David Cole with DFC Intelligence is betting that PlayStation-loving Europe will soon be switching its loyalty to Nintendo platforms, with the Xbox 360 being left in the wakes of both rivals.
What will Nintendo's success mean for the other platforms? It is important to note that DFC Intelligence is also forecasting strong sales for the PlayStation 3 and, to a lesser extent the Xbox 360. This generation is not expected to be a case of one platform dominating like the PS2 did in the last generation. One factor that will increasingly take hold in Europe is what DFC has labeled the "second car in the garage." In the U.S. over 40 percent of game households now buy two or more of the current console systems. By comparison, Europe has largely been a one car in the garage market. In recent years, that car has been the PlayStation 2. As the game market in Europe grows we expect to see more consumers buying two or more systems (although not to the extent of the U.S.) The Wii is forecasted to be the market leader, but with a market share less than 50 percent compared with the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Consumers will still need to play World of Warcraft, Grand Theft Auto IV, games on the go and so on. No one system satisfies all the diverse tastes in today's market.
It appears inevitable that, for the PlayStation 3, Sony will lose a big chunk of its PS2 user base. However, in the long-term, DFC Intelligence believes the PlayStation 3 will be a fairly strong competitor. The biggest loser in Europe is likely to be the Xbox 360. Microsoft has seen its self-proclaimed fall 2007 "greatest holiday lineup in videogame history" come and go with very little impact on the Xbox 360's position in the European marketplace. To spur sales in 2008, Microsoft is being forced to lower the price of a system that is starting to look like a senior citizen as it approaches its third birthday.
The Xbox systems have enjoyed much greater success in the U.K. than in continental Europe. In large part this is because the U.K. does not have a strong PC game market like those found in other parts of Europe. However, as in the U.S. and Australia where intense violence is more popular with gamers, U.K. gamers enjoy first-person shooter (FPS) titles and the Xbox 360 is clearly the leader in that category. Unfortunately, outside of the U.K., DFC sees the Xbox 360 continuing to struggle in Europe.
Welcome to this week's Games Update, our weekly summary featuring all new product arrivals from the last seven days.
Grand Theft Auto IV is released this week and steals the spotlight. Test out your own limits as well as that of your next generation consoles. Become Niko Bellic and roam the streets of Liberty city to search for the lost American dream through constant action and gun fights. Please check out this special news entry for a full reportage on the game and its shipping schedule.
Persona 3 FES proves that school is not very much safer than Liberty City. With monsters roaming about ready to prey on the unaware, it is up to the hero, his persona and the "special extracurricular activities club" members to prevent these monsters, called Shadows from overtaking the city.
The World Ends With You does not feature a sanctuary free of conflicts either. The weight of the world rests on the teenager Neku's shoulders. He has to solve riddles and beat the fatal game in seven days, or else the world will perish with him.
Explore the grand but dangerous fields of Final Fantasy XI: The Vana'diel Collection and assume a persona of your choice. This multi-platform online RPG constructs a mythical world with magical elements of its own. Learn the history of this parallel universe and join all the others who are absorbed in this massively scaled RPG.
After all the fun of challenging death, monsters and getting lost in the wild, try something less lethal but just as exciting. NBA Ballers: Chosen One is released for both Xbox360™ and PlayStation3™. Step into your pair of cyber basketball shoes and demonstrate your best skills in the most exotic of courts.
As usually, here's a summary of all new releases from this week,
Xbox360™:
Grand Theft Auto IV ASIA US$ 59.90
Grand Theft Auto IV US US$ 64.90
Grand Theft Auto IV (Special Edition) US US$ 129.90
NBA Ballers: Chosen One US US$ 64.90
Rock Band Wireless Guitar US US$ 79.90
Sega Superstars Tennis ASIA US$ 49.90
Viking: Battle for Asgard ASIA US$ 49.90
PlayStation3™:
Grand Theft Auto IV US US$ 64.90
Grand Theft Auto IV (Special Edition) US N/A
NBA Ballers: Chosen One US US$ 64.90
Sega Superstars Tennis ASIA US$ 49.90
Viking: Battle for Asgard ASIA US$ 49.90
Nintendo Wii™:
Battle of the Bands US US$ 59.90
Heavenly Guardian US US$ 24.90
Mario Kart Wii (w/ Wii Wheel) US US$ 59.90
Pro Yakyuu Family Stadium JPN US$ 54.90
Target: Terror US US$ 44.90
Wild Earth: African Safari US US$ 34.90
Nintendo Wii™ Accessories:
Vertical Illumination Stand US US$ 19.99
Wii Classic Controller with Glove (Special Edition / Black) US US$ 29.90
Wii Classic Controller with Glove (Special Edition / Blue) US US$ 29.90
Wii Classic Controller with Glove (Special Edition / Pink) US US$ 29.90
