Japanese Hardware: Xbox 360 Narrows Gap With PS3 During Week

Microsoft's Xbox brand has never been known to be a dominant player in Japan, but sales from the week ended June 14 show the console gaining a modest bit of momentum, narrowing the weekly gap with PlayStation 3 in the region.

Media Create reported that Xbox 360 sold 8,015 units during the week versus PS3's 10,009. Weekly sales of Xbox 360 have been creeping up on PS3 for the last couple of weeks -- the prior week showed a difference between the two consoles of 3,548 units; a week before that, a difference of 8,307.

Xbox 360 has been able to top weekly PS3 sales in Japan in the past, typically due to the releases of popular RPGs for the console, though it's unclear what is edging Microsoft's console up this time.

For example, in February this year, the Xbox 360-exclusive Square Enix title Star Ocean: The Last Hope led Microsoft's console to top both PS3 and Wii in sales during the week.

But while the home console fight for the scraps, it's the portables that continue to top the hardware sales charts in Japan. Nintendo's DSi led for yet another week with 36,872 in sales, down 38,783 last week. The PSP followed with 26,904, down from 29,070.

Wii topped the home console market for the sixth week in a row, with sales of 17,177.

The full Japanese game hardware charts for the week of June 8-14, 2009 are as follows:

DSi: 36,872
PSP: 26,904
Wii: 18,442
PS3: 10,009
Xbox 360: 8,015
DS Lite: 5,408
PS2: 3,498

Activision Threatens To Stop Supporting PS3, PSP

No, this isn’t a delayed April Fools joke. Bobby Kotick, the man in charge of Activision, said in an interview with The Times (Not the Contra Costa Times. Some other Times. I think it might be a little bigger.) that unless Sony changes some things his company may stop supporting their consoles. In his words:

I’m getting concerned about Sony; the PlayStation 3 is losing a bit of momentum and they don’t make it easy for me to support the platform. It’s expensive to develop for the console, and the Wii and the Xbox are just selling better. Games generate a better return on invested capital on the Xbox than on the PlayStation.
. . .
They have to cut the price, because if they don’t, the attach rates are likely to slow. If we are being realistic, we might have to stop supporting Sony. When we look at 2010 and 2011, we might want to consider if we support the console — and the PSP too.

That’s pretty serious considering Activision is the largest video game publisher in the world. It probably won’t come to that — I can’t see them not lowering the cost in the next year or so regardless of what Kotick thinks — but if I were Sony I would definitely be a little nervous about this. If this inspires some bravado in EA and they make a similar statement it could seriously hurt console sales.
(And please, people, this is news about a statement by an executive, not a personal attack against you for preferring a certain faceless multinational corporation that doesn’t care about you outside your wallet. Let’s try to be adults and not turn the comments into some petty console flame war shouting match. Have some dignity.)

Next 360 Update to Speed Up the Dashboard

It's been a while since we've heard about dashboard updates for the Xbox 360, but the next one promises to speed up the sometimes-sluggish menu flipping of the New Xbox Experience. Larry Hryb (aka Major Nelson) spoke on his podcast (via VG247) about what to expect from the next update. "We are making the guide faster," he said. "The team has done some really good stuff around making performance enhancements. Whatever we call it (and it's not going to be called the NNXE), it's better with a lot of very cool new features." He also confirmed that the update will be coming later this year.
It's open to speculation what new features he's referring to, but a faster dashboard would go a long way to preparing the system for Project Natal. While flipping through menus with gestures seems like a nice feature, the current NXE's slight lag when flipping through menus might make the gestural control frustrating. Speeding up the process should help quite a bit.

Microsoft on New Xbox 360: We're "Not Even Halfway" There

Okay, settle down gossipmongers, Microsoft says all this talk about an upgraded Xbox 360 is not only wrong, it's missing the point. There won't be an upgraded Xbox 360 next year, and in fact, we're only halfway through the current console cycle. What's more, Project Natal, the company's no-controller 3D motion and voice recognition technology is being designed for the existing Xbox 360, not an imaginary "performance-upgraded" one.

In an official statement released to the media, a Microsoft spokesperson wrote

As the Xbox team stated at E3 two weeks ago, we are not even halfway through the current console generation lifecycle and believe Xbox 360 will be the entertainment center in the home for long into the next decade. Project Natal will be an important part of this platform, but we have not confirmed a launch date at this time.

And while games blog Kotaku makes assumptions I wouldn't about the Ballmer quote in the introductory paragraph to this article, the piece is worth scanning for the following quote, from Xbox Live Director of Product Management, Aaron Greenberg:

There will be no new console.

You can't get any less ambiguous than that, and unless you're into torturing semantics, that's book shut, case closed, speculation over.

But what about Natal? Will there be a version of the Xbox 360 with Natal integrated? Maybe, maybe not. Greenberg says they've looked into it, but that's all he's saying. What Steve Ballmer said yesterday doesn't help--it's simply too ambiguous to cite evidentially. Anyone claiming otherwise needs to rethink how this medium works.

What we know:

Natal will be sold as a standalone peripheral.

Natal will work with, and is being designed explicitly for, existing Xbox 360s.

Microsoft has no plans to alter or retool its existing platform circuitry. Aside from conventional manufacturing enhancements like thermal and spatial improvements--all invisible to consumers--the company plans to sell the same Xbox 360 it's been selling since late 2005 through Natal's launch in...whenever.

What we don't know:

We don't know when Natal will launch, though we can speculate about a general 2010 timeframe given the fact that Ballmer pegged 2010 as Natal's shelf date. Also: Sony has stated its PlayStation Motion Control peripheral will ship in 2010, so there's the competitive market incentive to consider as well.

We don't know whether Microsoft will release Natal integrated into a remodeled Xbox 360. Again, Ballmer didn't claim they would--his comments as reported by TG Daily are simply too ambiguous. Best not to waste time speculating. Besides, if you already own an Xbox 360, you'd be mad to buy a second Natal-integrated one, right?

We don't know whether Microsoft plans to release something like an "Xbox 360 slim" or some other type of cosmetic retooling. Is it conceivable they'll launch a newer, smaller, quieter, thermally cooler model in tandem with Natal? Sure, bearing in mind all that adds up to is a physical makeover, not a performance boost.

