Friday, 17 March 2006

VGN for March 17th, 2006

Video Game news:

PS3 in November!!!

The Nihon Keizai Shimbun suggests a November Japanese launch...
Posted: 23:10 on 14 Mar 2006
By: Chris Leyton

Reporting ahead of tomorrow's press event, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun is

suggesting that Sony will confirm a delay to the Playstation 3 until

November 2006 in Japan.

The paper maintains earlier claims that the Blu-ray technology is behind

the delay, claiming copy protection issues surrounding the format are

specifically to blame.

The news comes after reports have emerged citing claims by Microsoft that

any delay to the PS3 scheduling could have a positive effect on the sale of

Xbox 360, providing a larger then expected "headstart" period to gain a

significant grip over the Western market at least.

Whether or not the delay leads to a knock-on affect throughout the West

remains to be seen, but look out for further information very shortly.

[UPDATE]

Further information to this report suggests that if Sony were to stick to

the planned Spring 2006 launch then it would only be able to supply 500,000

units to the market, compared to the 2.5 million it believes are needed to

avoid initial shortages.

This comment seems to suggest Sony was gearing towards a Japan launch at

the outset, so whether or not the delay will lead to a simultaneous North

American release remains to be seen - just don't expect the PS3 to surface

in Europe until Spring 2007 at the earliest, hopefully we won't have to

endure the nine month wait it took for the PSP to appear.

Free stuff from MS and Epic.

Thu Mar 16, 8:37 PM ET

LOS ANGELES - Xbox 360 gamers will get a year of free music videos and

other content from artists signed to Epic Records under a promotion deal

between the record label and Microsoft Corp., the companies said Thursday.

The arrangement calls for Epic Records to feature 12 of its artists on a

program dubbed Artist of the Month, which users of Redmond, Wash.-based

Microsoft's popular gaming console can access over the Xbox Live

entertainment network.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Xbox Live members will be able to download exclusive music videos free and

compete for a chance to play an online game against the Epic recording

artists.

PS3 Further Details
More details emerge covering the HDD, backwards compatibility, Blu-ray and

HUB service...
Posted: 13:47 on 15 Mar 2006
By: Chris Leyton

Further information to today's announcements surrounding the Playstation3

has become apparent, via a series of interviews granted to Japanese

publications with Ken Kuturagi.

Confirming that a 60 GB 2.5" Harddrive (HDD) will be available that comes

pre-installed with Linux, Kuturagi-san confirmed our earlier suggestion

that this will be an optional peripheral and that developers will have to

create their games towards the basic specification.

The meeting also confirmed that the Playstation3 will offer 100%

compatibility with PSone and PS2 titles, which will benefit from being

displayed in High-Definition. Whether or not the PS3 will play original

discs, or support a service like that recently confirmed for the PSP

remains to be seen.

In a move that evidently suggests Sony just wasn't ready for a Spring

launch no matter what, Kuturagi-san confirmed that finalised dev-kits will

be ready in May and promoted to developers in July.

All PS3 titles will be created on Blu-ray discs with Kuturagi-san

maintaining that Sony is capable of manufacturing 10 million discs per

month, at a production cost rivalling that of DVD dual-layers.

Finally the announcement confirmed an online service similar to Xbox Live,

and looks likely to follow Microsoft's model by offering a Basic package

along with presumably a Premium service. The standard service will likely

include community features such as Voice-Chat, Lobbies, along with the

possibility of trading online and downloading software to the HDD.

Final Fantasy in Japan.
Thu Mar 16, 2:48 AM ET

TOKYO (AFP) - The latest version of the legendary video game Final Fantasy

was launched in Japan, with its creators comparing the intricate work to

great architecture.

The mythological role-playing game -- which has spawned a computer graphics

movie, mobile phone ring tones and soft drinks -- has been a flagship

product for Sony's PlayStation and for gamemaker SquareEnix.

"The vast, game-world map was designed with extreme care to details. This

monumental work was created as if it were grand architecture," Yoichi Wada,

president of SquareEnix, told a launch in Tokyo's trendy Shibuya district.

The launch of Final Fantasy XII, played on PlayStation 2, comes four years

after the 11th edition of the game.

Since the introduction of the first edition in 1987, SquareEnix has sold

more than 65 million copies of the Final Fantasy series worldwide,

attracting game players with its quality images and mysterious story lines.

"This type of work is similar to an awesome European cathedral," Akitoshi

Kawazu, executive producer of the game, said at the same event.

More importantly...

I finally got an XBOX 360!!!!

So Oblivion will be mine!!!

What I've been playing:

XBOX 360!!! Thanks to Cathy at the Blockbuster Game Rush store in

Altamonte Springs for the hook up!!

King Kong, Condemned and Full Auto baby!

Con Corner:

Anime Express.

Anime Express will be held on the third weekend of March, the 17th through 19th.

Costs
Weekend Pass: $20
Friday: $10
Saturday: $15
Sunday: $10
Tee-shirts: $20
Tee-shirt & Weekend Pass Combo: $30

ANIME EXPLOSION:

One Piece: Dead End no Bouken

When: Midnight, Friday, March 17th

Where: Lowes Cineplex at Universal City Walk Orlando

We will begin wristbanding at 10:30 pm at the table just inside the lobby.