Wii Gamenizer with Remote (Special Edition) US US$ 59.90
Wii Nunchuk with Glove (Special Edition / Blue) US US$ 29.90
Wii Zapper with Link's Crossbow Training JPN US$ 39.90
PlayStation2™:
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES US US$ 34.90
Nintendo DS™:
Anpanman to Asobo: ABC Kyoushitsu JPN US$ 44.90
Emblem of Gundam JPN US$ 48.90
Katekyoo Hitman Reborn! Fate of Heat JPN US$ 48.90
Keikishi Gunzou Presents: Monoshiri Bakumatsu-Ou JPN US$ 39.90
The World Ends With You US US$ 44.90
Nintendo DS™ Accessories:
Peanuts DS Card Block JPN US$ 10.90
Peanuts Lite Slipon Socks Pouch - Blue JPN US$ 9.90
Peanuts Lite Slipon Socks Pouch - Pink JPN US$ 9.90
Peanuts Lite Slipon Socks Pouch - White JPN US$ 9.90
Peanuts Lite Slipon Socks Pouch - Yellow JPN US$ 9.90
Protector DS Lite (Nintendogs Version A) US US$ 9.99
Protector DS Lite (Nintendogs Version B) US US$ 9.99
Protector DS Lite (Super Mario Bros. Version) US US$ 9.99
Shiny Pouch DS Lite (Cassis) JPN US$ 22.90
Shiny Pouch DS Lite (Emerald) JPN US$ 22.90
Shiny Pouch DS Lite (Gold) JPN US$ 22.90
Shiny Pouch DS Lite (Pearl White) JPN US$ 22.90
Shiny Pouch DS Lite (Silver) JPN US$ 22.90
Touch Pen Max (Cassis) JPN US$ 3.90
Touch Pen Max (Emerald) JPN US$ 3.90
Touch Pen Max (Gold) JPN US$ 3.90
Touch Pen Max (Pearl White) JPN US$ 3.90
Touch Pen Max (Silver) JPN US$ 3.90
Sony PSP™:
AVP2 Aliens Vs. Predator JPN US$ 27.90
Chameleon US US$ 24.90
Nippon no Asoko de JPN US$ 39.90
Rockman Rockman (Chinese Version) ASIA US$ 14.90
Sony PSP™ Accessories:
PSP 2GB Memory Stick US US$ 39.99
PC Games:
Europa Universalis Rome ASIA US$ 37.90
Final Fantasy XI: The Vana'diel Collection 2008 (DVD-ROM) US US$ 34.90
Off Road ASIA US$ 34.90
Guide Books:
Arcadia Magazine [June 2008] JPN US$ 12.90
Armored Core: For Answer Official Perfect Guide JPN US$ 26.90
Famitsu Wave DVD [June 2008] JPN US$ 16.50
Grand Theft Auto IV Signature Series Guide US US$ 19.90
Iron Man Official Strategy Guide US US$ 16.90
Lux-Pain Official Guide Book JPN US$ 27.90
Mario Kart Wii Prima Office Game Guide US US$ 19.90
Petit Four Official Visual Fan Book JPN US$ 38.90
Pokemon Pocket Pokedex Vol.2: Prima Official Game Guide US US$ 13.90
Riba Hara Art Collection JPN US$ 29.90
Silver Rain Guide Book JPN US$ 14.90
The World Ends With You Official Strategy Guide US US$ 16.90
Vantage Master Portable Capture And Visual Book JPN US$ 27.90
Video Game Soundtracks:
Star Ocean: Second Evolution Original Soundtrack JPN US$ 28.90
A mysterious timer clock has appeared on the official site for Grand Theft Auto 2. Yes, that's right; the ten-year-old game.
The clock on the official site seems to be counting neither up or down (the minutes don't change) but the date 'May 22' is clearly displayed underneath.
Could the long-rumoured Xbox Live Arcade and PSN versions of Grand Theft Auto 1 & 2 be just around the corner then? We can't think of anything else it could be relating to - the game's quite old, after all.
Rockstar's UK office was unfortunately unavailable to comment when we picked up the phone (they're probably playing Cops 'n Crooks), but we'll let you know when the time ticks away.
Capcom has released some of the nice screenshots of Street Fighter IV, which we think look great. Don't take our word for it though: have a look yourself.
We recognise they're not perfect - in particular Ryu's feet appear to belong to the Incredible Hulk and Chun Li still looks like a bloke - but the sheer style of them has us sold.
The backgrounds also look good and the lighting is quite impressive. In one shot, a setting sun in one shot casts rays over Ryu and Sagat.
If you haven't already seen them, we'd recommend checking out the videos on our Street Fighter IV game page. We want a release date now please, Capcom.
Video game industry researcher DFC Intelligence has claimed that the Xbox 360 is "starting to look like a senior citizen" and is likely to be the biggest loser in Europe.
In a Next-Gen article, the research company has said the Microsoft's 2007 Christmas line-up has had little impact on the company's position in the marketplace and predicts that PS3 will secure second place this generation.
The research company also had some words to say about Nintendo. "The Wii product line and control system are an evolution of what made the PlayStation 2 so successful in Europe," it says, claiming that Sony's success last generation was due in part to the mass-market appeal of SingStar and EyeToy.
"A key driver behind these products was Phil Harrison, the U.K.-based president of SCE Worldwide Studios. However at the end of February 2008, Harrison left Sony. In many ways this departure is symbolic of how the torch in Europe seems to be passing to Nintendo."
Mario Kart Wii sold another 150,000 units in Japan across the sales week ending April 27, according to the latest data from Media Create, and is on track to break the 1 million mark this week.
That was also enough to keep it top of the software chart, with Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G in second place as Capcom's PlayStation Portable game nears the 2 million boundary.