Wii Vitality Sensor announced during Nintendo's E3 press conference

Nintendo, during their E3 press release announced they would be releasing a new attachment for the Wii which measures the pulse rate and other physical statistics of the player. The Vitality Sensor as they are calling it, clips on to your finger and measures your biorhythmic data and displays it on screen in an effort to monitor your stress levels.

Because we've all had our heart rates skyrocket during a boss battle or two. I remember going into a frenzy and almost destroying my T.V. at age 5 after hurling my NES controller when a boss fight in Super Mario Brothers 3 had gone awry.

Details on how the signals that the Vitality Sensor monitor will work into gaming have, so far, been vague. There is the obvious compatibility with games like WiiFit and WiiSports, which will only help the player monitor their progress while getting in shape. But, there is also the possibility of the Vitality Sensor being used to heighten other genres in gaming. The horror genre, long stagnant of any intuitive creative measures can definietely benefit from the Vitality Sensor system, using said readings to monitor the character either making things easier or harder throughout the game.

During the same press release, Nintendo also announced Wii Motion Plus, which is an attachment for the current Wii remote. The new attachment will actually track the player's postion and hand orientation and recreate that motion in real-time on the screen. This is said to give the player a total sense of control when playing WiiSports and thus creating a much more immersive enviroment

But Nintendo it seems, is truly giving us a glimpse of a new direction in gaming, one that shows total immersion in games. Games that engage the mind and challenge the senses, games that require every iota of strength, wit and dexterity that we can muster. Soon, we gamers might be walking consoles ourselves. Hopefully, we won't see red rings of death crop up.

Because most humans don't come with a warranty.....yet.

Interested in these new products? Follow the link below to see the press release when they were announced!

PSP Go vs. Gamestop vs. innovation

Innovation Comes at a Price

As much as we don’t like to admit it, gamers are generally averse to change. In fact, we outright reject it. Heck, we’re still playing Street Fighter with more or less the same gameplay from nearly 20 years ago, and we’re okay with that. Innovation in software is rare because what works will be copied over and over again until it is no longer profitable.

However, innovation in hardware is even more dangerous. With the exception of Nintendo, companies will rarely try to introduce new hardware ideas to the market. Why? Because these ideas are more likely to fail than succeed. The Xbox 360 wasn’t the first console with online gaming. It was just the first really successful console. Sega actually had the first console with online play in the Dreamcast, but consumers weren’t ready for it. It was too new. It scared people. Those who tried it found a wonderful new medium (ask anyone who played NFL 2k2 online, or the first Phantasy Star Online game and they will tell you about their addiction), but those people were very few.

And even before that, Sega was trying new things with the Sega Channel, which offered gamers the chance to have a random selection of games every month. This was akin to renting games, but you didn’t have to drive to and from the video store, and like Gamefly, there were never any late fees.

With the advent of small downloadable games, companies have slowly rolled out downloadable titles for all of the current generation of video games. Many of these titles have been extremely successful, such as Bionic Commando Rearmed and Pixel Junk Monsters. This has led to Microsoft offering several popular Xbox titles for download for the Xbox 360 with games like Halo and Jade Empire among the games now available. Sony has followed a similar model offering Playstation one (PSOne) games as well as a scattering of PSP titles here and there.

However, with the advent of the PSP Go, and the massive success of downloadable games on devices such as the iPhone, Sony has decided to take their PSP titles and make them available for download only. The UMDs that the current PSPs play will no longer be an option for consumers as every single PSP game will soon be available in digital format. While it is true that Sony will offer both UMDs and downloadable games for the forseeable future, there will be a point when they turn the corner and gamers will only have one choice, and that’s to download the latest PSP title.

Whether you realize this or not, this choice is a groundbreaking decision for the video gaming industry. It marks the beginning of a video game console only offering downloadable games, and because of that, sparks ramifications that will affect video games from the developer down to purchasing the game in the store.

First off, downloadable games no longer require a factory to produce each title since there is no physical copy of the game. This reduces the cost of creating the games. Will the game companies pass this savings on to the consumer? That would certainly be nice, but not very likely. After all, many PSP games that you can download from the Playstation Store right now can be purchased in UMD format, brand new, for less than their cost in the Playstation Store.


The Gamestop Effect

But where it will really impact the video game industry is on the retail side. Places like Gamestop, who make a large portion of their profits from used games, will no longer be able to do so with the PSP. No longer will gamers be able to trade in their used games for store credit, which means that Gamestop won’t be able to take the game they purchased from you for $4 dollars and sell it for $25 dollars.

It should be noted that at a recent visit to Gamestop for the specific purpose of using the 20% off all used PSP titles, a friend of mine found an interesting atmosphere within the store. The staff of two employees were extremely helpful towards all customers, getting in the “anything in particular you are looking for” line at least twice to most store patrons. In fact, from his description, they were eager, if not overly eager to help anyone and try to answer their questions. However, when he asked one of the employees about the PSP, her tone quickly changed to something less excited as she said something like “it’s kinda dying at retail.”


Is Gamestop Pushing PSP Out the Door?

This got me to thinking. Does that mean that Gamestop has already placed a company-wide stance on the PSP? Since they will no longer be able to make as much on the system and its games, is Gamestop going to be less aggressive in trying to promote it over other systems? The fact is that stores like these don’t make a lot of money on the consoles. They sell them to get people coming back in the store to buy and trade games. So is it possible that Gamestop might not even carry the PSP Go?

After hearing all of this and adding it all up, I wouldn’t be surprised to see more sales like this for PSP titles. Don’t be surprised to see that in the near future, Gamestop isn’t accepting used PSP titles for trade in, and if they do, it will be at a considerable (even more so than usual) loss to the consumer. I’m talking a dollar or less. Heck, I remember the days when Funcoland used to buy Super Mario Brother for the NES for 1 penny, and people would still sell it.


The Evils of Downloadable Content

The other way Sony’s downloadable PSP Go titles really hurts consumers – well, in a way it’s already been mentioned up above in the previous few paragraphs. When you download a game, you can’t trade it or sell it. You’re stuck with it. It’s on your memory card taking up space and there’s nothing you can do about it unless you hit the ‘delete’ button. But do you really want to do that on a game you spent 30 dollars on? For more on how I feel about this, go here.

