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EA: Xbox 360 our top priority
2007-08-22 02:24:00
Several sources are reporting that an Electronic Arts representative has confirmed that its Xbox 360 games take priority over other systems as multi-platform titles near completion.The representative allegedly added that EA regularly shifts its workforce to concentrate on getting Xbox 360 versions shipped first due to the consoles larger user base when compared to the PS3 and Wii.The practice of favoring one platform with a higher install base over another isn't uncommon. Game makers regularly support the more popular platforms in an effort to maximize a game's selling potential.Several publishers, including EA, primarily focused on PS2 development over Xbox and GameCube ports last generation due to greater demand for the PS2.
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PS3, Wii and Xbox 360 platforms to merge?
2007-08-22 02:18:00
Controversial games guru Denis Dyack has claimed that the future of video games will see the creation of a new, unified gaming standard. That would mean that all games consoles would run on the same platform, completely changing the way things currently work.Dyack, who is the president of games developer Silicon Knights, made the curious claims at the Leipzig Games Convention."Just like a DVD, just like a camera, everyone would know what those specs are," said Dyack. "We're starting to reach a perceptual threshold where the average consumer can not tell the difference between the next-generation consoles. I think this trend's going to continue."Next generation, you could see people agreeing on one platform. I think this model, if it occurs, will change everything."Genius, or insanity?Dyack says that a unified gaming standard would lead to cheaper hardware prices, as the big guns like Sony and Microsoft would be forced to pool their resources to some extent.It seems unlikely that M...
More About: Xbox , Xbox 360 , Merge , Platforms

Why BioShock Is Like Donkey Kong
2007-08-21 05:06:00
As you'll be reading all over the Internet this week with the incipient release of BioShock , the game does some absolutely great things with video game storytelling. If it's not a massive leap forward for games as a narrative medium, it is at least a bold, decisive step.There are a lot of things that jump out at you as you play BioShock, both literally and figuratively. I'll be writing about those later this week. But one aspect of the game's design that's more underneath the radar is how it approaches the issue of the "uncanny valley" and rendering realistic humans.It reminded me a lot of Donkey Kong .One of the oft-told stories about the creation of Donkey Kong is how the Mario character was created to get around the graphical limitations of the time. He had overalls so his arms would appear distinctly from his body. He had a moustache because there were too few pixels for a mouth. He had a hat so they wouldn't have to worry about animating his hair to move naturally as he ju...

First-Person Shooter BioShock Owes More to Ayn Rand Than Doom
2007-08-21 05:04:00
Looking for a relaxing vacation spot? Come enjoy the refreshing undersea dystopia of BioShock , a highly anticipated game for Xbox 360 and Windows. From the moment you arrive, you're plunged headfirst into an objectivist social experiment. Banners proclaim ALTRUISM IS THE SOURCE OF ALL EVIL, and perky advertisements preach the wonders of genetic modification. The architecture is all Albert Speer does art deco (A), but the world, called Rapture, is beginning to crumble and let in water. You're soon beset by deranged flappers and dandies, like Jay Gatsby's party guests gone feral (B). And, as in any first-person shooter, you reach for your gun... Or do you? It's just the kind of ethical question that bubbles up from the depths of this game. "We're living in a very gray age," says Ken Levine, cofounder of Irrational Games and lead designer on BioShock. "When I play an ultra-patriotic game, I'm not comfortable unquestioningly accepting what authorities say." Players are bombarded w...
More About: Shooter , Doom , Person , First Person

Will Xbox 360 Core become Xbox 360 Arcade on August 24th?
2007-08-21 05:01:00
It appears the Xbox 360 rumor mill is hard-partying once again, this time over the fairly sketchy information that in addition to the European price cut we mentioned earlier, the game system may be receiving a "changing of the guard" on the SKU front, with the dismissal of the Core system, and the inclusion of a new "Arcade " package. Word on Box Street is that Microsoft is about to upend the low-impact Core units, add an HDMI port, throw five free XBLA games in the mix, slap on a wireless controller, and put a new line of text somewhere on the box. Otherwise the system will remain the same -- AKA no hard drive, white finish, and a target of constant ridicule by your friends, and will be made available for €279 (or about $376). The whole thing makes you wonder if this could have something to do with that discontinued SKU rumor we keep hearing about in the US. Can't wait to find out? Join the club.
More About: Xbox 360 , August