New entries accounted for the rest of the top five places, with Valkyria Chronicles for the PlayStation 3 in third, Taiko Drum Master DS: Seven Island Adventure in fourth and Summon Night in fifth.
Wii Fit sold another 37,000 copies to take sixth place, and is on track to pass the 2 million mark in the next few weeks, while We're Fossil Diggers took seventh place.
Pokemon Ranger: Batonnage, DS Beautiful Letter Training and Musou Orochi: The Evil King Returns completed the top ten list.
Two Xbox 360 title made their debut in the top 30, with Rainbow Six Vegas 2 taking 11th place and Frontlines: Fuel of War in 26th. Phoenix Wright 4 for the Nintendo DS debuted at a lowly 27th.
The full top ten is as follows:
1. Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
2. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PS)
3. Valkyria Chronicles (PS3)
4. Taiko Drum Master DS: Seven Island Adventure (DS)
5. Summon Night (DS)
6. Wii Fit (Wii)
7. We're Fossil Diggers (DS)
8. Pokemon Ranger: Batonnage (DS)
9. DS Beautiful Letter Training (DS)
10. Musou Orochi: The Evil King Returns (PS2)
The watch-dog group Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has set its sights on the rating of GTA IV, primarily because a player can drive drunk in the game. MADD released a statement saying that 'Drunk driving is not a game, and it is not a joke. Drunk driving is a choice, a violent crime and it is also 100 percent preventable.' MADD also is asking Rockstar Games to consider removing GTA IV from distribution 'out of respect for the millions of victims/survivors of drunk driving.' Rockstar replied to MADD by saying 'we have a great deal of respect for MADD's mission, but we believe the mature audience for "Grand Theft Auto IV" is more than sophisticated enough to understand the game's content.' As expected, Jack Thompson is making his usual attention-whoring remarks by comparing GTA IV to the polio virus
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, coming this summer, brings us a bevy of Aerosmith tracks. As an added bonus, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry picked some "influential" songs from other artists to round out the collection. Today, Activision revealed that the Orpheum Theatre in Boston is being recreated for the game. You'll play three Aerosmith songs at the Orpheum, along with songs from The Clash and the New York Dolls.
Orpheum Tracks
* "Living on the Edge" - Aerosmith
* "Ragdoll" - Aerosmith
* "Love in an Elevator" - Aerosmith
* "Complete Control" - The Clash
* "Personality Crisis" - New York Dolls
The latest firgure for console sales in Japan are in and all machines except one gets a raise from last weeks reading, shown below:
Playstation Portable: 92,411
Nintendo Wii: 48,796
Nintendo DS Lite: 42,435
Playstation 3: 9,107
Playstation 2: 7,108
Xbox 360: 1,283
PSP still tops the list, up by 6,990 while the Nintendo Wii trails behind it, up 4,245. The Nintendo DS Lite is in third place and takes a 1,806 drop. The ones in line are the PS3, up 1,669, PS2 up 563 and Xbox 360 increases by 207.
Microsoft has said that it expects the success of Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto IV to boost the number of Xbox Live subscribers.
Released this week, the game has broken sales records in the UK, while Sony of America has claimed the game is helping to sell new PlayStation 3 hardware.
"GTA is unique because it appeals to such a large audience," commented Aaron Greenberg, director of product management for Xbox, reports Reuters.
"It will likely be the the best-selling game launched all year and we expect it will drive a lot of new members to Xbox Live."
Billy Pidgeon, IDC analyst, agrees that the game could eclipse the current Xbox Live favourite and attract consumers who aren't interested in first-person shooters – the dominant online genre.
"This has the capabilities of being more popular online than Halo 3," he said.
"I think the console, even more so than the PC, has the potential to have lots of different types of games be popular online. GTA is an important piece of that. It can lead the way online for a large contingent of players who don't play first-person shooters."
Microsoft has told Next-Gen that the Xbox 360 version of Grand Theft Auto IV is outselling the PlayStation 3 version by a wide margin in the US, but Sony questions Microsoft's claims.
"What we've heard anecdotally from our retail partners is that the Xbox 360 version of the game is outselling the PS3 version by a margin of two-to-one," said Aaron Greenberg, director of product management for Xbox 360 and Xbox Live during an interview Thursday.
"That mirrors what we saw with pre-orders, but it continues to hold true at retail, at least for the first couple of days. It's a great sign."
But a SCEA rep questioned Microsoft's findings, saying that Microsoft's two-to-one ratio "doesn't line up" with what Sony has been hearing from its retailers. The rep declined to say exactly what Sony has been hearing from its retail partners until more concrete data can be compiled.
Rockstar's GTA IV launched on Tuesday.
In day-one sales in the UK, the Xbox 360 version of GTA IV outsold the PS3 version: 335,000 versus 274,000, respectively, according to Chart Track.
One of the big questions hovering around the release of GTA IV is just how much of an impact the game will have on sales of Xbox 360 and PS3.
SCEA released a statement Thursday saying that GTA IV drove a boost in PS3 sales on the game's launch day, although the company has yet to release hard figures.
Microsoft also has yet to release post-GTA IV hardware sales figures, but Greenberg said, "We've heard from our retailers that the consoles saw strong lifts during the week. We typically wait for [research firm] NPD to give us a better read on that.