Furthermore, the idea of renting a game to see if you like it is gone. I sure do hope that Sony plans to release a demo copy of every game for their service. And even then, that won’t be enough for people who truly do play games as rentals-only. Ever heard of Gamefly? If you never buy games, but rent from something like Gamefly and the PSP is your main system, go ahead and cancel your subscription right now.

And when you look at the direction that Sony is heading, which basically seems to be a device that will compete with and defeat (at least they hope so) the iPhone in the games department, why are they releasing it into the wild with so little onboard memory? 16 gigs is a fair amount, but after putting movies on it, music, and downloaded games (which take up roughly 500 megabytes each), that 16 gigs runs dry fairly quickly.

On the surface, the PSP Go may seem like a pretty cool new device. Sure, it’s got the ‘sexy’ appeal. Sure, it’s new, and it has a sliding screen, and can play a slew of great games. But it seems like this new plan to go download-only will only serve to hurt retail stores and gamers alike. I guess we can only wait to see what will actually happen, but from where I’m sitting, the PSP Go is going to do more damage than good.

Is Sony bravely paving the way like Sega did with the Dreamcast? Are they setting a precedent that will be copied in the future? It’s hard to say. But I’m not sure gamers are ready for this.

Natal, PSP 'go' all winners at E3 2009

In the struggle for your precious free-time and video gaming dollars, the three titans of the video game industry (Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft) just got serious.

E3, the electronic industry's most talked about--and sweatiest--trade show, just wrapped in California. Nintendo, in a nod to former hit show: Grey's Anatomy, revealed an inexplicably designed peripheral called the "Vitality Sensor" this little gadget--which de-quarantined swine flu survivors will avoid like the plague-- attaches to a finger revealing a player's vital signs, helping her to relax.

The device, along with Nintendo's seminal hit: Wii Fit has shown that the company continues to target the Oprah set in its attempt at "non-target" market infiltration. Sony finally lifted the curtain off of its already leaked PSP go hardware.

The cool thing about the go is that it evolves the company's "slick brick" PSP design into something palatable to iPhone & Blackberry users--a market Sony so longs to swoon. The PSP redesign turns the handheld into a slider device, with game controls sliding below the screen while not in use--think Samsung Gravity -meet-Sony PSP 3000. The best news out of the whole PSP go story is that Sony's clumsy, clunky, junky, game storage medium (used for the original PSP) known as the UMD, has been given the kiss-of-death. Yes, like Apple, with its rich library of downloadable apps (for iPhone and iPod), Sony has decided against a physical storage medium for its new handheld's games.

Instead, gamers will download games directly onto the system's memory (Sony execs are also working on a way to download old UMDs to the device). The biggest gadget news of the event would have to be Microsoft's unveiling of its "Natal technology".

This device, a camera attached to software which senses movements and sound, allowing gamers to deep-six the old-fashioned controller in exchange for full-body interaction with games/menus; left most in the video game world breathless. The big M unveiled its "Natal technology" with several videos-- including a "me too" tech demo set in a very familiar looking living room.

Its most powerful display though was the amazing Milo tech demo which showed Fable series creator Peter Molyneux and his Lionhead studio team, as they interacted with a realistic computer boy named "Milo" using the Natal camera interface. Set to take the gaming world by storm--if implemented correctly-- Microsoft's "Natal Technology" easily won the best-in-show award this year. Sony's go doesnt look to shabby either.

Future Controller Wars: Natal vs PS3

It's official: Motion control sensors are the future of gaming. Microsoft wowed the world this week at E3, with a demonstration of Project Natal, a full-body motion control system for the Xbox 360. Not to be outdone, just one day later at E3, Sony demonstrated its own next-generation motion controller for the PlayStation 3. Sony's controller is a wireless, microphone-shaped device with several buttons and a glowing sphere on the top. The motion controller's sphere is tracked by the PS3's PlayStation Eye camera, and, based on Sony's demo, the controller looks like it can be used in almost any gaming genre.

Sony representatives said at E3 the company believes "some experiences still need buttons," and so it developed a controller that looks more advanced than Nintendo Wii's motion controllers, but stopped short of going completely device-free like Microsoft. Sony also used live demos for a variety of gaming scenarios, while Microsoft's live presentation included more basic gaming situations.

But if these motion control systems from Microsoft and Sony end up working in the real world as they were presented at E3, what would that gaming experience be like?

With that in mind here is my totally theoretical imagining of what gaming with the Xbox 360's Natal and the PS3's motion controller might be like in the real world if they worked with any type of game imaginable.

Sports: Madden NFL

PS3 Controller: Sony didn't say anything about voice control, so calling plays and switching them on the fly in Madden NFL will probably be done with buttons and the controller's directional pointer. But perhaps using the PlayStation Eye, the PS3 will be able drop your image into an NFL uniform as your team gets ready to move the ball forward. Uh-oh, looks like the bad guys are going for a blitz -- you change your play on the fly and the sphere at the top of the motion controller changes color to confirm your new play. You hit the "X" button to snap the ball, run back with the controller in your hand, and quickly toss the ball (without letting go of the controller) to your receiver, who catches it as you go down under a pile of defenders.

Project Natal: Project Natal is not only a body-motion sensing device, but also has voice control built into its functionality. During Microsoft's E3 demo, the company said you would be able to call out plays in football games. So imagine standing in front of the TV in a quarterback crouch, the roar of the Xbox 360 crowd ringing in your ears as you scream, "Red 35, Blue 22, hut, hut, hut!" Taking advantage of Natal's 3D motion control sensing, you run back, leap over that Mac truck headed straight for you, run forward a bit, pull back your arm and toss the perfect spiral to Randy Moss who takes the ball to the end zone for a touchdown. Pure magic.

Theoretical Winner: Project Natal. If Natal works as promised, then the Xbox 360 football experience would be far as close as you can get to the real thing without a holodeck. The downside is you'll lack the tactile sense of having something in your hands as you throw.

