Sony PS3 under pressure due to Xbox 360 price cut, according to analyst

Now that the European Xbox 360 price cut is no longer a rumor but a reality, how will it affect its rival, Sony's very own PlayStation 3? According to analysts, it'll most likely to put a pressure on the sleek black console when it comes to pricing.

And what a pressure it will be. With Microsoft's Xbox 360 most expensive SKU, Elite, being GBP 40 (US 80.26) less expensive than the PlayStation 3, Microsoft's next-gen console is looking all the more appealing to gamers indeed. Principal analyst David Mercer said:

Sony will be nervous that the PS3's recent sales surge may fizzle out now that the premium Xbox 360 undercuts the PS3 by GBP 40, and the cheapest Xbox model is almost half the price of a PS3 .

So what will be Sony's gameplan? According to Mercer, Sony will most likely be careful to focus on their daily sales, but will "hold out until later in the year before making its next price move." In any case, it looks like that the winner in the end will always be the end users, the gamers.

Rock Band Xbox 360 DLC for March 11: Black Tide, Paramore, Serj Tankian

Harmonix Manager of Community Development Sean Baptiste (aka hmxsean) dropped by Rock Band's official forum site and announced some of the upcoming downloadable content for the Xbox 360 version of the game.

According to the official, the new songs should be up today, March 11, and each song will cost 80 Microsoft Points (US 0.99). Here's the list provided by the community manager:

• "Shockwave" by Black Tide (Master)
• "Crushcrushcrush" by Paramore (Master)
• "Beethoven's C " by Serj Tankian (Master)

There's still no word if the same songs will also be made available in Rock Band for the PlayStation 3. The last DLC pack the Sony next-gen got for this game was last week's Grateful Dead.

Just keep checking back here at QJ.NET as we promise to update you as soon as we pick up new development.


Buy: [ Rock Band Special Edition (Xbox 360) ]
Buy: [ Rock Band Special Edition (PS3) ]

Microsoft Europe VP explains how Xbox 360 big price drop became possible

As much as the newly announced Xbox 360 price cut for Europe is a very welcome move from Microsoft, one has to got to wonder what are the real reasons behind it.

Is it, as some would like to believe, a precursor to the rumored 60GB SKU? It's a good thing, though, that Microsoft Interactive Entertainment Europe Vice President Chris Lewis gave a few statements explaining why such price drops have become possible.

"We had to reach and surpass key milestones before we dropped 360 s UK price," Lewis said. If you're wondering what specific milestones Microsoft is talking about, Chris Lewis provided as well the following outline:

• We ve taken 42 revenue share of next gen-games market - including hardware, peripherals and software, as well as the stunning performance of Live.
• We re consistently attaching games at high level - we re now at north of seven games to every console. That s considerably more than our competitors and something we re immensely proud of.
• On top of that, we ve worked our way to a 17.7 million units worldwide installed base - and Europe is a critical geography within that figure.

Lewis also commented that the "ability to continually drive cost through the console" is also a big factor to the price cut. The new prices will take effect in Europe this coming March 14.

Epic Games' Tom Sweeney on PC gaming, Vista problems, and more

Mainstream PC users usually don't put into mind gaming as one of their primary reasons for buying their units. The biggest uses for their PCs would mostly focus on for checking their email, or simply updating their Facebook or MySpace accounts.

This was one of the dilemmas Tim Sweeney, Epic Games CEO and founder, talked about in an interview conducted by TG Daily. He also expressed his opinion on how the PC is currently having trouble keeping up with the competitive gaming market that the consoles are monopolizing, as well as some possible solutions that the PC industry can go with if it wants to competitively make some headway against its rivals.

Sweeney also pointed towards the message that most current game developers are sending to gamers when it comes to getting the best bang out of their PC gaming buck as one of the biggest mistakes in the industry. It used to be that mainstream PC users can play just about any game on their machines with optimal results.

Games nowadays rely on high-end user specs if they want gamers to enjoy their gaming experience. A simple downscaling solution wouldn't cut it either because of the huge margin created by PC manufacturers when producing their machines.