"But we expect that GTA IV is definitely driving a lot of people to Xbox 360. ... The fact that we know that we're outselling [the PS3 version] two-to-one on the game is a pretty good sign that a lot of those games are going with a new console out the door."
Asked if April NPD results would definitely show a GTA IV-driven Xbox 360 hardware boost, Greenberg said, "I think we'll have solid performance in April, but I think you might actually see a bigger impact in May."
Analysts (and Sony) point out that the GTA series has deep roots in the PlayStation brand, which still has strong pull with mainstream gamers who have yet to upgrade from their PS2s.
But Greenberg suggested that many gamers are ignoring PlayStation brand loyalty in the case of GTA IV because of the exclusive downloadable content that will be available for the Xbox 360 this fall.
"That's making a big difference in peoples' console purchase decisions. ... GTA fans are switching over to Xbox 360 just like Guitar Hero fans and Madden fans did. ...The same thing is happening with Grand Theft Auto IV."
Greenberg also said that many gamers are "graduating" from the last generation of consoles to this generation via Xbox 360 and GTA IV.
Heavy Xbox Live play
Greenberg said that on day one, roughly 1 million GTA IV users went online with the game on Xbox Live.
"It's been the number one game on Xbox Live since its launch, so it's knocked off Halo 3 and Call of Duty 4," said Greenberg. "At launch, our data shows that out of all of our members on Live, the majority of them were playing GTA IV.
"With a community of over 10 million members, that's pretty rare."
Greenberg also said that 2 million GTA IV achievements were unlocked in the first 24 hours of the game's release. In addition, over 15 million Gamerscore points were added to users' accounts in the first day.
1.5 million cross-game invites also occurred during that period.
Microsoft has been keen to leverage GTA IV's strong online multiplayer component by including a one-month Xbox Live gold subscription with all GTA IV launch copies. The firm hopes the game will drive Xbox Live adoption. Gold subscriptions cost $50 for a full year.
"Our teams have been doing a lot of work in advance of this game, in fact, months. The operations team has been working on scaling our infrastructure around building and increasing our server capacities," he added.
GTA fan hopes rose today with a report from qj.net suggesting that GTA 2 was coming to XBLA and/or PSN at the end of May. This was due to a countdown clock found on Rockstar's site. We're sorry to report that this is not the case.
The clock is old and was counting to the release of GTA 2 on PlayStation One. Checking the source code for the site, the page is credited as being designed in 1999. The code includes a date correction for the 1900s, with a note stating, "apply correction for this century only." Simply put: This code does not understand that the 21st century exists. If you've been searching for a Y2K error, you've found one.
Rockstar confirmed to IGN that the clock is in error and is not counting down to a re-release of GTA 2.
Face it: The Xbox 360 hasn't done so hot in Japan. That doesn't mean everyone in Japan hates it. Oh, no! Not at all. In fact, at least a handful people really like the Xbox 360. Look at the above picture. This individual likes the 360 so much, he/she/it bought back-ups. If that's not undying adoration, we really don't know what is.
The Blu-ray Xbox 360 rumours just won't die. Chinese newspaper Economic Daily News is the latest publication to point towards the union of Sony's format and Microsoft's console. Apparently assembly deals for the Blu-ray 360 have already been signed.
According to the publication, Pegatron, a subsidiary of electronic component giant ASUS, has won the order from Microsoft to assemble the Blu-ray-enabled Xbox 360 and shipments are expected to begin in Q3 this year.
It's unclear whether the paper is pointing towards a HD-DVD-style add-on or an entirely new console, but either way it seems to make sense now that the Xbox 360 is left supporting none of the current HD media formats (all one of them) in the shops.
Would Microsoft be able to get away with another Xbox 360 SKU though? Certainly, as PS3 owners, we wouldn't bite.
Microsoft UK was unavailable to comment when we picked up the phone.
In it's latest Blu-ray rumour debunk last month, a company spokesperson said: "As we have stated, games are what are driving consumers to purchase game consoles and we remain focused on providing the largest library of blockbuster games available."
A remake of the popular arcade made by Taito in 1986. It has only seven levels and two different types of enemies. It was my contribution to last year Dream Build and Play. I hope you enjoy!
That screenshot that you can see over on the right is the latest from Fable 2, Lionhead's RPG sequel.
It's a graveyard, with gravestones, and eldritch mist hovering above the ground. We want our mummies.
There's a lot riding on Fable 2, and anything less that an RPG revolution will be met with huge disappointment.
But the latest demo didn't just hint at massive features, it actually showed them occurring in-game. It's got us sold - Fable 2's going to rewrite the book... Find out why here.
Torq2 will be an open-terrain racing game with checkpoint-style races. So far we've implemented a geoclipmapping terrain engine, atmospheric scattering for the sky and terrain, basic physics for the car, shadow maps, and simple checkpoints. It's still in the early stages, so no code or demos yet. As you can see from the FPS count, we've still got some optimisation to do! The gameplay will take the form of randomly assigned checkpoints (within certain limits), and you can get to the next checkpoint any way you like. We'll probably implement network play before we attempt AI opponents.
psycadelik has updated his terrain editor for the XNA.:
Create or modify heightmaps and color distribution maps.
Rise, lower, flatten or smooth the terrain.
Generate a random terrain.