Fighting Games: Street Fighter

Project Natal: Here comes Blanka and it looks like he's ready to shock your Ryu avatar. Before it's too late, you jump off your living room floor with a whirlwind kick, and then deliver a stinging power punch. You give him a few more good smacks before falling to the living room floor, too tired to continue. Blanka comes at your avatar and you try to punch, but Blanka blocks it with ease and the game is over before you know it.

PS3 Controller: Blanka is coming at you again, and you block his first attack and fight back with two controllers in you hand. You hit a button combination to do a flying kick and that sends Blanka reeling back for a moment. He's coming again, so you hit another button combination and that really weakens him. You move in for your finishing power punch, but your hands are sweating so much you can't get your fingers on the right buttons in time. Blanka recovers and comes back at you with a vengeance.

Theoretical Tie: While Natal may give you a more interesting gaming experience, I think there will be some difficulty merging in-game fighting moves with real-world motion. So the Xbox version is likely to be a far more intense workout. The PS3, on the other hand, is able to let you do special moves with controller buttons, but you'll probably have to grip two controllers to fully control your avatar. Holding two controllers could get tough as you progress through the levels.

First Person Shooter: Call of Duty

Project Natal: It's almost dawn and you have to attack the enemy outpost; it's now or never. You crouch down and crawl silently along the carpet, but an enemy soldier is up ahead. You reach back and grab your rifle, and from your living room floor you take aim and -- how do you fire? There's no trigger and no buttons. You shake your gun to simulate rifle kick back, but it doesn't fire; you try again, and this time you get off the perfect shot.

PS3 Controller: You hit the button to crouch and point the controller toward the TV to move forward, creeping through the brush. You stop just in time to see a whole enemy squad heading your way. You grab the grenade launcher, take aim with the motion controller, and press the "X" button to fire. The bad guys are gone, but you sure made one heck of a mess; time to hit that run button and change positions.

Theoretical Tie: If Project Natal works as advertised, you should have more fun ducking and hiding your way through the various game stages of Call of Duty. But the lack of a physical fire button may be a big, and possibly unsolvable, problem for Project Natal. The PS3 controller, on the other hand, allows you to move your weapon freely and fire, but you wouldn't have the seemingly limitless movement possibilities with Natal.

Role Playing/Adventure Games: A Star Wars Lightsaber Duel

Project Natal: With no physical controller, you probably wouldn't be able to turn your sword on and off -- but you came to battle the Sith anyway, so what does it matter? With full-body motion control you might be able to do any number of moves, including spinning, kicking, and maybe even those Jedi power jumps.

PS3 Controller: Here comes Darth Vader ready to battle again. You quickly tap a button on the controller to turn on your lightsaber, and away you go. With buttons on the controller you can do any number of special moves, and it probably feels better to have a physical object in your hands as you battle the ultimate movie villain.

Theoretical Tie: The gaming experience will probably be fairly similar. The PS3 would win on sword control since you have an actual object in your hands, but Natal could allow for more imaginative moves.

Classic Arcade Games: Donkey Kong (Nintendo)

PS3 Controller: There's no need to actually jump with the PS3, but there would be a lot of one-arm pointing to move your avatar forward and up those ladders. Sony could allow you to jump by jerking the controller up, but that would get tiring pretty quickly for your arm. The PS3 motion controller's experience could be a little more physical than the original, but it's likely you would still be using an arcade style jump button.

Project Natal: It's time to save your damsel in distress, but that gorilla is in a foul mood. Your jumps in the real world get Jumpman over fast moving barrels. You can simulate climbing a ladder to move forward, and jump up to grab the barrel-smashing hammer. It's more like a 20-minute aerobic routine than a video game, but man, is it fun.

Theoretical Winner: Project Natal. Natal's full-body motion control has the potential to reinvigorate numerous classic video games that require only jumping, running, and punching, like Pitfall, Donkey Kong Jr., Sonic, and Q-Bert. As for the ultimate classic, Pac Man; well, using that with Natal might just make you dizzy.

Real World Problems

Even though Microsoft's Natal has more potential, at the moment the advantage goes to Sony since the company was able to display a workable motion control prototype under a variety of gaming scenarios. Microsoft, on the other hand, didn't display any live advanced gaming scenarios, like hand-to-hand combat, at E3.

The PS3 motion controller also has a general release timeframe of spring 2010, while Microsoft has not announced a release timeline at all for Natal. However, if Natal proves to be a flexible controller system that works across all gaming genres, then Natal on the Xbox 360 will be light years ahead of what Sony is doing. Let's just hope the pricing of these devices doesn't reach as high as each company's aspirations.

PSP Go: The official details

The PSP Go may have been the worst-kept secret of this year's E3 show, but Sony's press conference has now supplied the official details. For the most part, there's little that wasn't already revealed or correctly assumed: the PSP Go is smaller, has a slide-up screen, no UMD drive--and no game-changing upgrades, such as a touch screen or second analog stick. But the big news is that the new PSP will be available in North America on October 1 for $249.

Here's a roundup of the PSP Go's features and specs, as we understand them so far.

Form factor: The PSP Go has a 3.8-inch wide screen (versus 4.3-inch on all previous PSP models). It's said to be 43 percent lighter than the PSP 3000, which means it would tip the scales at about 3.8 ounces. The PSP Go design is very reminiscent of the Sony Mylo--the screen slides up to reveal the controls.

Storage: The Go will offer 16GB of built-in flash memory, and it's expandable via a Memory Stick Micro (M2) slot. There is no UMD (Universal Media Disc) drive on the PSP Go. While that no doubt allows for the smaller size (and, we hope, the potential for better battery life), it also means there's no way to play existing PSP software you might own on the PSP Go.

Controls: While the layout may be different, the control scheme on the PSP Go is little changed from earlier PSP models: a four-way d-pad on the left, the standard quartet of geometrically coded Sony controls (circle, square, cross, triangle) on the right, select/start buttons in the center, and the PlayStation "home" button to the left of the screen.

A second analog control is always at or near the top of wish lists for PSP redesigns, so its absence is a disappointment. At the same time, sticking with the same control scheme means game compatibility between the PSP Go and older PSPs is maintained. It remains to be seen whether the single stick's placement--closer to the center of the control deck rather than the outside right, where it sits on earlier PSPs--will be problematic for seasoned PSP gamers. That said, the Go control layout is more closely aligned to that of a traditional full-size PlayStation controller.