Another fault he pointed out was the continuation of Vista 32-bit version instead of sticking to an exclusive 64-bit platform. This causes old problems like virus and spyware to bog down user systems, thus making the PC platform unsuitable for optimal gaming conditions.

TG Daily also asked his opinion on the idea of using external graphic cards which can be plugged into your PC and raise its visual performance. Sweeney liked the idea of using a PC as "an out-of-the-box workable gaming platform". However, this might not be a viable solution for gamers who want to properly step up their machines for gaming purposes.

Sweeney proposed his own solution to change the way how the PC industry can keep up with the current gaming trends:

If you look into the past, CPU makers are learning more and more how to take advantage of GPU-like architectures. Internally, they accept larger data and they have wider vector units: CPUs went from a single-threaded product to multiple cores...

Then, every PC, even the lowest performing ones will have excellent CPUs. If we could get software rendering going again, that might be just the solution we all need. Intel s integrated graphics just don't work. I don't think they will ever work.

It looks like PC manufacturers, and the industry itself, have a big job on their hands if they want to keep up with the standards of using today's PCs as a solid gaming platform instead of an all-around performance machine. In any case, we'll just have to wait and see if they are indeed up to this enormous task.

Harmonix playing with the idea of user-created songs for Rock Band

So what's next for Harmonix's rocking new rhythm title aside from the occasional new song? Vice President of Product Development Greg LoPiccolo assumed that the next step for Rock Band (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3) would be the introduction of user-created music for players to really get into the spirit of the game.

It definitely sounds like an interesting take on how to make Rock Band stand out as an innovative rhythm title. LoPiccolo mentioned that it was a "natural direction for the franchise to move" and that it would be a great way for musically inclined gamers to express themselves even further.

However, the idea isn't without its own set of difficulties. Problems such as IP and ratings issues are bound to pop up somewhere, but he's quite hopeful of the possibility of it happening sometime in the future.

He was even considering requests of adding a new peripheral to the Rock Band instrument scheme, specifically a keyboard. LoPiccolo was very open to the idea, saying that should there be enough songs which could warrant the addition of a keyboard instrument then they'll be right on it.

However, all of these ideas are still up in the air as Harmonix still seems to have their hands full on other projects. For now, we'll just have to wait and see if our indie band songs will get a chance to make it onto the virtual stage. Keep coming back to this space as we look out for more updates on the game.


Buy: [Rock Band Special Edition (Xbox 360)]
Buy: [Rock Band Special Edition (PS3)]

Bizarre love triangle: shareholder sues Take-Two over EA's buyout offer

 

And it's a one-two punch. After doing a bit of damage control to reassure its employees after Electronic Arts tried to buy out their company, Take-Two Interactive is slammed with a lawsuit. The funny thing is, it was filed by one of T2's very own shareholders.

The lawsuit alleges that Take-Two purposely kept EA's US 2 billion buyout offer a secret so that it could enrich its senior executives. Apparently, T2 approved a measure to increase management compensation in case of a takeover just days after the offer.

The compensation approved by the board raised the fees and bonuses that will be received by ZelnickMedia's management in case the company was sold. From US 3.8 million, it was raised to an "exorbitant" (as the lawsuit described it) US 16.5 million.

The lawsuit claims that the actions they took to respond to EA's offer (or as the lawsuit phrases it: "outright rejection of EA s offers and failure to negotiate") represents a failure to "reasonably respond" and "maximize shareholder value."

The lawsuit, filed by Patrick Solomon, specifically calls out Strauss Zelnick and Benjamin Feder, the partners of ZelnickMedia. In response to the lawsuit, the company replied: "We believe that the claims lack merit, and intend to defend vigorously against them."

Analysts: Xbox 360 price drop for US, more console war theories

The recent Xbox 360 price drop in Europe got analysts in a tizzy over what's in store for the console wars now, saying that Microsoft will get an advantage over the competition. Analysts are now surmising that the price drop may also be headed to the U.S.

Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter speculates that the U.S. price cut will be introduced before Christmas. He singles out the Xbox 360 Arcade, saying that Microsoft would probably drop its price by at least US 50, making the SKU cheaper than the Wii.

