It's a pretty short news report this week, as all week there's been one major news item that a lot of people have been talking about: The PS3 Launch.THE PS3 LIMBO NEWS REPORT[credit: All over the place]
Why limbo? Because just when you think PS3 news couldn't get any lower, it does. But how low can the PS3 really go? Let's take a look.
Game footage that wasn't actual gameplay - Since E3 2005, we've been ooh-ing and aah-ing at the very pretty graphics for the game. But then we found out that it wasn't actual gameplay footage we were watching. That kind of thing will get you kicked off European commercials.
The $600 price tag - Call it the biggest price for a game console. Call it the cheapest price for a Blu-Ray player. Whatever you call it, Sony has been getting a lot of negative press based on the price. "There's no chance we're buying a PS3 at launch. That's grade-A bullshit" says the Penny Arcade writers.
The system not even in production yet - This was the same problem that completely botched the Xbox 360 launch, and so people started to panic of delays and less units being available. I tried to put a positive spin on it a few reports ago of how YOU can make huge money on this situation, but I doubt that helped any.
Losing Assassin's Creed exclusivity - Assassin's Creed seems to be the game a lot of people are talking about, so losing the exclusivity must've been really bad for them.
Blu-Ray diode shortages - As if not being in production yet was bad enough, the whole reason these things are $600 is suffering from shortages. Potential PS3 buyers around the world shout "AH CRAP!"
No HDMI cable - Something about losing Hi-Def opportunities or whatever. I still don't care about all this Hi-Def crap.
But over the last week, the PS3 has officially reached it's low point when Sony announced the number of units that are being sold for worldwide launch. Was it 2 million like Sony promised? Was it half like the Japanese analyst said it would? Final Result:
U.S. gets 400,000 units.
Japan gets 100,000 units.
U.K. launch gets delayed.
That's right folks, only 500,000 units will be available at launch, only 25% of what Sony initially said. The U.K. won't be getting their hands on it until March 2007. Sony claims that the reason for the delay was because of the production problems with the blu-ray diodes. However, Sony still plans to have 6 Million PS3's shipped by the end of the fiscal year. Dave Karraker, SCEA's newly appointed head of corporate communications, had this to say: "The PlayStation 3 is a revolutionary, as well as evolutionary, product. If we were simply putting out PlayStation 2.1, it would be much easier to hit a worldwide launch. As it was, Ken Kutaragi set very ambitious goals for the PS3, based on what he felt we could achieve. The simple fact is that many of the components for the PS3, particularly the blue laser diode, had never been produced on a mass scale before." It was also recently announced that 80% of those 500,000 units will be the $600 model, making it even less likely that you'll be able to buy the cheaper model.
All this Sony PS3 news is really saddening. If only there was a PS3 humor image to cheer me up.
Yes, that'll do.
ANALYST STATES THE OBVIOUS [credit: Gamasutra]
Market analyst firm Wedbush Morgan Securities has lowered their expectations for video games sales in the market after the news of the PS3 delay.
No kidding sherlock.
NINTENDO DOES SOME GLOATING [credit: Evil Avatar]
Nintendo of America said in an official statement, "Wii is on track to ship in Q4. Nintendo plans to ship 6 million systems to retailers around the world between its launch in the fourth quarter of 2006 and the end of its fiscal year on March 31, 2007."
What they really meant to say: "Ha ha ha PS3 got delayed Sony are teh n00bs lolz"
Some other stuff happened
STAR FOX MAKES ME PUKE [credit: Evil Avatar]
Straight from Gamesetwatch.com: "However, Star Fox Command's arrival marked the first time we have ever been sent a barf bag. Yes, in celebration of the game's release, Nintendo sent over an appropriately labeled Star Fox air sickness bag, and accompanying Star Fox Command bags of dry roasted nuts. I suppose if playing on the Nintendo DS ever gets too nauseating, I now have the tools for the job."
Perhaps Nintendo is trying to be extra cautious to not cause another "Nintenditis" to break out.
UMD'S SELLING OUT IN JAPAN [credit: Kotaku]
First a video game store completely sold out of Xbox 360's and now this? Apparently, Warner Bros. Home Video has cut the price of UMD movies to 980 yen (about $8.50) permanently, and since then sold over ten times as many movies.
It's called "Putting 2 and 2 together", Sherlock.