Despite early rumors, there is no touch screen on the PSP Go.

Wireless: In addition Wi-Fi support, the PSP Go adds Bluetooth capability to the Sony handheld platform for the first time. That should allow standard Bluetooth headsets (and, presumably, A2DP headphones and speakers) to pair with the PSP Go. In the leaked video, Sony rep John Koller also specifies the ability to tether the PSP Go to a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone. The advantage of that isn't highlighted, but that would potentially allow Web browsing and online gaming via a tethered phone with a 3G data connection (when Wi-Fi access wasn't available). Another possibility (though pure supposition) is that you could pair a PS3 controller (which is Bluetooth-enabled) to the PSP Go.

Games: At Sony's press conference, the company confirmed new PSP versions of many of its most popular franchises. Notable titles--many of which will be released in 2009--include Little Big Planet, Gran Turismo, Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker, Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier, MotorStorm Arctic Edge, and SOCOM Fire Team Bravo 3. The first Resident Evil game for the PSP is scheduled to appear next year as well.

PSP games will be available for download directly from the PlayStation Store over the console's Wi-Fi connection. In addition to direct download, Sony says that "all" new PSP games will continue to be available on UMD, too. We have to wonder how long that'll last, given the fact that the company seems to be embracing digital-only distribution on titles like Patapon 2. However, since older PSPs can also access and play download-only titles, the eventual death of UMD shouldn't make them obsolete.

Digital media support: The Go boasts the same support for music, video, and photo files as earlier PSPs, so you should have no trouble transferring gigabytes of media from a PC (or via the M2 flash media card). Downloadable movies and TV shows can be purchased directly from the PlayStation Store over Wi-Fi (no more need to use the PS3 or PC as an intermediary). Despite early rumors of a PSP-centric music store, Sony's instead opted for a partnership with eMusic. In other words, users can purchase DRM-free tracks from any online music store (Amazon, iTunes, eMusic, and so forth) and simply copy them over to the PSP.

Sony will be releasing software called Media Go to help users manage the PSP's content on their PC (this replaces the older, and not terribly useful, Sony Media Manager software). The company is also promising a feature called "Sense Me" that will analyze your music library to play music based on a mood you choose.

PS3 integration: Again, it appears the existing interoperability between the PS3 and the PSP line will be carried over to the PSP Go. That includes the ability to cross-load some games and media, as well as the Remote Play option (access PS3-based content from the PSP over the Internet).

Price and availability: The PSP Go will be available in North America on October 1 for $249. (The portable console will go on sale in Europe the same day for 249 euros, and availability in Japan will follow a month later.) The PSP 3000, currently $169, will stay on the market concurrently.

Unanswered questions: We're hoping to get more details on the PSP Go in the weeks and months ahead. Chief among our unanswered questions: does the Go support video out like the PSP 3000? How's the battery life? Does the screen have the same weird interlacing issues that bothered some on the PSP 3000?

Is it worth waiting for? That, of course, is the big question. The PSP Go isn't the PSP2, to be sure--it's more like the PSP 1.5. Like Nintendo's done with the DSi, Sony is extending (and, it hopes, revitalizing) a portable platform that's sold tens of millions of units worldwide. Considering that this is an evolutionary product--the only real appeal is the smaller form factor--the high price is certainly going to be a barrier for those who already own and enjoy the existing PSP.

On the other hand, owners of the older (and heavier) PSP 1000 and 2000 may find the PSP Go to be the upgrade they've been waiting for. But with the DSi and iPhone/iPod Touch competing for the time--and pockets--of casual gamers, the ultimate answer may again rest with the quality and desirability of the games. We'll be able to answer the question more definitively when we get some hands-on time with the PSP Go later this year.

E3: Nintendo Announces Wii Vitality Sensor, New Mario and Metroid Games

Attempting to snatch the E3 games spotlight back from Microsoft, Nintendo dropped a few head-turners of its own this morning. After a pop-pulsing montage of lifestyle clips strobing from multiple tubes, Nintendo Executive Vice President Cammie Dunaway strode onstage in a stylish white suit to sing about sales data before turning to the show lineup. Nintendo's theme? "Create, surprise."

The Safe Surprise: New Super Mario Bros Wii

If there's an icon for video games, it's Mario, said Nintendo. Anyone disagree? "Mario 3D was great, but we haven't quite figured out how to move him into the fourth dimension," said Dunaway, teasing the number four as the key to Mario's next surprise: New Super Mario Bros., a co-op side-scroller for up to four players.

The demo looked like Old Super Mario Bros. with a few Super Smash Bros. tricks: Grab and carry other players or throw them at enemies (or, if you're feeling naughty, into pits). When people lose a life, they come back inside a bubble: If you're nice, you can let them out. If not, you can leave 'em trapped. The game includes classic warp pipes, hidden areas, and tons of coins to collect (you'll have to fight for 'em, though). There's even a new power suit--give it a shake, and you'll shoot you up into sky before slowly drifting down.

Available? Holiday 2009.

The Lifestyle Level-Up: Wii Fit Plus

Next up, Nintendo debuted Wii Fit Plus, an update to the bestselling original with six new strength and yoga activities and the option to structure exercises in any order. Repeat the ones you find helpful, omit interludes between exercises, target specific body area for strengthening or toning, keep track of the total calories you've burned--the emphasis is clearly on flexibility. New balance games? Juggling, skateboarding, and one called "Perfect 10" where you have to swing your hips in different directions to choose number combinations that total 10.

Said Dunaway: "Think of it like Brain Age for your backside."

It's arriving this fall, bundled with the Wii Balance Board, or stand-alone for current board owners.

The Retread: Wii Motion Plus

Nintendo American President Reggie Fils-Aime was up next, saying the company's "primary weapon in all of this is interface." Weapon? A bit aggressive for Nintendo, but then the company needed to be. They couldn't resist a subtle dig at Microsoft by saying, "On video you can do anything."