However, while Pachter is confident that the 360 can hold its own until the holidays, he does add that the PlayStation 3 is likely to pick up in sales due to the market's call for Blu-ray. But then this may be all the more reason the U.S. price cut may happen:

I'm pretty confident that they will maintain a spread between the 360 and the PS3, and think that [Microsoft is] proud enough to care if the PS3 outsells the 360 consistently.

Colin Sebastian, an analyst from Lazard Capital Markets, also predicts a price cut for the Xbox 360 in the US. He also expects that, along with the price cut, Microsoft will introduce a new Xbox 360 SKU with a larger hard drive (perhaps he means the rumored 60 GB SKU?).

Sebastian goes on to say that the PlayStation 3 may also introduce a price cut, depending on how well the market takes to a cheaper Xbox 360 (if Microsoft chooses to introduce one): "They may be left with little choice if pricing continues to limit market share."

As for the Wii... well, no one seems at all worried for the Nintendo platform even with all the talk about price cuts. "I think the Wii success has more to do with the gaming experience than the price point," says Sebastian, echoing Jesse Divnich's earlier sentiments.

Lifestreaming: Square Enix wants simultaneous worldwide releases

Always look to Aeris if you want world peace. Amidst all the complaints from RPG fans in US and Europe of how Japan always gets things first (settle down, folks; Crisis Core is coming in just a few more days!), Square Enix is now making a move to have worldwide simultaneous releases for their games.

Yoichi Wada expressed this goal of theirs to Japan's Nihon Keizan Shimbun, saying that Square Enix will be "making simultaneous releases the norm" from this point on. This bodes well, especially after Wada's consideration of expanding their development studios to Western regions as well as reassessing their partnership with Microsoft.

Unfortunately, it remains unsaid as to what specific games in their pipeline will be having a worldwide simultaneous release. Maybe Final Fantasy 13 for the PS3 or Dragon Quest 9 for the DS? Square Enix seems to be putting those two in their priority lists - even though specific release dates haven't even been revealed yet.

Who knows? While chances of seeing them roll out within the year are slim, we can still hope for a simultaneous release for when these games come out in the future.

Break glass in case of takeover: Take-Two forms severance plan

 

Those of you who have been following the recent industry drama between Electronic Arts and Take-Two Interactive might be interested in this latest development: T2 has formed a severance plan to reassure their staff, just in case EA's takeover pulls through.

The news of the takeover has the industry a little jittery, so it's not surprising that T2's staff need the reassurance. Back when the takeover bid was first announced, even Ubisoft was a little rattled and announced that they were hoping to expand as well.

There is a chance that the EA's bid will turn into a hostile takeover, as industry analyst Michael Pachter points out, so a severance plan doesn't strike as a panicked decision from T2. T2 maintains that the plan doesn't mean the takeover will actually happen.

For those of you interested in the details of the severance plan, here's the skinny:

• T2 executives will be given 1.5x their current salary and a bonus of up to 18 months if they are fired without cause within a year of a change in control.
• Non-executives will receive up to six months in salary.
• The severance plan does not apply to top executives covered under a separate management agreement

On Shelves This Week: March 10 to March 16, 2008

Compared to last week's releases, we'll be facing a more discreet batch this time. Surely, it's difficult to look away from Super Smash Bros. Brawl now that it's out in the market. If you can resist the charms of the Nintendo all-star fighting game, Condemned 2: Bloodshot can quench your thirst for hurting someone. It's not all about melees, however, since there's a good dose of lighthearted fantasy in the mix, thanks to Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates.

Level-headed gamers who want to put their strategic thinking to the test have numerous prospects highlighted by Wild Arms XF. Sports fans won't be left behind with the release of Pro Evolution Soccer 2008, the latest entry in the popular football series. Still not enough games? We've got a chunky list right here.

Condemned 2: Bloodshot. Like its predecessor, Condemned 2 has close ties with the unexplainable. Taking the shoes of former Serial Crimes Unit investigator Ethan Thomas, players will face the horrors of a mysterious city littered with murder crimes while utilizing the game's new hand-to-hand combat mechanic when guns are not enough.

• Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3 - March 11, 2008
• US 59.99
• ESRB M (Mature)
• Sega and Monolith Productions

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates. Fans of the previous iteration of this action RPG can find everything they loved about Square Enix' multiplayer affair in its sequel. Four player mode is intact, coupled with unique controls made possible by the Nintendo DS' touch screen.

• Nintendo DS - March 11, 2008
• US 39.99
• ESRB E (Everyone)
• Square Enix

FlatOut: Head On. What can only be defined as pure destruction is racing its way to the PSP for some serious devastating car crashes across Carnage Race, Deathmatch Derby, and Ragdoll Stunts modes. Wi-Fi support promises you won't be alone during your savage trips.

• Sony PlayStation Portable - March 11, 2008
• US 29.99
• ESRB T (Teen)
• Warner Bros. and Empire Interactive

House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return. Sega's classic arcade shooter series which was insane enough to turn a typing spin-off into something fun has finally come back from the grave to haunt the family friendly Wii. Zombies attempt to prove the undead is as cool as they were a few decades ago using motion sensing controls.

• Nintendo Wii - March 11, 2008
• US 29.99
• ESRB M (Mature)
• Sega

Insecticide. Yes, Gamecock's handheld offering is buggy, but not in a bad way. If you thought killing insects is fun without feeling guilty, try playing the snazzy detective Chrys Liszt and you'll know how those bugs you love to squash have their own problems to take care of, too. Insecticide is said to be a cinematic experience which progresses through fast-paced shooting in finely crafted environments.

• Nintendo DS - March 11, 2008
• US 29.99
• ESRB E (Everyone)
• Gamecock and Crackpot

Lost Empire: Immortals. Can't get enough of 4X games set in space? Meet Lost Empire: Immortals, a PC game cooked up with the immortal formula of pitting various races against each other as they explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate. A solid number of 150 scientific advances and ten-player multiplayer mode ensure you'll take hours to colonize every single star in the game's universe.

• PC - March 11, 2008
• US 29.99
• Paradox Interactive and Pollux Gamelabs

Nanostray 2. It's been a while since we first heard of this title, but it looks like the sequel to a solid top-down shooter is finally coming. Nanostray 2 has an array of new features with six game modes, multiple control schemes, and 16 bad bosses - definitely a leg up from the first Nanostray.

• Nintendo DS - January 15, 2008
• US 29.99
• ESRB E (Everyone)
• Majesco Games and Shin'en

Pro Evolution Soccer 2008. From its humble beginnings as Winning Eleven, Konami's football franchise has exploded to stardom and now constantly scores goals across several platforms. This season, it will strike North America on the PS3, PSP, Xbox 360, and DS.

• Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS - March 11, 2008
• US 59.99 (Xbox 360, PS3), US$29.99 (PSP, DS)
• ESRB E (Everyone)
• Konami

Sam and Max Season 2: Episode 204. It's episodic content at its best, as Telltale Games is releasing yet another entry in Sam and Max' animalistic adventures. The latest episode has all the improvements added to Season 2, such as more lively neighborhoods and the introduction of mini-games in every installment.

• PC - March 13, 2008
• US 8.99
• Telltale Games

Sudden Strike 3: Arms for Victory. Despite its title, Sudden Strike won't take you by surprise. It's too massive to strike quickly, what with the overwhelming number of available units on air, land, and sea, all rendered by a powerful 3D engine. The wait is over, soldier.

• PC - March 10, 2008
• US 29.99
• ESRB T (Teen)
• cdv Software Entertainment and Fireglow Games

Wild ARMs XF. The long-running RPG series by Media Vision is ready for a shoot-out on a handheld for the first time, featuring a heavily modified HEX battle system. As one of the many turn-based strategy games for the PSP, Wild ARMs XF sets itself apart by providing deep combat backed by Formation Arts, Combination Arts, and 20 unique job classes.

