hands on the Unreal engine.
- Sony is in denial over UMD sales.
New Releases This Week
The following games will be hitting store shelves this week:
Galaga: (XBox360)
Sprint Cars: Road To Knoxville: (PS2)
Total War: Eras: (PC)
Summon Night: Swordcraft Story: (GBA)
Battle B-Daman: (GBA)
Tekken: Dark Resurrection: (PSP)
Fuel: (XBox)
Nancy Drew: Danger By Design: (PC)
The Ant Bully: (PC, PS2, GC, GBA)
CivCity: Rome: (PC)
Civilization IV: Warlords: (PC)
Painkiller: Hell Wars: (XBox)
Filler. Filler. Filler!!1!
- What's more fun: killing Nazis or killing Zombies?
- Marvel released the Halo graphic novel this past week. If someone's already picked it up, tell me how it is.
- I think that Metal Gear Solid 4 alone is worth buying a PS3 for.
- I reviewd NFL Head Coach this week. Check it out in the Reviews section.
- Heath Ledger is reportedly going to be offered the role of the Joker in the next Batman movie. Not sure how I feel about that one, as I was unfortunate enough to watch Brokeback Mountain.
- I cannot believe that I got goose bumps watching the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle trailer...
- I've come to the realization that my Cincinnati Bengals can probably kill any other sports team. With the arrest of Matthias Askew on Saturday, that is now 8 Bengal players with 'character issues'. Now they just need to sign Onterrio Smith, aka the Whizzinator, to top it all off.
- - The first picture of Venom, from the new Spiderman movie, has been released. Which looks freaky and amazing!
The (O.T)
Game of the Week: New Super Mario Bros.
I have never been a handheld person. I had a Sega Game Gear back in the day, played some Primal Rage on it, but that was about it. I've just always been a console gamer. This may have changed within the past week. I won't say that I'm quite converted yet, but my interest was peaked by the newest Super Mario, for the Nintendo DS. What a game. Perfectly captures that nostalgia from the NES days, while at the same time improving upon it, and modernizing it. Playing it for 10 minutes is all that I was needed for me to want a Nintendo DS.
Movie of the Week: Clerks II
Well Kevin Smith pulled it off. I was sure that after Jersey Girl that Kevin Smith had lost ‘it‘. Not the case. Clerks II is offensive. Clerks II is humorous. Clerks II is fucking amazing.
Album of the Week: Warped Tour 2006
It's Warped Tour time, baby! I'll be skipping work this Wednesday to take part in the festivities, and hopefully make fun of some ‘scene' kids.
Future Ex-Wife of the Week: Leeann Tweeden
As much as I love Leeann Tweeden, I cannot lower myself to watch either The Best Damn Sports Show Period or the Speed Channel. But if you can lower yourself to such depths, than that is where you can catch this weeks Future Ex Mrs. Richey.
[FHM, Stuff]
A few changes to the format this week. There will probably be a few more next week as well; I'm just trying to find what works the best. If you've got any suggestions, send them my way.
