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Microsoft Japan Offers Lost Planet Bundle
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Culture, Hardware, Xbox 360, Xbox Live,
When Lost Planet: Extreme Condition launches in Japan in December, Microsoft will offer a hardware bundle that includes the game, Xbox 360 console, 20GB hard drive, wireless controller, HD AV cable, remote, a 3 month subscription to Xbox Live, and a card that will allow gamers to download an additional stage for Lost Planet. The bundle will retail for 44800 Yen ($381 US). This, put together with the Blue Dragon bundle shows that Microsoft is trying hard to penetrate the Japanese market. The Lost Planet bundle seems to be less of a draw, however, and one wonders if this will drive that many more console sales.
Read More 
| Famitsu
Gallery: Microsoft Japan Offers Lost Planet Bundle
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Halo Movie Postponed
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Culture, First Person Shooters, Xbox, Xbox 360,
While Microsoft and Wingnut Studios had previously strongly committed to making a Halo movie a reality, despite losing financial backing from Universal Studios and Fox, today the two issued a joint statement claiming that the feature would be postponed. Gamasutra reported on the press release, which in part states:
We are fully supportive of Director Neill Blomkamp’s vision of the film. Neill is a tremendously gifted filmmaker and his preliminary work on Halo is truly awe-inspiring. While it will undoubtedly take a little longer for Halo to reach the big screen, we are confident that the final feature film will be well worth the wait.”
While disappointing for Halo fans, the stalling of production is not unusual in the film world. Neither Microsoft nor Wingnut Studios discussed how this would affect Peter Jackson’s Halo tie-in game for the movie, but it would be safe to assume that this would be delayed as well.
Read More | Gamasutra
Gallery: Halo Movie Postponed
Konami Offering Special Edition PSP With Portable Ops
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Culture, Hardware, PSP,
Konami will ship Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops on December 21st in Japan. While the debut of the software comes after the United States release, the Japanese audience will receive two special edition bundles that include a special camouflage version of the PSP and special slip cases. The Limited Premium Pack includes a special snakeskin slipcase and wrist strap, while the regular Premium Pack will include a cloth case and strap. The Limited Premium Pack will sell for 39,690 Yen ($337 US) and the regular pack will sell for 29,190 Yen ($248 US).
Read More | Famitsu
Gallery: Konami Offering Special Edition PSP With Portable Ops
Sony To Reduce Japanese Launch Numbers By 20 Percent
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Culture, Hardware, PlayStation 3,
A Japanese report in Nikkei Keizai Shimbun indicates that Sony will only be offering 80,000 consoles on launch day in Japan, down from their initial estimates of 100,000. The reason cited, according to GameDaily, was continuing component shortages which have continued to plague Sony’s new console. GameDaily talked with SCEA and there will be no changes in the North American launch allocations. The shift does call into question Sony’s ability to continue to feed hardware into the various markets and may be the first indication that other markets may suffer more intense shortages later.
Read More | GameDaily
Gallery: Sony To Reduce Japanese Launch Numbers By 20 Percent
Nintendo Shows Off Wii, DS At AARP Event
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Culture, Nintendo, Nintendo DS, Wii,
Nintendo is apparently serious about courting gamers outside of the typical age demographic. The New York Times is reporting that Nintendo had a booth at the AARP’s annual Life@50+ event. While attendees had opportunities to participate in activities and workshops targeted at the 50+ demographic, Nintendo probably stood out from the rest of the exhibitors. While it is unclear whether Nintendo will actually have any traction in this demographic, the company does seem to be actively pursuing untapped markets.
Read More | New York Times
Gallery: Nintendo Shows Off Wii, DS At AARP Event
Saturday was a school work day, with two group meetings early in the day. Once I got home, however, I found a copy of Rockstar’s latest, Bully, waiting for me.
I stayed up until 2AM playing it.
The game is very accessible, but they way they’ve structured the game in several places serves to keep the tension up. You’re basically in perpetual trouble, late to class, out past curfew, etc. When you’re trouble meter is on the rise, you have to avoid the prefects or you’ll be busted on the spot (though you learn ways out of that). The more trouble you’re in, the more likely you are to get a one-way ticket to “The Head’s” office.
Click to continue reading Bully For Me
Gallery: Bully For Me
Another Special Edition DS Lite
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Culture, Hardware, Nintendo DS,
Japan gets another limited edition Nintendo DS in November, this time the bundle is a special edition pink DS tied with the release of Love and Berry for the console. The limited edition console will hit stores on November 22, and will likely sell out that day. The bundle will sell for 23,730 Yen ($200 US). The arcade game Oshare Majo: Love and Berry and its related collectible cards have been popular in Japan, but the games have not really penetrated the US market. Still, this is one more limited edition Nintendo DS that will drive more sales in Japan, while the US hasn’t yet seen anything beyond the new DS colors.
Read More | Game Watch Japan
Gallery: Another Special Edition DS Lite
Playstation 3 Pre-Orders Kill Amazon Japan
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Culture, PlayStation 3,
This Sunday in Japan brought the availability of Playstation 3 pre-orders for both the 20 GB and 60 GB versions of the console. CheapyD, proprietor of Cheap Ass Games was online and ready to place his pre-order. Apparently, the massive amounts of traffic hitting the site was able to bring down the Japanese shopping cart system. Ultimately, the pre-order was placed, but the full recap is available at CheapAssGamer.com.
Read More | CheapAssGamer
Gallery: Playstation 3 Pre-Orders Kill Amazon Japan
Playstation 3 Television Commercials Appear
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Culture, PlayStation 3,
It looks like Sony’s television advertising campaign has started to hit the airwaves, and of course the ad has been uploaded online. It would be too straightforward for Sony to show any gameplay video at this point, so gamers get treated to an abstract commercial promising that “the wait is over” and the launch date of November 17th. Now, for most people, the wait really won’t be over on launch day given the small quantities of the console that Sony is shipping, but the ad at least offers hope for thirteen-year old kids on rooftops across America.
Read More | NeoGAF
Gallery: Playstation 3 Television Commercials Appear
The Entertainment Software Association today unveiled the changes to their revamped E3. The “E3 Media and Business Summit” will take place July 11 through July 13 in 2007. The event will be held in Santa Monica, California, and will incorporate meetings held in hotel suites and meeting rooms in the surrounding area. The Barker Hanger will also be utilized as a software showcase for attendees when not otherwise in meetings. The changes will hopefully result in a more focused expo. Scheduling the Expo closer to the holiday season will also help alleviate developer and publisher concerns. According to the ESA, the event will be open to ESA members and non members, while events, meetings, and demonstrations will be by invitation only. Dean Takahashi at Mercury News has the full press release. While the new E3 will certainly be less of a spectacle than in year’s past, the ESA hopes the new format will benefit those in the industry better than past expositions.
Read More | Mercury News
Gallery: ESA Announces New E3 Details
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