• Sony PlayStation Portable - March 11, 2008
• US 39.99
• ESRB E (Everyone)
• XSEED Games and Media Vision

World Championship Cards. If you need card games on the go, Crave has an expansive collection of over 30 different card games in one PSP title. To top it all, there's character creation and eight-player online play or via AD HOC.

• Sony PlayStation Portable - March 11, 2008
• US 19.99
• ESRB E (Everyone)
• Crave

XIII Century: Death or Glory. Epic battles between thousands of soldiers in 13th century Europe is the name of the game. Before joining the fray, military leaders are allowed to enter strategy mode in which they'll be assessing economic, diplomatic, and political aspects of an invasion. When battle is inevitable, it's time to customize troops and charge into battle!

• PC - March 12, 2008
• US 19.99
• GamersGate

originally posted Mar 10, 2008 at 12:36AM

Buy: [Condemned 2: Bloodshot (Xbox 360), (PS3)]
Buy: [Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates (DS)]
Buy: [FlatOut: Head On (PSP)]
Buy: [House of the Dead 2&3 Return (Wii)]
Buy: [Insecticide (DS)]
Buy: [Lost Empire: Immortals (PC)]
Buy: [Nanostray 2 (DS)]
Buy: [Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (Xbox 360), (PS3), (PSP), (DS)
Buy: [Wild ARMs XF (PSP)]
Buy: [World Championship Cards (PSP)]

Target and Circuit City deals for week of March 16 - 22

For those of us looking to score some videogame-flavored joy - but don't quite have the funds to splurge then here comes the attack of the cheap, affordable deals coming direct from Circuit City and Target. And this is for the week of March 16 to March 22 of 2008.

Better get your calculators (and wallets) ready to crunch the numbers!

So, how are the pickings this week? Quite healthy, actually. While we've got the smattering of new, high-quality releases, there's also something for every kind of gamer in this deal bonanza, regardless of what console you own.

Here's the complete list of the deals from Target:

$16 Games(PS2):

• Madden NFL 08
• Thrillville
• LEGO Star Wars II
• Star Wars II: Battlefront
• Transformers: The Game
• MX vs. ATV: Untamed

$17 Games (DS):

• Drawn To Life
• Paw & Claws: Pet Resort
• LEGO Star Wars II
• Transformers: Autobots
• Spider-man: Friend Or Foe?
• Spongebob Squarepants: Atlantis Squarepantis

$39 Games:

• Smackdown vs RAW 2008 (PS3 / 360 / Wii)
• Guitar Hero III: Legends Of Rock (360)
• Halo 3 (360)
• Assassin s Creed (PS3 / 360)
• Singstar 90 s (PS2)
• Buzz: The Hollywood Quiz (PS2)

$59 Games:

• MLB 08: The Show (PS3)
• Major League Baseball 2K8 (PS3 / 360)
• Lost Odyssey (360)
• Hot Shots Golf: Out Of Bounds (PS3)

Wii Games / Accessories:

• Super Smash Brothers Brawl (US 49.99)
• SEGA Superstars: Tennis (US 49.99)
• Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 (US 49.99)
• Carnival Games (US 39.99)
• Hannah Montana: Spotlight World Tour (US 39.99)
• Wii Gaming System (US 249.99)

Miscellaneous Games / Accessories:

• Rock Band Special Edition Bundle (PS3 / 360, US 157)
• Rock Band Bundles (PS2, US 159.99)

PC Games:

• Jump Start Advanced: Toddlers  (US 17.99)
• Paws & Claws: Pet Resort (US 17.99)
• The SIMS 2: Free Time (US 27.99)
• Cake Mania Deluxe (US 7.99)

Now, here's the deals from Circuit City:

New Releases:

• Rainbow Six: VEGAS 2 (PS3/360, US$59.99)
• Rainbow Six: VEGAS 2 Limited Edition (PS3/360, US 69.99)
• Super Smash Brothers Brawl (Wii, US 49.99)
• Hot Shots Golf: Out Of Bounds (PS3, US 49.99)
• Smackdown VS. RAW: Superstar Series 3 Game Pack (US 29.99)
• Ninja Reflex (Wii, US 39.99)
• Ninja Reflex (DS, US$29.99)
• Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring Of Fates (DS, US$39.99)
• SEGA Superstars: Tennis (Wii, US$49.99)
• SEGA Superstars: Tennis (DS, US 29.99)