MARIO JUMPS A DIFFERENT KIND OF PLATFORM [credit: Evil Avatar]
According to IGN's Matt, Super Paper Mario is likely to be jumping from the Gamecube to the Wii.
What you do think Nintendo's two favorite words are? My guess would be "Ship" and "Abandon".
UWE BOLL: BAD DIRECTOR AND BAD-ASS [credit: 1UP]
A few months ago Uwe Boll challenged anybody who gave his video game movies a bad score a chance to fight him in a boxing match. One journalist who took up the challenge apparently lost, most of it due to him running away throughout the fight.
Unfortunely they never did tell us who exactly that was losing to Boll. I remember a while back the person who runs Somethingawful.com accepted the challenge, and I can't wait to see that. And with all respect to Uwe Boll, at least when he put out a "modest proposal" against the people who hate him, he followed through on that.
CHEAPER CONSOLES IN PLACES NOT INTERESTED [credit: Gamepro.com, GameDaily]
On Nov.2, nearly a week before PS3 launches, the Xbox 360 Core model will go on sale for 29,800 Yen (about $256). Initial versions of the core system will be bundled with two "Platinum Collection" games: Project Gotham Racing 3 and Ninety-Nine Nights.
I for one don't see how exactly this is to put a dent in PS3's launch (which already has problems). Who exactly actually buys the core system over the premium system, and why is this sale happening in the place that doesn't care about it at all?
HURRY BEFORE THEY GO ON STRIKE! [credit: Gamespot, Gamespy]
Xbox 360 owners can download a demo version of NHL 2K7 from 2K Sports and NHL 07 from EA through Xbox Live. The demo for 2K7 allows players to check out regular gameplay, which is not on the demo of 07. Both games will go on sale by the time you read this, with the current-gen versions of 2K7 retailing for $19.99 and the Xbox 360 version will sell for $59.99.
Did I just read that right? 2K7 for Xbox 360 is $60, but the PS2/Xbox versions are $20? What kind of stupid pricing is this?
CAPLETS [credit: Dignews.com]
Taito and G-Mode are teaming up to release a new VG Pocket gaming device called the "Caplet", featuring 35 16-bit arcade games, including Burger Time, Space Invaders and Bust-A-Move. The device will be available sometime in September for $39.99, and an A/V cable that will allow you to plug the device into your TV will retail separately for $9.99.
35 games for $40? Sounds like a really awesome bargain.
Guys who won't be getting a PS3
Your 411 Action Game News Team:
Joshua Richey with the Digital Pulse
Tommy Coloma with The Negative Edge
Caleb Newby with News from Bitopia
Steven Masters with The Casual Gamer News
And now joining the Action Game News Team, Shawn Struck with ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → B A (Start) News Report
IN A WORLD WHERE...
Everyone agrees on 5/6 of the issues, two men dare to agree less. Sean McCabe and Steven McHugh in FACT OR FICTION.
Great game ideas are made, one man exposes the horrible truth of how they're thrown away. Damian Sarcuni in ANGRY GAMING.
Street Fighter II is considered hardcore, one man puts his nerd badge on the line to say it isn't. Joel Beggs in HARDCORE HAVEN.
Too many FPS games are not properly rated, one man sets out to make things right. Jordan 'Ogre' Williams in WORKING TITLE.
PC Gaming is dying, one man believes he has found the fatal flaw. Will Scott in THE DEATH OF PC GAMING III.
Conventions for gaming are held, a band of editors must choose what stood out to them. 411Games' TOP 5.
Games are sometimes overlooked, one man goes back in time to review them. Steve McHugh in RETRO REVIEW.
A video game series can come a long way, one man documents its journey. Sean McCabe in THE RETROSPECTVE.
Games are too expensive for one's budget, one man finds the best game at the cost of nothing. Armando Rodriguez in CHEAP GAMING 101
Self-plugs are really lame, I plug my Gaming Trends column.
Previews:
Shawn Struck previews Contact, then Trauma Center: Second Opinion, and Etrian Odyssey.
Armando previews Fast and Furious and Crysis
Reviews:
Madden for Gamecube by Shawn Struck
Madden for Xbox 360 by Joshua Richey
Loco Roco by Joel Beggs
Enchanted Arms by Chris McCarver
Saints Row by Chris McCarver
Deep Labyrinth by Ramon Aranda
That's it for this weeks news report. Tune in next week to see if Sony will go any lower then it already has, and perhaps other news not relating to Sony.