Unfortunately what followed was mostly a rehash of everything we already knew about Nintendo's Wii Motion Plus add-on for the Wii-remote, with a few Wii Sports Resort reveals (swordfighting, basketball, jet skiing, archery) to illustrate the 1-to-1 control scheme. Applause was muted.

The demo showing you jumping out of an airplane, Pilotwings-like, was much cooler. You can turn and twist in the air, grab ahold of other Wii skydivers, dive straight down to speed up your descent, then flatten out to grab friends again. "As you can see, it's a lot of fun," said Fils-Aime, adding somewhat ironically that "Every mistake you make will be faithfully reflected in the game."

Wii Sports Resort launches on July 22nd in the United States.

The Portable Push

What's even bigger than the Wii? The Nintendo DS, and Nintendo devoted plenty of show time talking up handheld (if already announced) titles, like an exclusive "special edition" version of Kingdom Hearts, available on September 29th for DS, Zelda: Spirit Tracks, of course, and Mario and Luigi RPG: Bowser's Inside Story. One I'm pretty sure is new: Golden Sun DS, a new Golden Sun RPG, all 3D, coming 2010.

Other tidbits:

Women's Murder Club: Games of Passion, a murder-mystery game based on the James Patterson novels. Uncover hidden clues, analyze scientific evidence; interrogate suspects to reveal secret motives.

Cop: The Recruit, in which you play a young New York cop forced undercover, taking on a terrorist leader bent on wiping out the city.

Style Savvy, a sales game that lets you sell more than 10,000 fashions, customize your shop, compete in runway contests, and shop in other players' boutiques.

FlipNoteStudio, a scratchboard-style movie-making tool, available to Nintendo DSi owners this summer.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again. LittleBigPlanet meets Lemmings? That's almost what it looked like. Set traps, grab power-ups, upload creations to friends locally or via Nintendo Wi-Fi. Available June 8th as a DSi-ware download.

Warioware DIY, a do-it-yourself design tool that lets you design your own games from scratch.

Most important handheld announcement? Facebook for DSi (two platforms down and counting), allowing you to upload photos snapped with the unit itself.

The Philosophy Lecture

Nintendo Global President Satoru Iwata dropped by for a slightly theory-heavy interlude, responding to the notion that Nintendo's audience expansion is "beginning to fade." Nintendo divides the total population into three basic groups, according to Iwata: Active, those who say they'll never play games, and those who say they might play some day.

Where's Nintendo focused? On the "maybes." "For every two people now playing, there's one more waiting to jump in," said Iwata, adding that the company wants to create individual games that can satisfy every kind of game player, even though the audience is more diverse than ever.

The Quirky Sneak Peek: Wii Vitality Sensor

We got only a glimpse of this, but the Wii Vitality Sensor sounds kinda-sorta intriguing. Insert your finger and it recognizes your pulse. According to Iwata, it's much more than a heartbeat gauge. How nervous are you? How focused on the task at hand? "These things are normally invisible," he said, implying we'll eventually see games that interact with us physiologically. Still, we're talking high concept at this point, zero demonstrated application.

The One You've Been Waiting For: Super Mario Galaxy 2

We also got only a glimpse of this new Mario game, but it already looks like Mario Galaxy meets Mario 64. Think 64's bigger world intermixed with Galaxy's smaller, globe-like planetoids. The video showed Mario running through garden levels, donning a bee suit, skidding across frozen lakes and dashing through snowy settings. More info on this as we get it.

The 'Other' One You've Been Waiting For: Metroid--The Other M

For the finale, Fils-Aime played a video that began with a storm-tossed ocean before pulling up above the clouds to reveal the Team Ninja + Nintendo logo. Next: Outer space, asteroids, explosions, and a female protagonist... It's Metroid--The Other M! This one looks like a hybrid platformer with a third-person angle. Coming 2010. "A Metroid game unlike any experienced before," that takes us deeper into Samus's story and dishes new info about the ever-expanding Metroid universe.

And that's it for Nintendo. Not quite as thrilling as Microsoft's show, but an impressively diverse lineup nonetheless.

Nintendo unveils sensor, 'Wii Fit Plus' at E3 video game expo

LOS ANGELES — To keep the Wii on top, Nintendo intends to keep its finger on the pulse of the game-playing public.
Tuesday at the E3 video game expo, the company showed an add-on that wraps around the finger to takes a player's pulse.

Though no specific games or uses (or price or availability) were revealed, the Wii Vitality Sensor is "another entirely different way of thinking about games," says Nintendo global president Satoru Iwata.

Iwata sees one potential use for the Sensor as a relaxation tool: "Maybe everyone under pressure in our stressful society can use this to relax with video games."

But acknowledging that the main role of gaming is to get the heart pumping, Nintendo also unveiled the Wii Fit Plus with new exercises and games, due this fall, and two new titles starring company mascot Mario: Super Mario Bros. Wii, due later this year, and Super Mario Galaxy 2 next year.

FIND MORE STORIES IN: Sony | Nintendo | Perfect | Satoru Iwata | Jack Tretton | Super Mario Bros.
The company has led the way in attracting newcomers with the Wii, which has sold 20 million in the USA alone, and with Wii Fit, with more than 15 million sold worldwide. "We still have a long way to go in expanding the video-game population," Iwata says.

The new Wii Fit software (no price yet) uses the balance board for activities but gives users the ability to "customize their routines more and choose" workout lengths, says Nintendo's Cammie Dunaway. And for those who already own Wii Fit, "your data will transfer and you will now have more customization and more exercises."

One of the new exercise games is a first-person activity that "essentially has you acting like Mario, and you are running and jumping on an obstacle course," Dunaway says.

Another, called Perfect 10, mixes math and motion. "You are encircled by balls, and numbers come up on the balls — 4, 6, 8 — and you wiggle your hips to hit the right balls so they add up to 10," she says. "It's mental and physical at the same time."

At another E3 presentation, competitor Sony made moves to cut into Nintendo's lead in game systems and portables. A new motion-sensitive "wand" was demonstrated as the prototype for a controller that would be used with the EyeToy camera accessory, becoming a sword, golf club, tennis racquet or other tool as needed. Players could hold two wands as a sword and shield for action games. Sony's Jack Tretton said the wireless controllers would hit the market in spring 2010.

