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There Are No Indie Video Games
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Culture, Editorial, Features, PC, PlayStation 2,
According to an editorial published by Slate Magazine, there are no “indie” video games, and this is to the detriment of the gaming industry. Certainly, if the thesis were true, this would be a bad thing for gamers; large game publishers are becoming less and less willing to take risks. Looking at the top selling games over the past month shows a number of game titles that are based around previously established intellectual property; it is becoming harder and harder to find a hit game title without a number behind its name. But to say that there are no indie games seems to dismiss the works of a number of independent publishers.
Full discussion after the jump.
Click to continue reading There Are No Indie Video Games
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Nintendo DS Still Dominates Japan
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Culture, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2,
The latest sales data from Japan for the week ending May 14 is in. The PS2 game Jikkyou Powerful Major League, the latest in the popular baseball series, charted in at number one. However, six of the other titles on the top ten list were games for the Nintendo DS. In terms of hardware sales, the DS still dominates in Japan as both the DS Lite and the original DS combining to sell approximately 95,000 units, with the PSP following behind with around 27,000 consoles sold. Things still look grim for the Xbox 360 in Japan, selling 1,355 units, only 30% more than the Gamecube. Tetris DS was the most popular DS title, and it looks like at least on the portable side, Nintendo’s strategies seem to be paying off well.
Read More 
| Gamasutra.com
Phantasy Star Universe Interview Online
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: E3, MMORPG, PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Xbox Live,
PSO-World has managed to grab an interview with Takao Miyoshi, producer of the upcoming update in the Phantasy Star Online series, Phantasy Star Universe. While the sequel promises that everything in the game will be bigger and better than before, the biggest development will be the new offline gameplay, featuring a more well-developed storyline that should offer hours of single user play, much more than has previously been offered in the past. Also briefly discussed were the new racial abilities integrated into the game, and the new vehicles like player-controlled fire-breathing dinosaurs. In terms of the online world, the old lobby system will be replaced by larger in-game worlds, that can host up to 1000 people. The segregation of the PS2/PC users and the Xbox 360 users was also touched on, and interestingly, the final decision on splitting the game servers has not been set yet; hopefully, all PSU users will be able to play in the same server environment. No Wii or PS3 support is currently in the cards, but from the interview, it sounds like this may still be a possibility, leveraging the special controllers for both. Phantasy Star Universe should ship in the US in the latter half of 2006.
Read More | PSO-World.com
If you’re a fan of racing games for the PC, you may have watched in envy as Logitech released their Driving Force Pro for the PS2. The Driving Force Pro featured 900-degree wheel rotation with force feedback, a sequential stick shifter and gas/brake pedals. To alleviate your jealousy, Logitech is introducing their G25 Racing Wheel that will work not only for the PC, but for the PS2 as well.
Like the Driving Force Pro, the G25 also features 900-degree wheel rotation which equates into 2-1/2 turns lock-to-lock for a true to life experience. A gated 6-speed shifter with clutch pedal, pneumatic brake pedal, 11-inch leather-wrapped steering wheel, and stainless steel paddle shifters round out the package. For games that don’t support the 6-speed shifter, a selection knob will easily allow you to switch it into sequential mode.
The G25 Racing Wheel will be available in October with a list price of $299 USD.
E3 2006: Sony Media Briefing Live Coverage
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, E3, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3,
4:53 PM: We finally get started with a heart-warming speech from Kaz Hirai. We are told that PS3 will launch in November. PS2 became a global format, and the install base continues to grow, recently hitting 100 million units sold.
4:57 PM: More than 3 million registered users on PS2 network. PS2 will continue to make contributions to the gaming world, and Sony will continue to support PS2 on hardware and software for years to come. There will be 216 new PS2 titles in 2006.
4:58 PM: Moving on to PSP. PSP is the culmination of the best that Sony has to offer, including UMD (huh?!). PSP is the fastest-selling platform in Sony history. Sold over 17 million units. There are 545 PSP games on the market to date (not sure where they are…). Showing a mix of upcoming PSP games.