Paint textures on your terrain.
Day-Night lighting cycle.
Import/Export heightmaps and colormaps
Save/Load Terrain xml files
A great looking football game for the XNA in the making:
Arcade football game, developed using XNA.
Fitba is a response to the bland, formulaic approach of current football games, harking back to the days when gameplay was king and rejecting the current obsession with animation-driven games. Fitba gives you football with soul.
The demo has now (10/04/08) been updated to fix a missing dependency in the install, which had caused it to not run on certain machines, and has had mouse support added to help those without a 360 pad connected to their PC.
Gymnast is a physics-based acrobatic game with 100% analog controls. The game makes use of a modern gamepad, using the analog thumbsticks to give 1-to-1 control over the joints on a gymnast character.
Field Pong a physics-based pong game written in C# using XNA 2.0 and the Farseer Physics engine. It's played in a gravitational field which is represented with a grid very much inspired by that in the Xbox Live Arcade game Geometry Wars. You have to have an Xbox 360 game pad to play.
You have full control over your paddle with the left thumbstick and can skilfully spin it using the triggers to whack the ball across the arena. You can shoot out gravity balls with X that suck in the ball and the obstacles with their gravitational fields. Finally, you can shoot bullets with the right thumbstick that bump into the ball and obstacles, pushing them through space. With a bit of practice you can shoot at the ball and push it past your opponent.
I'd love to hear your feedback. If you have any suggestions for new features, please send them my way! I'm always open to new ideas.
Agent MOO: Maximum Overdeath is a multiplayer 2d shooter built in XNA. The objective of the game is simple, use all of the weapons and vehicles at your disposal to out-score your opponents! There are currently two game types:
* Free For All:
Classic deathmatch; eliminate other players for points, the player with the most kills wins the game!
* Ghost Ride the Whip:
Jump out of a moving vehicle and bounce off of it for points. The more damage you take, the more points you recieve! Eliminate other players with your weapons to keep them from mooching on your ride.
Press Release
PC Games and Console Hardware Sales Surge in China's Booming Economy
Online game revenue to hit $2.5 billion in 2008; console sales rose by 75% in 2007.
US, May 2, 2008 - Niko Partners, the leading market intelligence firm on China's video game industry, today announced results from its latest report citing China's 46 million gamers spent $1.7 billion on online games in 2007, up 71% from 2006. Advanced casual and casual online games made up 21% of the total, and new flash-based casual versions of popular MMO and RTS games demonstrated the hardcore gamers' appetite to play casual games along with subscription MMOs. Online revenue is expected to reach $2.5 billion in 2008 and $6 billion in 2012, for a 29% compound annual growth rate in the five-year period.
"China's spending on games is up thanks to their booming economy," said Lisa Cosmas Hanson, managing partner of Niko Partners. "14 million hardcore Chinese gamers play online games more than 22 hours per week. They play online, LAN, and single-player offline PC games in China's 185,000 Internet cafés and increasingly on their PCs at home, thanks to falling prices and higher disposable income."
According to Niko's 6th Annual Review & Forecast Report, part of an annual subscription of reports for publishers, hardware makers, service providers, and investors who need to understand China's fast-moving video game industry, gamers are buying consoles with their disposable income as well. "In spite of the regulation that has banned the sale of game consoles in China since the year 2000, gamers are flocking to stores that sell illegally imported Wii, Xbox 360, PS3 and PS2 machines to take part in the excitement of console gaming," said Hanson. "While these consoles are expensive for the average Chinese consumer, gamers are willing to spend money on them to supplement their online gaming experience, and unit sales hit 2.48 million units in 2007, up 75% over 2006."
Piracy remains an issue for packaged software via digital downloads and counterfeit copies of games, but legitimate sales of packaged offline PC games surged 56% in 2007, over 2006. Chinese gamers are showing that they like to buy the legitimate copies to ensure quality and to get customer support.
The 2008 Annual Review & Forecast Report on China's Video Game Industry by Niko Partners is a thorough review and forecast of the 2007-2012 PC online, PC offline, console, handheld games and hardware market. Based on 75,000 points of data collected by Niko Partners in 10 Chinese cities in March 2008, the study provides one of the largest and most comprehensive sources of information on gamers, Internet cafés, regulations, online game operators, games, hardware, distribution, retail, outsourced development, and important trends in supply and demand.
Games Criminals Arrested At Bradford Computer Fair
Net closes around two traders selling illegally copied games at Bradford computer fair
A joint operation between West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service (WYTSS) and West Yorkshire Police on Sunday 27th April resulted in approximately 12,000 illegally copied discs and over 150 devices used for ‘chipping’ being seized. Chipping is the process that enables copied games to be played on consoles such as the Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360 and the Sony PlayStation 3. The operation, carried out at a Computer Fair held at Richard Dunn Sports Centre in Bradford, resulted in two individuals being arrested for selling copied computer software and copied computer games. Further seizures were also made of software and other chipping devices at a number of stalls at the fair.
Following the arrests officers from Trading Standards and the Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) carried out a house search in Leeds which uncovered approximately 5,000 counterfeit software, films and music discs.
Further investigations following this operation are being carried out by West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service and West Yorkshire Police.
WYTSS estimate the retail value of the items seized to be in excess of £100,000. The equivalent value of original products is in excess of £1 million.