And a new PlayStation Portable device called the PSP Go ($250, Oct. 1) can download games, music, video and photos.

Sony E3 2009 press conference shows strong PS3 lineup

While Sony didn't necessarily dazzle us with unannounced exclusive titles, the company definitely cemented the console's beefy lineup with a handful of live demos. Kicking it right off was gameplay footage of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, expected this holiday season. What some call the "male Tomb Raider," Uncharted 2 was quite possibly the best-looking game of the conference.

Next up was MAG, a game teased at last year's E3 promising 256 online players at once. We were treated to a live demo that accomplished the feat featuring players from all over the world. MAG is expect this fall.

Sony Computer Entertainment of America President and CEO Jack Tretton then briefly mentioned Rockstar Games' Agent, claiming the title could only be possible on a PlayStation 3. Unfortunately no footage or release date was given. Two developers from Ubisoft then showed off Assassin's Creed 2, though the game will not be a PS3 exclusive. It will be available this holiday season.

While we all knew Final Fantasy XIII was coming to both Xbox 360 and PS3 consoles in 2010, we had no idea that Final Fantasy XIV was in development, let alone an exclusive PS3 title. A trailer for the game noted the next chapter in the story would take players online as well.

Sticking with the theme of "play, create, share," Modnation Racers will allow users to customize racetracks, cars, and racers very much in the vein of LittleBigPlanet. Gamers can also design their very own tracks to share and play with other PS3 owners--a demo that made us immediately think of Sim City.

Wrapping up the conference was a trailer for Gran Turismo 5, the hard-core racing simulator that has been in development for what seems like a decade. We also got to see an official trailer for the third game from Fumito Ueda, the creator behind ICO and Shadow of the Colossus. The Last Guardian looks to be just as ambitious and imaginative as the previous two titles, but unfortunately no release date was set.

Finally, it was up to Kratos for the grand finale, as we witnessed a solid chunk of game play from God of War III. The title will finally end the story of Kratos and the gods and looks to be as brutal as ever. We're expecting God of War III in March 2010.

E3: Valve adds chainsaw, frying pan to Left 4 Dead 2

Bellevue's Valve piggybacked onto Microsoft's E3 press conference this morning, which included a glimpse of "Left 4 Dead 2."

The sequel to Valve's hit zombie game goes on sale Nov. 17 in versions for the Xbox 360 and PC.

In the teaser video, a group of people fighting off a horde of zombies fires the last bullet as a huge one approaches. After the dreaded click, the screen goes dark, then a chainsaw fires up, introducing one of the game's new weapons.

Players will also be able to defend themselves with frying pans, axes and baseball bats in the southern-tinged action title.


"With the knowledge gained from creating the original, new technology, and a passionate team, L4D2 will set a new benchmark for cooperative action games,'' Valve President Gabe Newell said in the release.

Also new in the game is melee combat "to enable deeper co-operative gameplay."

Microsoft E3 2009 press conference: The games

The Microsoft press conference at E3 2009 offered a detailed glimpse into the Xbox 360's video game line up for the rest of 2009 and into 2010 as well. Things started off with a giant Beatles Rock Band introduction climaxing with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr appearing on stage.

Tony Hawk then helped show off the new skateboard controller to be used with Tony Hawk Ride, a new game that abandons the conventional control scheme. Players can use the board to kick, turn, and do grab tricks.

Next, Infinity Ward premiered a snow-covered level of the highly anticipated Modern Warfare 2 (see: Call of Duty) with dazzling graphics and intense action game play.

A very brief combat scene from Final Fantasy XIII was on display, officially removing console exclusivity from the Sony PlayStation 3. This debut wrapped up the multiplatform games that are going to be available for the Xbox 360. In a refreshing change of pace, it was announced that all games shown off from here on out will be available exclusively on the Xbox 360.

Kicking off these titles was the DLC (downloadable content) game Shadow Complex from developer Epic Games (Gears of War)--an action/exploration game very much in the vein of the original Metroid and Castlevania series.

Joy Ride will allow you to race as your Xbox Live Avatar with friends online. The free DLC title looks a lot like a Mario Kart inspired racer where you'll be able to purchase additional tracks for use with friends as well.

The follow up to the open world over-the-top crime-fighting title Crackdown has gotten a sequel in the form of Crackdown 2. Zombie apocalypse fans will be happy to hear that Left4Dead 2 will see the light of day this November.

After some delays in production, we were treated to an impressive game play session of Splinter Cell Conviction which offers a unique storytelling mechanic. Sam Fisher is now on his own, hell bent on seeking revenge for the murder of his daughter.

Quite a deal of time was then spent on Forza Motorsport 3, the latest iteration of the critically acclaimed racing simulator. There are plenty of new social aspects of the title, including brand new ways to customize your racing experience and virtual representation.

If you were clamoring for a Halo presence at the Microsoft press conference, developer Bungie certainly delivered. Not only did we get to see game play footage from the September-bound Halo: ODST title, the company announced yet another new game, Halo Reach. It's still a bit unclear what Reach will be about, having only seen a teaser-trailer.

Another title shrouded in delays and production hiccups and found itself back in the spotlight. The sci-fi action thriller Alan Wake will be making its way to the Xbox 360 next spring. A few minutes of very promising--and creepy--game play would make it seem that this is well worth the wait.

Finally, after rumors of Metal Gear Solid coming to the Xbox 360, it was announced that perhaps the most coveted of all Sony franchises would be coming to Xbox 360. Metal Gear Solid Rising is a brand new title featuring the Raiden character from the Metal Gear series. This was especially shocking since it was expected that the announcement would just be a Metal Gear Solid 4 port over.

That just about takes care of the game announcements at the Microsoft E3 2009 press conference. Make sure you check out all of our E3 coverage as well as the other non-game specific announcements like more video offerings, Project Natal and Facebook/Twitter on the Xbox 360. We'll be back tomorrow for game announcement wrap-ups of both the Nintendo and Sony press conferences.

E3 Surprise: Metal Gear Solid for Xbox

Metal Gear mastermind reveals that he will be bringing Metal Gear to the Xbox 360.