Nintendo Wii to fade into obscurity, Xbox 360, PS3 will ultimately win
2007-08-21 04:57:00
Nintendo certainly has a winner on its hands for the time being. The Wii is still very hard to find unless you are willing to pay exorbitant prices for it on eBay. However, Nintendo is currently running a great game of great marketing, partly due to the unique Wiimote motion controller. Analysts say these novelties cannot last forever and the Wii may well end up being tossed aside after a couple more years, or sooner.The company was all but betting on the motion controllers and games like WiiSports to sell the units and it has but some have doubts that Nintendo can turn this into an on-going success. One of the things mentioned in the original article and elsewhere are the Wii's antiquated graphics, I still say they are little better than the original Xbox .Many people may not have HDTVs now but three or five years down the line, quite a few people will and with the FCC forcing a push to digital broadcasting by 2009, you will either need an external box to convert the digital si...
More About: Nintendo , Nintendo Wii , Xbox 360 , Fade

EA Goes for Two in Latest 'Madden' Release
2007-08-16 04:53:00
For its latest edition of the long-running "Madden NFL" video game series, EA put two games into one: an enhanced on-the-gridiron game as well as a franchise-owner simulation. For this year's version of the franchise, Xbox 360 players seem to have received the better deal with smoother graphics, but the PS3 version may fare better next year.Electronic Arts (Nasdaq: ERTS) (EA) appears to have scored a touchdown with its "Madden NFL '08," the latest iteration of the 18-year-old video game franchise that hit store shelves Tuesday. Reviewers have generally lauded "'08" as a marked improvement over the last few editions of the game, but some give an edge to gameplay on the version available for Microsoft's (Nasdaq: MSFT) Xbox 360 over that of Sony's (NYSE: SNE) Playstation 3 (PS3)."It's an awesome game," Mike Goodman, a Yankee Group analyst, told TechNewsWorld. "It's a really well-built game. Last year's version didn't push the envelope. [In Madden '08] we are starting to s...
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PS3 Madden Can’t Hold Torch To Xbox 360 or Wii Versions
2007-08-16 04:49:00
The reviews have come out for Madden NFL 2008 from EA Sports which releases today and it appears that the PS3 version cannot even come close to keeping up with the superior Xbox 360 version.Many critics as reported last week stated that the Xbox 360 was by far the superior version of Madden NFL 2008 and that seems to keep on ringing true as more and more reviews come rolling in.IGN reviewed all three version of Madden NFL 2008 giving the Xbox 360 an 8.7, the Wii version an 8.5, and the PS3 version a 7.7. IGN stated that the PS3 version was "just a shadow" of the Xbox 360 version as the gameplay was not even close in terms of being as smooth as the Xbox 360 version.The game runs at 30 fps on the PS3 while running at 60 fps on the Xbox 360 and the difference is extremely clear once you sit down and play the game. If you play the Xbox 360 version at a friends house then go home and try to play your version on PS3 you may quickly be disappointed with your powerhouse of a home console.Th...
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Review: Madden NFL '08 (Wii)
2007-08-16 04:44:00
Sorry Wii owners but it looks like you get the short end of the stick yet again: while the Xbox 360 and PS3 get the next great Madden , you get a pared down version that sort of sucks. Oh well, there's always next year, right?Playing Madden 08 for the Wii makes me wonder if some scientist has finally found a way to travel back into time. I expected the Wii version's graphics to be mediocre and dated when compared to the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions but I wasn't expecting this: the game looks like they took a copy of Madden '05 and just changed the number to an 8. But that's the least of its problems. First, the game almost requires you to be standing up in order to play it. As with last year's installment, you have to flick the Wii Remote around in order to throw passes, stiff arm defenders and shake tacklers. Sitting down in a chair will only hamper your ability to pull of the necessary moves. Also, make sure that your sensor bar is in good working order because I found that the ...
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Madden 08 For PS3: Who's Kidding Who?
2007-08-16 04:41:00
This wouldn't crank my chain so much if Sony would simply 'fess up and concede that its "we have eight or nine (or whatever) processors" Playstation 3 is accordingly more difficult to develop for than Nintendo's Wii or Microsoft's Xbox 360. Remember the report referenced by GamePro and published by Dr. Dobb's on the Cell architecture? Short version: The PS3 may very well be superior on paper, but put all the food in the world behind a sufficiently complex lock and you'll still go hungry.So do I care about the recent scuttlebutt over Madden 2008 allegedly running better on the Xbox 360 than the Playstation 3? Not really. I'm more of a rugby and tennis guy, to be honest. But I certainly will care if, say, Grand Theft Auto 4 spazzes on my PS3 but purrs smooth as an inline-V14 on my Xbox 360. While I have both consoles and can afford to be picky, I know a lot of you don't, and no one likes to be stuck with a $600 glorified second-stringer, especially when that second-stringer's...
More About: Kidding , Madden 08 , Kidd