Michael Rawlinson, managing director of ELSPA said: “The raid at Dunn Sports Centre in Bradford highlights the ongoing commitment demonstrated by local Trading Standards authorities in stamping this kind of operation out. ELSPA would like to thank everyone involved for their work instigating this investigation and helping to protect local traders and the general community from the effects of pirated goods.”
Graham Hebblethwaite, Chief Officer of West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service, said: “The illegal software trade is worth hundreds of millions of pounds in the domestic market alone. Trading Standards have had the power to enforce the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act since April 2007 and the Service is committed to enforcing this Act to eradicate the sale of counterfeit software, music and computer games in the county. The Service would like to send out a warning to individuals involved in software piracy that they will be dealt with severely. The maximum penalty for crimes under copyright and trademark legislation carries a sentence of ten years imprisonment.”
NPT Sergeant Julie Deacon, West Yorkshire Police, said: “We’re always pleased to work in partnership with Trading Standards. Anything that helps to reduce crime in the area is welcomed. If anyone has suspicions about counterfeit goods being sold please contact either your local NPT or Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.”
For all of Microsoft's denial, the Xbox 360 Blu-ray console rumors just will not die. In fact, they are getting more and more specific. The Chinese language Economic Daily News is reporting that Pegatron, an OEM subsidiary of ASUS, has won the order from Microsoft to assemble the Xbox 360 with Blu-ray Disc ROM drive -- shipments are expected to being in Q3 of this year. Now come on Microsoft, just come clean on the matter, we won't tell anyone.
Qmotions has been hawking various specialty sports controllers for a while now, but it looks like the company is about to take the next-gen plunge with an upcoming skateboard controller called the Qmotions Big Air for the Xbox 360 -- and best of all, Microsoft is going to let the company build official wireless peripherals. That's an honor Microsoft is pretty hesitant to dole out, but it seems like the ability to wirelessly rip up some Tony Hawk swayed J Allard and co. (We hear Ballmer is a monster in the pipe.) No word on price or game compatibility other than "skateboard games currently on the market," but look for this one to ollie into your heart sometime later this year.
Based on the blockbuster movie by Marvel Studios, Iron Man? blasts onto all major gaming platforms May 2008. Immerse yourself in hardcore shooting action and explosive combat from the film as well as exclusive content created just for the game. With freedom to move anywhere in the environment, customize your Iron Man suit and seamlessly transition between ground combat and open air flight as you battle against armies of fighter jets, tanks, armored Super Villains and more. You are a One Man Army. You are Iron Man.
Yep, yep. Talking time. It's Friday night and that means the TUD Girafe is ready to listen. So let's talk. We've got a feature here on Kotaku called "Tell Us Dammit" or "TUD." How it works: We ask a question, you answer it. Simple and no strings attached! This isn't some marketing survey or whatever. It's an emotional investment in you. Yes, we're interesting in knowing you, Kotaku reader person. You probably know ****tons about us — more than you even want to, we're sure. But, hey, we'd like to know about you. That way you won't be some faceless blob — and we might feel a tinge of guilt when we ban your ass. Or not, because really we're incapable of human emotion. Today's question:
How many hours do you game a day?
Shit man, with my schedule these days, I'm super lucky if I can get in between an half an hour or an hour a day. Been playing shmups like Mushihime-sama loads at my neighborhood arcade. Really helps me relax.
A feature i did a few years ago and one im going to repeat now is the DCEmu Interview, a unique idea in which questions are asked by me to the Whole DCEmu Community its a way to learn more about each others and find out what our interests are and much more
Todays Question is What Emulators are the Best In the Console Scene ? What im asking is which system has the best emulalator for eash console.
Say for example the PSP has the best PS1 Emulator on any console, congrats Sony :P, now we just repeat the process for snes, n64, gba etc etc etc Give your Answer via Comments.
Remember to check out our DCEmu Interview Site to catch up on previous DCEmu Interview Questions
Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer had admitted that Microsoft had been working on support for Blu-ray under Windows during this year's Mix08 conference. Rumors began to swirl and many began to expect Microsoft to announce a Blu-ray peripheral for the Xbox 360. However, Microsoft came out and denied all rumors, stating that they were not exploring any kind of Blu-ray add-on or in talks with Sony about integrating Blu-ray into the Xbox experience. After months of rumors and denials, the Xbox 360 with a Blu-ray disc drive is due to be manufactured soon and shipped in Q3 of 2008. Pegatron Technology, an OEM subsidiary of Asustek Computer, is reported to have received the winning order from Microsoft for a Blu-ray equipped Xbox 360
Between the comprehensive in-game map, the GPS-imbued minimap, and the TomTom-esque functionality of certain vehicles, we've yet to misplace ourselves within Liberty City's digital boroughs. Still, if you find yourself lost whilst playing Grand Theft Auto IV, we guess this Liberty City map application (mapplication?) using the Google Maps interface would come in handy.
A number of user contributions have already been made to the map, showing the location of hidden items, easter eggs, pigeon locations, stunt jumps, and yes, even hookers, whom we assume were fitted with GPS locaters by trained prostitute handlers before being released back into the wild. It makes for a useful cartographical companion for those with a laptop near their console of choice -- if you don't mind ruining the fun of exploring the nooks and crannies of Rockstar's intricately crafted metropolis for yourself, that is.
