by Rainier on Nov. 14, 2006 @ 2:07 p.m. PST | Filed under
News
Sony Computer Entertainment America and Ziff Davis Game Group announced today the companies have mutually agreed to discontinue production on the Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (OPM) in North America, January 2007 being its final issue.
by Judy on Nov. 9, 2006 @ 3:26 p.m. PST | Filed under
News
Sony Europe today announced that they've sold 40 million PlayStation 2 units in Europe and PAL territories, surpassing the PS1's 39 million mark. PlayStation 2 has over 2,000 titles available throughout Europe, with another 50 due for release in time for Christmas. In the previous month, over 100,000 units were sold per week, according to SCEE President David Reeves.
by Rainier on Aug. 21, 2006 @ 2:15 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe today announced the expansion of the PS2 line-up in Europe with the introduction of a new color. The new, limited edition Pink PS2 will come complete with two Pink Dualshock 2 Analog Controllers, and a 8MB Pink Memory Card.
by Rainier on Aug. 7, 2006 @ 12:39 p.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Market research consultancy Anderson Analytics has devised a technique to measure subconscious attitudes of potential consumers, combining personality psychologists with new text mining software. The technique was used to measure Playstation vs. Xbox, and Barbie vs. Bratz research.
by Rainier on Aug. 4, 2006 @ 4:19 p.m. PDT | Filed under
News
While Sony promised that all PSOne and PS2 games would be backward compatible, it also unveiled that even your old savegames will be useable on the PS3. To use saved data on a PS2 memory card, you must copy the data onto a virtual memory card within the hard disk,which will require a PS2/PSone memory card adaptor to copy the data to your PS3. A memory card adaptor is designed to edit, up/download game saves to and from EMS flash card or smart media card. Details on the adaptor, as to price or manufactorer, were however not provided
by Rainier on July 18, 2006 @ 10:15 p.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Asustek Computer announced it will deliver PS3 game consoles to Sony this month as the Japanese firm gets ready to step up productions to meet demand for the 2006 holiday season. The first shipment is for 4 million units, with a target of 200,000 units per month thereafter. Hon Hai Precision Industry Co will pitch in shortly and will soon begin making PS3 units for Sony as well.
by Rainier on June 29, 2006 @ 12:53 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Not quite sure what to make of this, but in an interview with PSM, SCEA president Kaz Hirai made a rather surprising statement about the game prices for its upcoming PS3 console. "I think it would be a bit of a stretch to think that we could suddenly turn around and say, 'PS3 games now $99.99.' I don't think the consumers expect the software pricing to suddenly be double. So, if it becomes a bit higher than 59 bucks, don't ding me, but, again, as I said, I don't expect it to be 100 bucks."
by Rainier on June 19, 2006 @ 10:34 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Sony Computer Entertainment is looking for people interested in
testing PS3 software, "This position entails checking the functionality of software for the PS3, PS2, and PSP, compiling reports, and evaluating content." Requirements are pretty light, between the age of 20-30, ability to work for a year starting July 18, not be a student, and obviously love games. No experience is required and pay ranges from $8 to $12/hour. Interested parties must submit their résumé to SCEJ by July 3.
by Rainier on June 5, 2006 @ 11:55 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
With the launch of new consoles comes the inevitable discussion of backwards compatibility, and it seems Sony is running into a few issues. Initially announced as made possible through a software emulator, it seems engineers will not be able to complete the tool in time, and thus Sony opted to simple
include PS2 hardware inside each PS3, at least until the emu is finished. The report also reveals update patches through online service, plans for bigger hds, upgraded network features, and that the flash memory will be used for its OS. There is also speculation on Sony's next-gen console price, set at 73,000 yen, but that is to be taken with a grain of salt.
by Rainier on May 16, 2006 @ 10:16 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
According to ABI Research, Sony's console pricing strategy is fraught with risk, and may ultimately jeopardize its market leadership position. Sony is placing a serious bet that its inclusion of a Blu-ray drive in the PlayStation 3 will entice consumers to pay a premium price for the new console, despite lower cost alternatives from both Nintendo and Microsoft.
by Rainier on May 8, 2006 @ 6:55 p.m. PDT | Filed under
News
The Sony pre-E3 briefing just concluded, and the big news out of the event is that Sony's next-gen console will launch in Japan on November 11 and in North America, Europe and Australia on November 17. Each unit will ship with a hard drive included, although there will be two versions: a PS3 with a 20gb hd will set you back $499, while the 60gb version will cost $599. Its redesigned Dual Shock controller is wireless, Bluetooth-enabled and uses motion sensors, similar to the Wii conroller.
by Rainier on April 28, 2006 @ 2:43 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
SCEE extended its sponsorship of the UEFA Champions League competition for the third time since the partnership which began in 1997. The sponsorship agreement will extend up to and including the 2008/2009 season.
by Rainier on April 20, 2006 @ 10:28 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
SCEA today announced that it has made its PS2 more affordable than ever throughout North America. Effective immediately, consumers can purchase the PS2 for a suggested retail price (SRP) of $129.99. SCEA expects this latest price move to fuel consumer demand even further.