Do Xbox 360's malfunctions really matter?
2007-08-14 01:53:00
Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT)'s Xbox 360 has been somewhere between Sony (NYSE: SNE)'s Playstation 3 and Nintendo's Wii in terms of commercial success. The Wii has been a breakthrough smash hit, attracting a whole new audience to gaming, while the PS3 has been somewhat of a miserable failure.In a somewhat obvious piece, The New York Times points out that the system has its diehard fans, especially Halo players. Microsoft can count on their loyalty in the face of numerous machine breakdowns (estimates show that one in three machines needs repair), but it obviously isn't enough: Microsoft's gaming division isn't close to being profitable.So yeah, it's great the Mr. Softy can count on the acne-infested gaming fanatics. But as Wii has shown, there is a lot more money to be made targeting casual gamers, and Xbox doesn't appear to have any hope of doing that. The Times sums it up:One question is whether it can help Microsoft sell more consoles to mainstream consumers, or to those who m...
More About: Xbox 360 , Matter , Function , Ally

Report: Most Gamers Clueless About Xbox 360, PS3 High-Def Capabilities
2007-08-14 01:46:00
Did you know that the PS3 can play Blu-ray movies? Most gamers don’tMuch of the credit for Blu-ray Discs’ rapid surge in sales beginning in 2007 is given to the launch of the PlayStation 3. Sony’s newest console brought to the market an incredible value for the high-definition home theater enthusiast.The PlayStation 3 remains one of the market’s cheapest, but most capable Blu-ray Disc movie players – but oddly enough, that fact isn’t as well known as one may believe. In fact, research results released by NPD Group suggest that the majority of gamers, including owners of Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 consoles, are oblivious to their machine’s high-definition capabilities.Amazingly, the report finds that only 40 percent of PlayStation 3 owners knew that the games machine was fully capable of playing Blu-ray Disc movies. And of those who knew about the Blu-ray feature, only half had used it to play a movie during the last 10 times they used the console. The remaining half who...
More About: Xbox 360 , Report , High , Gamers

Apparently, You Don't Know How To Work Your XBOX 360 Or PS3
2007-08-10 04:19:00
Next gen consoles have more features than ever before, but if you're like many consumers, you don't know about them.From Ars Technica:It's apparent from the study's results that one thing interests the majority of consumers: games. The dueling next-generation HD disc formats, the ability to download content, and even high-definition graphics don't seem to matter to the majority of the game-buying public; if these figures are reflective of the wider market, all those features are being roundly ignored by most gamers. Among the features you don't know you have: The ability to play blu-ray discs (only 40 percent of PS3 owners surveyed knew that the system even had Blu-ray built-in), the ability to stream video and sound from your PC, the ability to download content via XBOX Live, and the ability to "upscale" your DVDs through a HDMI connection.Ars speculates that your disinterest in these features is one reason the Wii has been so successful. You just like to play games. What's ...
More About: Xbox , Xbox 360 , Work , Appa , Parent