In a surprise appearance, Hideo Kojima, the mastermind behind the Metal Gear series announced today during Microsoft's E3 keynote that he is in development on a completely new Metal Gear title to the Xbox 360.

The game will be called, "Metal Gear Rising" and will be starring series veteran Raiden, from Metal Gear Solid 2 & 4. The title also claims to have "Lighting Bolt Action." Umm..... Sweet!

Although the secret behind the Raiden image has been revealed, what about the other images of Big Boss (if it is him) and that creepy mask? With the countdown on Kojima's website still ticking, it seems likely that Kojima has at least a couple more surprises for us at this years E3.

Xbox takes center stage, opens E3 2009

LOS ANGELES--It may be an off-year in the video game console, but you wouldn't know it by the lines outside the Galen Center at the University of Southern California, where Microsoft is having its annual E3 press conference.

Expected announcements include some form of motion-control system; new features and offerings for its popular Xbox Live service; and several hot new games, both from its own publishing outlets and third-parties. Among them is "Halo 3: ODST."

This blog followed Microsoft's announcements--including its new motion-control system, upcoming games, and several new features being added to the Xbox Live service--as they came throughout the 10:30 a.m. keynote.

10:33 a.m.: Microsoft opens the press briefing with a lovely video from the much-anticipated and forthcoming "Beatles: Rock Band."

The game will feature 45 Beatles songs, including: "I saw her standing there," "I Want to Hold Your Hand," "She Said So," "Day Tripper," "Taxman," "I am the Walrus," "Back in the U.S.S.R.," "Octopus' Garden," "Here Comes the Sun," and "Get Back."

It will also feature never-before-heard live studio chatter from the members of the Beatles. And in addition to the in-game songs, players will be able to download songs and albums. That feature will commence with the entire "Abbey Road" album. Further, the song "All You Need is Love" will be available solely on Xbox Live.

Then, in a big surprise, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr come out on stage. "The game is good," said Starr. "And we were great."

10:49 a.m.: Next up on stage is world-famous skateboarder Tony Hawk, who unveils "Tony Hawk: Ride," a new skating game that features a skateboard-shaped controller. Players of the game will "ride" the board, allowing complex maneuvers and a (somewhat) realistic skating experience.

To be sure, the new controller is highly reminiscent of Nintendo's Wii Balance Board. Xbox has needed something like this. But one wonders if the board controller will have the wide range of applications that Nintendo's Balance Board does.

11:00 a.m.: The next big demonstration features Square Enix's Yoshinori Kitase and Motomu Toriyama showing off the first preview of "Final Fantasy XIII" for the Xbox 360. They say the game is targeted for a spring 2010 release.

11:22 a.m.: Microsoft Corporate Vice President John Schappert spends the next 20 minutes introducing the developers of a series of upcoming games for the Xbox platform--and the games themselves, of course.

Among the titles that were showcased were "Joy Ride," from newly-acquired Microsoft Games Studio addition Big Park; "Left for Dead 2"; "Splinter Cell: Conviction"; and "Forza Motorsport 3."

11:32 a.m.: Perhaps the most-anticipated new Xbox game is up next: "Halo 3: ODST." The game, which takes place weeks before the start of "Halo 3," puts players in the role of a rookie solider separated from his team.

The goal of the game is to survive, covering a lot of ground, staying alert for unexpected help. But players will have new Halo weapons to work with, including a new low-light vision mode.

"Halo 3: ODST" is expected to be released September 22.

But Halo fans will have more to look forward to. Bungie Studios, the franchise's developer, is also working on another Halo title, "Halo: Reach," which is expected to be released sometime in 2010. "Halo 3: ODST" players will get an exclusive invite to the new title.

11:44 a.m.: Of course, no Microsoft E3 press briefing would be complete without a bunch of new Xbox Live announcements. And, intent on not disappointing the faithful, Schappert says Microsoft has been working on a series of improvements to the service.

First up, Schappert announces a new partnership with Last.fm, which will bring millions of songs to Xbox Live members. Xbox Live Gold members will be able to access the service for free. He doesn't say what the cost would be for other members. (Disclaimer: Last.fm is owned by CNET News parent company CBS Interactive).

Schappert also says Microsoft has updated the way Xbox Live members will be able to access movies and TV shows. To begin with, he says U.K. residents will now be able to access movies and TV shows through a partnership with Sky TV, all with no additional hardware.

Here in the U.S., meanwhile, Xbox Live members will now be able to watch their TV shows and movies with no downloads and no delays. In other words, they will be available instantly, and in full 1080p high definition. And that's why Microsoft is calling this part of Xbox Live "InstantOn 1080p HD."

Finally, Xbox Live members will now be able to interact with both Facebook and Twitter through their consoles. They'll be able to share photos with Facebook friends via Xbox Live, and be able to see their lists of Xbox Live and Facebook friends simultaneously.

As for Twitter functionality, Xbox Live users will be able to post tweets directly from their consoles, without a PC.

12:05 p.m.: But the big news, as always, comes last.

Microsoft finally unveils its new full-body motion-sensitive controller. Called by its code name, Project Natal, the new technology sits near the Xbox 360 console, and allows Xbox users to control their games, movies, and other Xbox media without touching any hardware.

During a video presentation, players are seen interacting with games and movies simply by waving their hands, jumping up and down and doing other things with their bodies--but not ever touching the controller.

Microsoft Xbox Senior Vice President Don Mattrick says that Natal will work with all Xboxes, including those that have already been sold, and any that will be sold in the future.

To demonstrate interactive media and entertainment industry acceptance of the new technology, Mattrick brought legendary film director Steven Spielberg on-stage to talk about Natal.

"I've been asking the crucial question: How can interactive entertainment become as approachable as other forms of entertainment?" Spielberg said. "The vast majority of people are just too intimidated to pick up a video game controller...Despite the size of (the video game) industry, still 60 percent of households do not own a video game console."

Mattrick didn't say whether Natal had, in fact, come from 3DV Systems, or whether it had been developed in-house.

12:07 p.m.: A live demo the technology features a woman playing a game called "Richochet" on-stage. It allows her to kick a series of onrushing balls solely by kicking her legs in the air.