Hopefully from today Onwards we will be seperating news feeds on sites where we had them joined together
So from now on the GBA, Gamecube, Nintendo 64 sites will only have that console news on those sites, before now i had it so that GBA news would show up on the DS Site and Gamecube and N64 would Show up on the Wii Site (Also the xbox/xbox360 sites), this confused some but with certain scenes growing so massively it is time for seperation..
All Homebrew/Emulation Coders once we verify them (and i spot them) have the ability to post in all our Console News Forums and the news automatically shows up on not only the site to which that news forum belongs but also on the main DCEmu Portal Site. We always like to have an onsite mirror but gladly welcome the linking to your own site.
DCEmu can be used by coders to become their release centre and with the Homebrew Scene across so many scenes being so massive now you can quickly get noticed by a lot of sites including mainstream networks.
Now with the News forums, normal members cant start topics in them but you can reply to any topic, Normal Members can post as Normal in any Non News forum. I get so many emails asking why he/she cant post in whatever forum.
And heres one for people using private messages to ask Questions, Please Use the forum to which the question would be easiest to get an answer as quick as possible. I get so many and i just ignore all of them (not to mention i have a massive amount of work anyhow). Also the users on DCEmu who use homebrew every day are tons better than me for remembering how to do homebrew on that particular console.
How Can You Help DCEmu
This site like any site is a massive undertaking and we need help on every console scene. No site in any scene is 100% perfect on what they cover and totally up to date. In homebrew methods change all the time and only you the users can help others join in the fun.
We are always in the need of Tutorials and Guides not only for Homebrew but for hacking and Development and even just for gaming on consoles.
Our DCEmu Reviews Website is also in the need of reviews of both Hardware and Games Reviews so please review as much as possible.
Newsposters are always in need especially for WIP and Release News of Emulators, Homebrew etc and across many languages, i am English and to be honest the the translation apps on the net are crap, but the more help we get the better we can become, ive also no doubts that there are releases in places like Japan, China and Korea etc that never reach the likes of DCEmu and others because of language barriers.
Retro Homebrew/Translations News
Another change thats going to happen is that our Console News site will now post as much retro homebrew and Game Translations as possible, bringing much needed coverage to those communities.
The DCEmu Homebrew and Gaming Network
To those of you who are new to the DCEmu Homebrew and Gaming Network our Network Covers all these consoles.
As you can see theres quite a few consoles we cover
But thats not all we cover we also have a range of websites that arent totally Homebrew Related.
DCEmu Interviews - http://interviews.dcemu.co.uk/ - Interviews with Coders from many Homebrew and Emulation Scenes and Home of the DCemu Interview, join in the biggest public interview
DCEmu Guides & Tutorials - http://tutorials.dcemu.co.uk/ - This is the place to submit any and all tutorials and Guides for any scene and they can be homebrew and gaming related. Once we verify them they will show up across our network.
DCEmu Reviews - http://reviews.dcemu.co.uk/ - This is the scenes biggest independant collection of reviews and is the place for both hardware and Software reviews. Get your reviews noticed by submitting them to DCEmu reviews
DCEmu Console History - http://console-history.dcemu.co.uk/ - This is where you can find Dark Watchers Collection of Console History, a great place to catch up on old consoles
PC Gaming & Homebrew - http://pc-gaming.dcemu.co.uk/ - Our PC Gaming site covers PC, EEEPC and PC Homebrew and Emulators.
DCEmu Blog - http://blog.dcemu.co.uk/ - This site covers anything that doesnt fit above and is our rant/current affairs/funny stuff site, all the off topic stuff goes in here.
Harry Potter News - http://harry-potter.dcemu.co.uk/ - Hey im an Harry Potter book/film fan, not homebrew related but we all have our vices :P
Cross & Taylors Chefs - http://personal-chef.dcemu.co.uk/ - This site for all those who wonder is my brothers site who is a top chef, again not homebrew related but he cooks a mean meal :P
DCEmu Developer Sites
These are sites where we have some of the Homebrew scenes best coders release their emulators, games etc to the world:
I think thats all, one last thing is to say thank you from everyone here to all the visitors, guests, coders and staff who make DCEmu what it is today.
SEGA America's blog gives gamers a look inside work at Secret Level, which just finished Iron Man for them and is cranking on Golden Axe: Beast Rider. A cool Flickr slideshow shows the team and some concepts, both in hard copy and rendered on computer. And two new screen caps, which is the video game porn you're here for.
Blogger SegaDawg didn't get any looks at the gameplay, but does write:
I did see a demo of Tyris riding one particular beast that will deal some severe swipe damage with its claws. There are several types of beast mounts in the game, each with its own strengths and weaknesses, and my bet is that there will be points in the game where you have to ride a specific beast in order to accomplish certain goals — but that's just a hunch.
For years man has wondered how do I get Internet on my Xbox 360? Today you will need to look no further! I have found a way to have a Internet browser run on the Xbox 360 without no illegal modifications! You must have the following for this to work:
An Xbox 360 with a Internet Connection (Duh!)
Windows OS (XP SP2, Vista)
Windows Media Center hooked up
Steps to follow:
Install Windows Media Center Extender on your Xbox 360 using the following guide
Download and install this program
Once the program is installed check to see it works fine on your PC by doing the following:
Open up Windows Media Center
Scroll over to “Online Media” and enter the “Program Library” Menu
The first program you see their should be called “Browser”, enter it and test it out!