Game News for August 09/07 : Xbox 360 Pro Now 349 with extra fun HDMI Editi
2007-08-10 04:04:00
Game News for August 09/07 Xbox 360 Pro Now 349 with extra fun HDMI Edition$50 Price cut for Xbox 360 Totally Confirmed• Xbox 360: $349.99• Xbox 360 Core System: $279.99 ($30 off actually, Can't believe they are still making this bundle)• Xbox 360 Elite: $449.99• Xbox 360 Halo 3 Special Edition Console: $399.99
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Study: Gamers Unaware of Console Functionality
2007-08-09 02:10:00
Gamers are either unaware or apathetic to the non-gameplay features of next-gen consoles, a study shows.According to a new usage report by consumer research group NPD, gamers are either unaware or apathetic to the non-gameplay features of next-gen consoles. PS3 owners, the report says, are less likely than Xbox 360 owners to download demos and videos on their consoles due to unawareness. In addition, only 37 percent of PS3 owners are aware of backwards compatibility for PS1 and PS2 games. In contrast, a majority of PSP and DS owners are fully aware of what their handhelds are capable of.The study also found that DS users are more likely to play games online than PSP users, and 360 users are more likely to play games online than PS3 and Wii users. "This study verifies what many of us already know: features related to playing games are by far the most important to consumers of video game systems," said analyst Anita Frazier. "While systems' capabilities of providing owners with addit...
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PS3 DVD upscaling: A big improvement
2007-08-08 02:46:00
Before yesterday's firmware update, the PlayStation 3 couldn't upscale standard-definition DVDs to high-def resolutions--a once high-end feature that's now built-in to nearly all DVD players with HDMI outputs. But what's the real benefit of upscaling (or upconverting, as it's also known)? Despite some of the marketing hype claiming that upscaling will make your DVDs appear in true high-def quality, the increase in picture quality will never come close to matching that of native HD material (HDTV broadcasts, HD DVD, and Blu-ray). Moreover, the video quality improvement is completely dependent on how good the upscaling and deinterlacing technology in your TV already is. Every HDTV is already capable of upscaling and deinterlacing; the only benefit an upscaling DVD player can bring to the table is to do it better. In some cases, the difference is easily discernible. In others, it's much more subtle. Ultimately, an upscaling DVD player might be able to make your DVDs look better, ...
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Xbox 360 price drops now official
2007-08-08 01:38:00
After weeks of credible rumors, Microsoft finally made it official: the Xbox 360 will be cheaper as of August 8. The new price points are as follows: Xbox 360 Core: The cheapest 360 drops just $20, to $280. But since it still doesn't come with a hard drive--which will cost you at least $100--you're much better stepping up to the Premium version (see below).Xbox 360 Premium: The sweet spot in the Xbox 360 lineup drops $50, to $350. If you don't need HDMI output and you're not planning on downloading a lot of videos, this is the ideal version of the 360.Xbox 360 Elite: The flagship 360 version drops $30, to $450. It adds HDMI output, a larger 120GB hard drive, and it's finished in black (unlike its bone-white underlings). In addition, Microsoft confirmed the details of the Halo 3 Special Edition Console announced at last month's E3. Available in September for $400, it's basically a green version of the Premium model (20GB hard drive, wireless controller, Xbox Live headset, Play...
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I tried out the New Sony PSP, and I like how it feels!
2007-08-04 05:31:00
At the E3 gaming show last month, I got my first look at the new slimmed down, lighter Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP), which is due out next month. But yesterday, Sony gave me some hands-on time with the device. So far, I like what I saw and felt!First off, the lightness -- about 33 percent lighter -- is welcome. It's probably the single-biggest change that makes the new PSP feel more like a portable device that's about fun and entertainment more than it is about computing (the current PSP, though elegant, feels like it might break if you drop it). But the new PSP is also made of a smooth, and, to be honest, less flashy plastic-like material that once again says "casual" and "fun," rather than "consumer electronic device that might break if you drop it." It's 19 percent slimmer, so it fits in your pocket more easily. Another user-friendly, rough-and-tumble addition, a UMD movie disc slot that opens manually like a lid rather than the mechanical version on the current PSP. Again...
More About: Feel , Eels , Sony psp , Trie