5:03 PM: Greatest Hits program starting for PSP, including ATV Off Road, Ape Escape, Hot Shots Golf, Wipeout Pure, and one other game we missed. A game must sell 250,000 or more units to become a Greatest Hit. RSS Video will be in a future firmware upgrade for PSP. There will be an RSS feed of the press conference made available for PSPs for conference attendees.
Click to continue reading E3 2006: Sony Media Briefing Live Coverage
Square Enix Announces E3 Titles
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Corporate News, E3, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360,
Square Enix have updated the E3 2006 section of their website with the software titles they will be highlighting at this year’s Expo. The company will be showing Final Fantasy XII, Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria, Dirge of Cerebus: Final Fantasy VII, and Dawn of Mana, all for the Playstation 2. Square Enix will also highlight their recently released Final Fantasy XI: Treasures of Aht Urghan for the PC, PS2, and Xbox 360. DS gamers will see the port of Final Fantasy III in 3D, as well as Children of Mana and Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime. Other titles to be shown include Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth, a port of the original Playstation game on the PSP, and Final Fantasy V and Final Fantasy VI on the Gameboy Advance. Square Enix also will be showing off some of its new mobile titles. Along with everything previously announced, one should expect to have some secret titles shown for the next generation consoles.
Read More | Official Square Enix E3 Site
Madden 2007 Cover To Feature Shaun Alexander
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Corporate News, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Gamecube, PC, PlayStation 2, PSP, Sports, Xbox 360,
EA Sports has just announced that they have selected Shaun Alexander of the NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks to be on the cover of Madden 2007. Responding to the selection, Alexander was reported as saying “To be on the cover of Madden NFL 07 is a big milestone in my career since I have always been a huge fan of this franchise…EA SPORTS is focusing on the running game in this year’s version, so I was honored when I was chosen to be on the cover to represent the improved running game.” Alexander was selected as NFL MVP, and holds the single-season rushing touchdown record (28). Seahawks fans are praying that Alexander manages to avoid the Madden Curse.
Read More | Press Release
Sony Drops New God of War II Screenshots
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Action, Adventure, PlayStation 2, Screenshots,
Sony has dropped four new screenshots of God of War II on the official game site. The sequel takes place with Kratos having replaces Ares as the God of War. The new screens show of some of the new environments and creatures that Kratos will have to fight in the upcoming game, and the models and detail look extremely good, and look to be a great follow-up to the original game. Gamers can look forward to some more Kratos-style evisceration in 2007 on the PS2.
Read More | Official God of War II
PS2 Price Drop Official: $129.99
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Corporate News, Hot Deals, PlayStation 2,
Sony has officially announced that the price of the Playstation 2 will drop to $129.99 US / $139.99 CDN starting today. Sony hopes the reduction in price will drive more consumers to pick up the PS2 and add to its huge lead in the console market. The Playstation 2 currently holds a lion share of the marketplace, with about 55% of the total consoles sold bearing the PS2 label.
It will be interesting to see if Microsoft matches the price drop, but one gets the feeling that Microsoft is going to let the Xbox basically fade away while they focus their energy on the Xbox 360. Where Sony has done particularly well is managing a console’s sales throughout its lifecycle; when the PS2 launched on the market, Sony seemed to have a plan for the original Playstation, both in ongoing price reductions, and the introduction of the small PSOne. Sony seems to have a similar plan in mind for the PS2: continue to drive sales of the PS2 through and after the PS3 launch. This makes Sony’s focus on backwards-compatibility more salient. While backwards-compatibility may not be a huge factor for early-adopters, being able to play previous generation games may be more of a concern for late adopters to the cycle.
Read More | Press Release
Sega Announces Phantasy Star Universe for Xbox 360
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Corporate News, Internet, MMORPG, PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Xbox Live,
Sega announced today that the latest game in the Phantasy Star series, Phantasy Star Universe will be available this Fall for the Xbox 360, as well as the previously announced PS2 and PC versions. The press release drops a few more details about the game, including what appears to be a solo mode with a more fully developed story than the previous versions. No word on whether PC, PS2, and Xbox 360 users will be able to play against each other, and it looks like the new release still won’t have a large persistent world, but will rather follow the meet up and mission structure of the previous games.
Full Press Release after the jump.
Click to continue reading Sega Announces Phantasy Star Universe for Xbox 360
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