August 3, 2006
Harrison: 'More Than 100' PS3 Titles In Development
A new report by British newspaper The Guardian has examined the impending November launch of Sony's PlayStation 3, featuring comments from Phil Harrison, Sonys increasingly high profile president of SCE Worldwide Studios, on "more than 100 games" in development for the console.
According to the report, Harrison, helping refute some of the negative PS3 buzz noted in the article, has indicated that Sony's efforts with regard to the PlayStation 3 are going well, and that the company is in full swing, from a developer point of view, and over 10,000 development kits have been shipped.
He added: Developers now have final hardware in their hands, though there will be some upgrades to the operating system - there's nothing unusual about that. The new controller is now in developers' hands, so all the pieces of the puzzle are there.
The report also notes that the hardware currently available to companies developing software for the PlayStation 3 features functioning Blu-ray drives, and that by using available Blu-ray burners on their PCs, developers are now doing their first iterations of games running off [Blu-ray] discs, as opposed to running from the hard drive or some other media in the interim.
However, the Blu-ray format has in recent months also become the focus of questionable press, following initial delays in its attempts to beat Toshiba's rival HD-DVD next-gen optical disc player to market.
But Harrison was quick to downplay any negativity surrounding PlayStation 3, as well the Blu-ray format itself, of which his company has a significant vested interest, stating that right now there are more than 100 Blu-ray movies available today, in the US. More than 100 games are in development, and all the major third-party publishers have pledged their strategic support for the platform.
POSTED: 08.14AM PST, 08/03/06 - Jason Dobson - LINK
SNK to wait until 2009 to develop for PS3
Posted Aug 3rd 2006 12:25PM by Ross Miller
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Sony PSP, Nintendo Wii, Fighting
According to Yoshihito Koyama, overseas marketing manager of SNK (King of Fighters, Fatal Fury, Metal Slug), is hesitant to support the PlayStation 3 from day one. Koyama gives his perspective to Kotaku's Brian Ashcraft:
"My first impression is that it's expensive. The PlayStation 2 is good enough. It's small and cheap. For us, for manufacturers, we have to invest in a new system, and the PlayStation 3 is a risk. There won't be enough consoles at launch. Few consoles mean few software sales. We need to wait three or four years. Maybe 2009-2010 is a good time to release a game for the PS3."
SNK is still supporting the PlayStation 2, whose titles are backwards compatible on the PS3, and the PSP. The Metal Slug anthology coming to the PSP will probably arrive for $39 or $49, according to Koyama's statements. The Nintendo Wii's Metal Slug anthology will have the same graphics as the PSP version, and is expected to arrive at launch, although Koyama admits he isn't sure when that is. His best guess is "sometime in the middle of November, just before Thanksgiving."
Atari also recently revealed that they would be holding off until 2007 to release a PlayStation 3 title.
'Full Auto 2: Battlelines' (PS3) - 4 New Screens Posted on Thursday, August 03 @ 10:49:04 PDT Full Auto 2: Battlelines puts high-speed vehicles outfitted with weapons and armor into fully realized and fully destructible urban street environments. Fierce combat-racing will ensue as you strategically use destruction to win races as well as leave massive devastation in your wake.
Players can destroy the environment to dynamically change track conditions to block competitors, open new paths, or crush opponents with falling debris caused by well-timed missiles. Full Auto 2: Battlelines, which is the sequel to the award-winning Full Auto, also introduces a new Arena Mode featuring team play and six different levels, each specifically designed for a unique type of multiplayer car combat.
"The destructible environments in Full Auto 2: Battlelines are both stunning and strategic, especially in multiplayer combat," said Scott A. Steinberg, Vice President of Marketing, SEGA of America, Inc. "The gameplay innovations of tactical destruction and team multiplayer vehicular mayhem combined with the tremendous power of Sony's PlayStation 3 console makes this sequel truly the next generation of combat racing."
Full Auto 2: Battlelines, currently being developed by Pseudo Interactive, has been combat-enhanced and fully re-designed with an extensive list of features entirely new to the franchise. Players can get behind the wheel of 25 different vehicles ranging from classic muscle cars and low riders to monstrous SUVs and industrial vehicles, each of which can be customized with more than 20 explosive weapons as well as multiple paint schemes and wheel styles. Taking on more than 20 tracks in the game, players will immediately notice how Full Auto 2: Battlelines pushes next-generation technological boundaries with breathtaking displays of destruction, physics, and speed.
In the new multi-path single player campaign, players battle to take control of Staunton City by conquering the six different districts and taking control of opponent cars and weapons. The game's six different carnage-filled multiplayer modes, which incorporate team play and objectives ranging from classic deathmatches to unique base assaults and gladiator-style gameplay, deliver a diverse range of competitive options. The sequel implements the fan-favorite Unwreck feature, which allows players to turn back time and take another shot at a treacherous turn, avoid a deadly obstacle, or simply avoid enemy fire.
With strategic destruction, next generation technology, and innovative, diverse gameplay, Full Auto 2: Battlelines is poised to be one of the most exhilarating combat-racing experiences available for the PlayStation 3 console.
Sony earnings increase while games division incurs losses
Posted Jul 27th 2006 1:30PM by Blake Snow
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3, Sony PSP, Business
Sony posted better than expected results for the period ending June 30 citing success of a weaker yen, its movie division, increased sales of LCD tv's and digital cameras, and gains in its mobile phone joint venture with Ericsson. The company's life insurance and games division were blamed for the most significant company-wide losses. Gamasutra writes: "As a result of manufacturing and research and development costs prior to the launch of the PlayStation 3 [read: cell processor], the company's flagship games division saw a 29.1 percent drop in sales and operating revenue... Combined profits from the PlayStation 2 and PSP businesses, though, was described as 'relatively unchanged.'"
In addition, sales of the PSP and PS2 dropped with exception of an increase of the latter in Europe. While PS2 software saw a drop in sales, demand for PSP software increased. Maybe company-wide reliance on PS3 success isn't as bad as some have argued. If true, PlayStation execs can breathe a sigh of relief and get back to making racy ads.
Tenacious D
I thought the XBox had done better in Europe than that. Hrm...fasj6418
Well, that's not quite what I meant. It took about three years or more for computers to go entirely to DVD drives too. And Apple was first to go entirely to DVD with their Superdrive. But I mean for the installable drives to become reasonably affordable. Unless I get a Mac or laptop, which both are looking increasingly likely, I'll only build my own PCs from now on. Microsoft has been incredibly unprofessional in handling Windows, especially XP. I'm quite sick of them, more than any other company.sprite
Yep. We have MGS4. Splinter Cell sells well on PS2, but not great. Besides, Splinter Cell looks better on XBox, I think. I don't like the series, I think it sucks, but, if I did like it, I'd buy it for my XBox and not the PS2.
Mr Deap
Mr Deap
Mr Deap
Mr Deap
Mr Deap
Mr Deap
Mr Deap
Mr Deap
KENJIusa
)
)
)
)