Xbox 360 Cleans House in Game Critics Awards
2007-08-04 05:15:00
The Xbox 360 took top honors in this year's Game Critics Awards , following the E3 Media and Business Summit in Santa Monica, California.Microsoft's Xbox 360 took top honors as the console with the most award-winning games at E3 this year according to the Game Critics Awards. Xbox 360 games took home 11 awards, followed by PS3 with eight, and Wii with just one.EA's Rock Band won Best In Show ousting Bioshock, Call of Duty 4, Mass Effect and Fallout 3 for the honor. Sony's Little Big Planet won Best Original Game, while Microsoft's Mass Effect took home the Best Console Game prize and Sony's Killzone 2 earned a congeniality award for outstanding visuals.The Game Critics Awards is judged by a panel of 36 journalists who submit nominees in over a dozen categories for games that were playable at E3, the industry's most notable yearly conference.Special attention by the judging body is given to so called "hardcore" games says the panel's co-founder Jeff Keighley. As a result, the ...
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Xbox 360 Scores 11 Best of E3 Awards, Wii Just 1
2007-08-04 05:10:00
The console wars are fought on many fronts, and the Game Critics Awards say E3 2007 belongs to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Of the 16 winners, 11 are linked with Xbox 360 and eight with PS3. Only one winning game is currently scheduled for release on Wii -- the multiplatform Madden NFL 08.After leading the way in 2006 with five wins, Nintendo took home just one award as a publisher from the 2007 awards, earning honors for Best Handheld Game with The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass for Nintendo DS. EA led all publishers with six wins, three for the awards' most honored game -- Rock Band.Rock Band is similar in style to the popular Guitar Hero series, expanding the play to include singing and drumming. In April, Alex Rigopulos, CEO for Rock Band developer Harmonix, said there was "absolutely" a chance that Rock Band would come to Wii, adding that Harmonix would bring the game to "every important platform." EA recently noted that the company underestimated Wii, hinting that EA would...
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More TV on Your PSP, But Still Overseas
2007-08-01 04:42:00
Sony's hatched another deal for people to watch TV without having to shell out for their LocationFree system. However, unlike the Japanese 1seg system, this one will work with old and new PSPs alike... in the UK and Ireland. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has partnered with British broadcaster BSkyB to provide films, TV shows and videos to PSP owners via a Wi-Fi download service, either on a subscription or pay-per-view basis. BSkyB also plans to extend the service to other devices in the future. No date for the rollout has been set as yet, though Sony will be announcing it late August at the Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany. So -- first Japan, now the UK. Any chance we'll be seeing some deals a little closer to home anytime soon?
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Videogame Makers See Pressure Ahead Of Earnings
2007-08-01 04:06:00
As the three largest videogame makers prepare to report their latest quarterly results this week, investors seem to have cooled their enthusiasm for the sector.Since peaking in mid-April, shares of the three companies have slipped by an average of 14%. Before that, the shares had run-up by an average of 70% since last summer.The slump has come despite evidence that the current upgrade cycle is proceeding smoothly. Last November saw the introductions of hotly anticipated PlayStation 3 from Sony Corp. (SNE) and the Wii from Nintendo Co. (NTDOY), while Microsoft Corp.'s (MSFT) Xbox 360 got a jump on the cycle by launching the previous year.The new consoles have sparked demand for games. Sales of videogames in North America totaled about $2.9 billion for the first six months of the year, up 24% from the same period last year, according to data from NPD Group. Software sales in June alone jumped 22% from the previous year - largely beating forecasts from analysts.The surprise for the se...
More About: Earnings , Makers , Videogame , Ahead , Earning