4. Repeat the process on your Xbox 360
Their you have it, a web browser for your Xbox 360, have fun! I have not tested out everything in the browser yet but at least it works! I don’t see why Microsoft would say anything since we are not modifying anything.
The “PC world” knows about this program and its wonders, so I am assuming someone may have tried it on a Xbox 360 already. But a majority of Xbox 360 owners are clueless.
Just a tip: To type press “Y” to open up a virtual Keyboard, maybe a real one will work as well.
Music CD's, CD-ROM's, DVD's and games CD's scratch very easily often making the data difficult to read properly. This means read-errors, faults and lost data, as result the data carrier is often worthless.
New from Divineo UK are the Chameleon 360 Cases With HDMI Ports
For Xbox 360 that include a HDMI port (Elite etc.), this is the ultimate case mod: Great design, XCM Chameleon system with rotating colors, full custom White case
*NOTE*
Controller Faces and HD Shell are not included.
We're beginning to lose count of how many times we've been around this carousel, but just in case you thought yet another rumor would bring the Blu-ray-infused Xbox 360 any closer to reality, Microsoft's out to put the kibosh on your wildest hopes and dreams. Following up on the latest round of whispers that surfaced last Friday, Redmond proclaimed to GamePro: "As we have stated, we have no plans to introduce a Blu-ray drive for Xbox 360." The statement also noted that "games are what drive consumers to purchase game consoles, and we remain focused on providing the largest library of blockbuster games available." Right -- which totally explains your prior relationship with HD DVD.
Someone's knocking on Nintendo's door, and he just drove through seven red lights in a hijacked car with a shotgun in tow to get there. Forbes has published a piece on how Grand Theft Auto IV's success threatens the Nintendo Wii since the console, you know, doesn't have the game. In fact, that's all the article seems to be saying: the Wii is doing great, but because it doesn't have GTA IV, that money-printing success might be at a halt.
While that's how the article is framed, the direction seems to split off from there, with the author talking about GTA IV's success juxtaposed with complaints about the Wii's hardware, online and abundance of shovelware -- he even bring up Chris Heck's duct tape rant. Said the article, "The problem is, it could get tougher and tougher to go the other way. It's hard to imagine how the sprawling world of Grand Theft Auto IV--which already taxes the multicore processors powering the XBox and Playstation--could be recreated on the Wii."
We're not saying Nintendo doesn't have problems with shovelware or appealing to the more hardcore gamer crowd, but we also think the way the article presents its case makes the GTA IV issue feel a little taped on. If the UK Wii Fit launch is any indication, Nintendo's money train is still right on track.
New Zealand's Office of Film and Literature had to reiterate this week that store clerks can't sell Grand Theft Auto IV to parents purchasing it for their children. The New Zealand Herald reports the office had to repeat itself after receiving calls from clerks who didn't know what to do when a parent "demanded" to buy GTA IV with their 14-year-old in tow.
GTA IV is rated R18 by the New Zealand government and it's illegal to make it available to anyone under that age. In New Zealand, even if it's their own kid, the adult could be jailed for 90 days or pay $10,000 fine; however, the law has never been enforced.
features
Officially licensed by Nintendo
Requires 4 X AA batteries (not included)
Length: approx. 40 - 50 inch
Limited availability
description
Mario Kart is brought to the 3D world in the form of a massive race set complete with two karts that carries Mario and a competitor (either Yoshi or Donkey Kong). The race track contains eighteen pieces and totals up to nine feet long after the assembling procedure.
Actively participate in the races with your friends and family. With the trigger speed controller in hand, you are ready to go and dash across the finishing line. This race set is perfect for hours of family fun either in a leisurely evening or at parties.
For those of you who decides that racing with Mario on the TV screen alone no longer sates your appetites, this super race set is your remedy.
A lot of New Yorkers, myself included, are getting a little extra kick out of the vibe of Grand Theft Auto IV's Liberty City, which recalls our home boroughs with just enough accuracy to be disorienting.
The farmacias and bodegas in East Holland, the Starbucks-esque cup in every hand, the prevalence of "Craplist" social interaction, even the thriving Russian community beside the boardwalk in Hove Beach where the story begins all capture that tickly feeling of home. But MTV Multiplayer's Stephen Totilo notes that from Bohan to Schottler, there are a few things about New York that GTA IV gets wrong, and he's compiled a tongue-in-cheek list of eight key items that are, as he says, "grossly misrepresented."
1. We are not a car town: No sensible New Yorker uses a car as their primary means of transportation in the city, unless — maybe — they commute from the suburbs. Car ownership doesn't make much sense. There are never any parking spots. Parking garages are prohibitively expensive. And, most importantly, the subway is a faster, cheaper and more efficient means of transportation. We don't drive here. Niko, to be a real New Yorker, should rely on the subway. But what would he be left to grandly thieve?
True enough. Certainly, in New York, only rich commuters who live in swanky penthouses or in the outlying boroughs have cars. Rent here for the average denizen is pricey enough without the cost of gas and parking — and, that aside, I'd never even think of owning a car here just due to the crushing traffic and inconvenience.