NDS Games / Accessories:

• Hannah Montana  (US 9.99)
• Cooking Mama (US 9.99)
• Brain Boost: Beta Wave (US 9.99)
• The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody: Tip Tom Trouble (US 9.99)
• Ratatouille (US 14.99)
• Nintendo DS Lite Gaming System (US 129.99)
• PSP Nintendo Character Game Cases For DS Lite (US 4.99)
• BD&A Pen Stylus & Screen Protector 2 Pack For DS Lite (US 4.99)

PSP Games / Accessories:

• Patapon (US 19.99)
• MLB 08: The Show (US 29.99)
• Sonic Rivals 2 (US 29.99)
• Need For Speed: Pro Street (US 29.99)
• The Simpsons Game (US 29.99)
• Limited Edition Daxter PSP Entertainment Pack Bundle (US 199.99)
• BD&A Screen Guards For PSP (US 4.99)
• RDS Carrying Case For PSP (US 9.99)

Discounted titles:

• Scooby Doo: Who s Watching Who? (NDS, US 11.24)
• Life / Yahtzee / Payday 3 Game Pack (GBA, US 9.74)
• Ford VS. Chevy (PS2, US 7.49)
• Mah Jong Quest Expedition (NDS, US 11.24)
• Art Of Fighting Anthology (PS2, US 7.49)
• Fable (XBOX, US 7.49)
• ATV Quad Frenzy (NDS, US 11.24)
• M & M s: Break Em (NDS, US 11.24)
• Jake Long: American Dragon Attack Of The Dark Dragon (NDS, US 11.24)
• Corvette (PS2, US 7.49)
• B-17: Fortress In The Sky (NDS, US 11.24)
• Suzuki TT Superbikes (PS2, US 7.49)
• Rebel Raiders: Operation Nighthawk (PS2, US 7.49)
• Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Justice For All (NDS, US 11.24)

Miscellaneous Games:

• Guitar Hero III: Legends Of Rock Bundle (PS2 / Wii, US 89.99 each)
• Guitar Hero III: Legends Of Rock Bundle (PS3 / 360 US 99.99 each)
• Rock Band Bundle (PS2 US 159.99)
• Rock Band Bundle (PS3 / 360, US 169.99)
• High School Musical: Sing It Bundle (Wii, US 49.99)
• High School Musical: Sing It Bundle (PS2, US 39.99)

PC GAMES:

• 2142 Battlefield: Deluxe Edition (US 17.99)
• The SIMS 2: Free Time (US 17.99)
• The SIMS 2: Deluxe (US 17.99)
• Warhammer 40K: Dawn Of War Soul Storm (US 27.99)

Definitely a meaty menu to pick from, eh? While we are all chomping at the bit at the new releases, there's also quite the low-cost gem to be found in the discounted titles. In any case, enjoy, and good hunting!

Nintendo Japan lists WiiWare titles to be released on March 25

 

Nintendo Japan has updated the official WiiWare page, informing the public regarding the titles that will debut on the service's launch day. Speaking of which, WiiWare is scheduled for a March 25 Japanese release.

Anyway, the exciting thing that this update gives us is that not all games will cost 1,500 Wii Points. Judging from the list only Square Enix's Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King will carry that price tag.

Furthermore, the list also tells us that some games cost just like Famicom titles released on Virtual Console. Anyway, here's the list provided by Nintendo for Japan-based gamers:

• Okiraku Ping Pong Wii (500)
• Kotoba no Puzzle Mojipittan Wii (1,000)
• Saku Saku Animal Panic (1,000)
• Star Solider R (800)
• Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King (1,500)
• Tenshi Solitaire (500)
• Dr. Mario & Saikin Bokumetsu (1,000)
• Minna no Pokemon Bokujou (1,000)
• Lonpos (1,000)

There's still no word regarding the games that will be released for other regions on day one of the WiiWare service. Just keep checking back here at QJ.NET for more details regarding this matter.