My Xbox 360 games and Pal 60 problems
2007-08-01 03:51:00
Now before I get into this I must say I am so ticked of it is unreal and have pulled out all my hair. To start things off I have to say I really put all hands up and bow effortlessly to the Xbox 360, I was so confused of what games console to buy, I had the choice of the Nintendo Wii, the Playstation 3 and the Xbox 360 then I had the choice of waiting for the Xbox 360 Elite, but have to say I could not wait for the Elite so I chose the Xbox 360 and am glad to say I have made the right choice.Right now to the “My Xbox 360 games and Pal 60 problems” I recently bought from Pixmania a 27 inch LCD HD ready TV which was from Paris, I received my LCD TV which I am very happy about. The TV is stunning and for £299 I cannot complain at all (well until now). I got my Xbox 360 2 weeks ago and am so happy with the game play and graphics it is awesome, I got a package deal which consists of the Xbox 360 console, wireless controller, headphones, Forza 2 Motorsports game and Ghost Recon: Adva...
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Live Wii or Die Hardcore: Three’s Company, Too
2007-07-30 06:46:00
In the first part of this feature, we confronted recent criticism that Nintendo is abandoning its core gamer demographic in favor of its new, expanded market (one made up of traditionally casual and non-gamers), and we think we did a decent job of disproving that nonsense. In just the second half of this year alone, Nintendo is providing a potential blockbuster title almost every month, with some of the most anticipated games for the system - like Super Mario Galaxy and Super Smash Bros. Brawl - finding their way to store shelves before the Holidays. However, we also realize that if Nintendo is truly going to succeed long-term this generation, they are going to need strong support from third-party publishers and developers as well, something they haven't exactly been known for in the past. Despite offering more power than the PlayStation 2 and more legacy than the original Xbox, if there was one thing that killed the GameCube, it was the lack of quality titles outside of Nintendo'...
More About: Company , Live , Hardcore , Compa

Attack on Pearl Harbor Swoops Into Retail
2007-07-30 06:44:00
Fans of arcade-styled aircraft combat will be pleased to hear today that cdv Software Entertainment USA's Attack on Pearl Harbor for PC has shipped to U.S. retail outlets. Attack on Pearl Harbor is an arcade-action flight combat game that puts the player in the cockpits of some of the most popular American and Japanese aircraft from WWII. Four campaigns packed with historically inspired missions will keep pilots glued to their seats as they fend off waves of enemy aircraft while bombing key targets and torpedoing enemy ships. For more information, please visit http://www.cdvus.com.Attack on Pearl Harbor is an aerial combat game that will allow players to relive the action-filled dogfights of the Pacific Theater of WWII as both Japanese and American pilots. Featuring arcade-styled gameplay, an accessible interface and extensive tutorials, players will be able to quickly jump into the cockpit and take part in exciting aerial battles. Richly detailed graphics, graphic-novel inspired c...
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Godfather 2 Headed to Wii, PS3, Xbox 360?
2007-07-30 06:31:00
According to reports, Electronic Arts seemingly revealed the existence of a Godfather sequel at their annual shareholders meeting. Unfortunately, even if the story is accurate, we still don’t know any details about the game, such as whether it is a sequel to the first game or the first movie, though we do know it is once again being targeted at the more mature audience.When asked at the event what sort of edgier titles the company had for the older audience, EA executive Frank Gibeau cited such games as Crysis, Army of Two and, of course, Godfather 2. Although a sequel would seem logical, seeing as how Mr. Gibeau also mentioned the upcoming PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 game Army of Two, the mention of a second Godfather game could have been nothing more than a slip of the tongue.If we assume the game is real, we are also assuming it will come to all three consoles - the Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360 – given that Army of Two is due out for the latter two and EA has publicly recommitted the...
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Searchers Want The Xbox 360, Preferably Cheap
2007-07-28 04:27:00
Queries for Microsoft's gaming console have exceeded those for Nintendo's hard to find competitor, the Wii.Though the Wii has dominated the Xbox 360 and Sony's Playstation 3 since Nintendo launched its new console in November 2006, Microsoft's product has finally exceeded the Wii's interest with the searching audience.That may be due to a combination of issues, said Bill Tancer of Hitwise. His assessment of the Xbox 360 's newfound appeal may be driven by several factors:So what is driving the increase in searches for Xbox 360? It appears to be a combination of hype for new games, rumours of a price drop and no doubt some queries about the recent problems.Such interest could be good news for Microsoft, which would welcome it. Microsoft had to incur a billion-dollar charge to fix defective Xbox 360s."We often find that Internet searches are a leading indicator and can be predictive of future sales growth," said Tancer. Any company likes to find positive sales indicators heading ...
More About: Cheap , Refer