by Rainier on April 6, 2006 @ 12:59 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
In an interview with radio program Générations Europe 1, Sony Europe's Vice President Georges Fornay seems to have indicated a possible price range for Sony's next-gen console. As the answer to a question about the $500 price tag, Fornay replied that the PS3 would be in that price range, but switched over to Euros (500€ is approximately $620 USD). Sony Europe's VP said that the PS3 would be an expensive gaming machine, but relatively cheap considering the blu-ray technology included, which costs 1,000€. Later that day, Fornay retracted his on-air statement, saying he never announced a launch price.
by Rainier on March 24, 2006 @ 4:58 a.m. PST | Filed under
News
After more than a decade, Sony has finally decided to pull the plug on manufacturing the original PlayStation console. With the PS2 still in full swing and its successor due later this year, Sony revealed at the GDC that it's time to close the curtain on its 100 million unit selling PSOne. People still interested in buying this dinosaur do not have to worry; there are still plenty of units in circulation, which are being sold all over the world.
by Rainier on March 21, 2006 @ 1:56 p.m. PST | Filed under
News
AGEIA Technologies today announced that the latest version of AGEIA PhysX SDK version 2.4 will become available to registered PlayStation 3 game content developers on March 31, 2006.
by Rainier on March 20, 2006 @ 8:49 a.m. PST | Filed under
News
Quazal announced today that they have been approved for SCEI's Tools and Middleware program for PlayStation 3, and that versions are ready for evaluation by interested PS3 game title developers.
by Rainier on March 14, 2006 @ 12:57 p.m. PST | Filed under
News
While neither confirmed nor official, The Nihon Keizai Shimbun claims that tomorrow's secretive Sony conference will reveal that SCEI will delay the release of its PS3 next-generation console until early November because the copy protection technology for the Blu-ray Disc has not been finalized.
by Rainier on Feb. 16, 2006 @ 2:37 p.m. PST | Filed under
News
The keynote, titled "PlayStation 3: Beyond the Box," will demonstrate the creative and technical opportunities that will be made available via next-generation consoles. More specifically, Harrison will outline SCE's current plans for the PlayStation 3 and how certain development strategies will help increase consumer interest.
by Rainier on Feb. 15, 2006 @ 2:18 p.m. PST | Filed under
News
Could the Playstation 3 be coming as early as September 2006? According to
Next Generation Sony's next-gen console will launch barely a few days apart in Japan and North America, and, as expected, Europe will have to wait. Not only that, but
Next-Gen claims that Sony will unveil its unified online multiplayer service, larely based on Xbox Live, in the next few weeks, which is currently called PlayStation HUB. The service would be subscription-based and support voice, chat, downloadable content, as well as PSP multiplayer.
by Rainier on Jan. 2, 2006 @ 7:36 a.m. PST | Filed under
News
A few weeks ago a rumor started floating around that the January 2006 issue of PSM would reveal that UT 2007 was to be a
PS3 launch title, but this community post by an Epic producer on
the Atari forums tells a different story, "PC first. We're not scheduled to be a ps3 launch title, not certain where those news sites are getting that from. There will be a pre-release demo (on the PC at least)."
SCEA unveiled new features for the highly-anticipated PlayStation Home, a 3D community-based service set to revolutionize the broadband entertainment world, and announced new content for its PlayStation Network.
"Our goal is to deliver the most compelling entertainment experience to our PlayStation fans through PLAYSTATION Network," said Jack Tretton, president and CEO, SCEA. "The interactive content sharing features of PlayStation Home, combined with the library of innovative downloadable games and entertainment, truly push the boundaries of our customer's imaginations and deliver on the promise of an integrated content and community service." During the press conference, company spokespeople presented both in person and
by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under
E3 - Pre - E3 2003
Serving up a dose of sun, fun and sand right into gamers' living rooms, Acclaim Sports, a division of Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: AKLM - News), today unveiled Summer Heat Beach Volleyball(TM) for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. The only beach volleyball game available for the PlayStation®2, Summer Heat Beach Volleyball takes players on a journey to the world's hottest summer spots to face off in fast-paced 2-on-2 arcade action.
"We're very excited to offer PlayStation®2 owners their own exclusive beach volleyball game," said David Knies, Director of Acclaim Sports. "With addictive gameplay and easy-to-use controls, Summer Heat Beach
by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under
E3 - Pre - E3 2003
In an attempt to boost sales and lure more video-game players online, Sony Corp. plans on giving buyers of its PlayStation 2 system a free modem device that previously cost $40.
Sony will now sell its PlayStation 2 standard with its Network Adapter, which allows video-game players to hook up via the Internet to compete with each other. The company didn't specify an exact start date for the promotion, but said it would happen over the summer.
Industry watchers had been uncertain whether Sony would offer any promotion, since PlayStation 2 sales have eclipsed competitors in the game-console arena, Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox
by Rainier on Dec. 21, 2005 @ 5:37 p.m. PST | Filed under
News
At the Sony 2005 pre-e3 event, Epic's Tim Sweeney showed off an FPS demo without revealing which title it may be.
In July Sony announced it had licensed the Unreal Engine 3 for the PS3 platform, bringing a possible UT2007 release closer to reality. PlayStation Magazine's January 2006 issue now not only confirms UT 2007's arrival on Sony's next-gen console, but also reveals that it will be a launch title and so far is tentatively scheduled for Spring 2006. Epic is also working on another Unreal Engine 3 title, Gears of War, exclusively on X360.