EA regrets initially soft Wii support
2007-07-28 04:20:00
CEO John Riccitiello says company "bet on the wrong horse a little bit" by focusing next-gen development on Xbox 360 and PS3.When the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 launched in November 2005 and November 2006, respectively, Electronic Arts was there with a full slate of games. Each system received the latest iterations from the publisher's Need for Speed, Madden NFL, NBA Live, and Tiger Woods PGA Tour franchises. The Xbox 360 also welcomed FIFA 06: Road to FIFA World Cup, while Fight Night Round 3 arrived on the PS3 just weeks after the console's launch. By contrast, only two EA games made it to the Wii's launch: Need for Speed Carbon and Madden NFL 07. Though he wasn't yet appointed to his current post as EA's CEO, that's something John Riccitiello regrets, as he explained at the company's annual meeting of stockholders yesterday. Taking questions from the audience, Riccitiello was asked about several years of less-than-stellar performance on the stock market. He responded first...
More About: Support , Soft , Regrets , Ally

Xbox 360 Overtakes Wii In U.S. Searches
2007-07-28 04:13:00
While Microsoft's Xbox surpasses the Wii in overall sales volume, Nintendo's Wii has posted the fastest growth in market share. The Microsoft Xbox 360 has overtaken the Nintendo Wii as the most searched video game console on the Web, a metrics firm said Friday. The increase in traffic apparently is to due to a combination of hype for new games, rumors of a price drop, and queries about recent hardware problems. The Xbox 360 surpassed the Wii for the first time since the latter console's launch in November 2006, the same month Sony released the PlayStation 3, Hitwise said in its corporate blog. Microsoft shipped the Xbox 360 a year earlier. While Microsoft's Xbox surpasses the Wii in overall sales volume, Nintendo's Wii has posted the fastest growth in market share. Online searches are sometimes a sales indicator. "We often find that Internet searches are a leading indicator and can be predictive of future sales growth," Hitwise said. Based on search terms, the recent warranty e...
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Big three fight to grab new gamers
2007-07-27 05:03:00
Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft push new releases, peripherals at E3This year's version of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) - newly christened the E3 Media & Business Summit - was much smaller than last year's, but it wasn't just the lack of crowd noise that made it seem a lot quieter. Last year, Sony and Nintendo were still gearing up for the launches of the PlayStation 3 and the Wii, respectively, while Microsoft was trying to build momentum for the Xbox 360. Now that the pre-launch jitters are out of the way, all three companies are focused on finding a larger audience.Nintendo had the most to crow about, with Wii sales gaining on the 360 and the DS dominating portable gaming. The company didn't make any big new software announcements, concentrating instead on 2007 releases such as Super Mario Galaxy and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (for the Wii) and The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass and Brain Age 2 (for the DS).Nintendo did show off some new peripherals designed to appea...
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