Friday, November 17, 2006

News roundup



Here is a comprehensive news round-up, most big news relating to the PlayStation3. There are some Wii tidbits, too.



1.) PS3 is a waste of TIME

TIME magazine has called the PlayStation3 a waste of time and money, only days after calling ´Wii: Sports´ potentially ´the greatest videogame ever´.

I wouldn't recommend buying one, not even for the regular price, which is plenty expensive without the import markup. (...) Look at what you get. The Playstation 3 is expensive: $500 or $600 bucks, depending on which version you buy, plus $60 for each game. (An Xbox 360 only costs $400 max, and Nintendo's Wii — yep, that name, still funny — is only $250.)

For that kind of scratch you want the deluxe treatment, and the PS3 simply doesn't deliver it. It's got some good-looking games, but unless you have a top-notch TV, the difference isn't mind-blowing. (And even if you do have a fancy TV, Sony makes you supply your own HDMI cable. Stingy.)

And Sony's launch line-up just isn't that interesting. Almost all the PS3's outstanding games — F.E.A.R., Madden NFL '07, Need for Speed: Carbon, Call of Duty 3 — are available on the Xbox 360, and most (all except F.E.A.R.) are out for the Wii, too. There just isn't the leverage there to make buying a PS3 de rigeur.

The article goes on to say that the console will be worth buying once the price comes down. This is pretty much what CNN´s Chris Morris has been saying, albeit less derogatory, calling the system ´incomplete´:

Is it worth buying one? Sadly, the answer is not yet. The system is too expensive for what most people will get out of it -- and the initial slate of games don't offer enough innovation or thrills to justify the purchase.

Wait until prices drop $100 or even $200 -- and until there are a few more good games available - before you consider making the plunge.

Finally, the New York Post also recommends buying the Wii instead of the PS3.

Sources: TIME magazine, CNN Money, GoNintendo
Thanks to: Ogryder, Joystiq


2.) Sony is losing $240 to $300 with each PS3

Sony is losing $300 and $240 with each 20 GB and 60 GB model sold, respectively. Market intelligence firm iSuppli has added up all the components and done the maths. At the same time, Microsoft are already making a profit with their Xbox360, as the following chart illustrates.




While market analysts are likely to call the financial risks involved suicidal, iSuppli celebrates this as good value for the consumer, calling the console an ´engineering masterpiece that sets a new high mark for computing price/performance´.

The company´s teardown services manager and senior analyst Andrew Rassweiler has only praise for the hardware:

With the PlayStation 3, you are getting the performance of a supercomputer at the price of an entry-level PC. (...) The reason why the PlayStation 3 is so costly to produce is because it has incredible processing power. If someone had shown me the PlayStation 3 motherboard from afar without telling me what it was, I would have assumed it was for a network switch or an enterprise server. (...)

To give an example of how cutting-edge the design is, in the entire history of the iSuppli Teardown Analysis team, we have seen only three semiconductors with 1,200 or more pins. The PlayStation 3 has three such semiconductors all by itself. There is nothing cheap about the PlayStation 3 design. This is not an adapted PC design. Even beyond the major chips in the PlayStation 3, the other components seem to also be expensive and somewhat exotic.

Source: iSuppli
Thanks to: DigiTimes


3.) PS3 backward compatibility issues

The PlayStation3 appears to have problems playing a number of PS1 and PS2 titles, including ´Tekken 5´, ´Gran Turismo 4´ and ´Devil May Cry´.

While some news sites have made quite a big deal of this, most experts believe that a simple firmware upgrade will solve this problem. Microsoft is dealing with this issue in a similar fashion, as far as Xbox360 backward compatibility is concerned.

Source: IGN


4.) Wii channels not ready at launch

Some Wii channels will not be ready from day one, Joystiq has learned, citing a Nintendo press release. Like online gaming, some channels will not be ready until early 2007:

The release reveals the forecast channel will debut on Dec. 20, while the news channel (with content from the Associated Press) will debut Jan. 27 of next year. The release also suggested that the Wii's Opera browser would not be available for download immediately, saying "more information about the availability of the browser will be released in the coming weeks."

Source: Joystiq


5.) Red Steel uses PhysX Engine

There was some confusion about the ´PhysX´ logo appearing on Wii games, which fueled speculation that Wii might include a dedicated physics chip (PPU).

A simple call to ´PhysX´ manufacturer Ageia put those rumours to rest. PR rep Marti Miernik told me that a number of videogames are using the ´PhysX´ software solution, ´Red Steel´ and ´Gods of War´ being two examples. This does not mean that the consoles these games run on contain the company´s hardware solution, which is a separate PPU. In fact, neither PlayStation2 nor Wii does.

Source: Codename Revolution


6.) Wii SD card revealed

SD card manufacturer SanDisk has announced special Wii branded SD cards:



The press release reads:

The white cards, bearing the label “SanDisk For Wii”, will be available in three capacities – 512 megabytes (MB), 1 gigabyte (GB) and 2GB* -- at gaming and major consumer electronics stores. Suggested retail prices range from $34.99 to $89.99.

“We believe that the Nintendo Wii, with its physically interactive format and compelling games, will be a big hit this holiday season, and these co-branded flash cards will make it easy for gamers to purchase memory that allows for the portability of game saves between Wii consoles,” said Christina Day, SanDisk senior product marketing manager.


Source: SanDisk



7.) Miyamoto confirms $99 rumour

Saving the best for last, Shigeru Miyamoto has confirmed my exclusive story I ran in October 2005 that Nintendo had plans of releasing the Wii for a price tag of $99. Alongside this rumour, I also broke the news that the console would be significantly underpowered when compared to its competitors.

While the latter quickly turned out to be true, the validity of the $99 rumour remained uncertain until now. Miyamoto now told Business Week:

Originally, I wanted a machine that would cost $100. My idea was to spend nothing on the console technology so all the money could be spent on improving the interface and software. If we hadn't used NAND flash memory [to store data such as games and photos] and other pricey parts, we might have succeeded.

So while Nintendo chose a different route, my sources proved reliable on both fronts.

Source: Business Week

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello Falafelkid,
You are nice guy but your blog is pretty boring as of late.

-Roger

Anonymous said...

Blizziboy and Grandmaster biatch went for dolo!

:)

Falafelkid said...

A little post scriptum to the news roundup: Gamasutra have asked dozens of industry insiders if they will be purchasing a Wii or a PS3 this week.

The overwhelming majority wil be purchasing a Wii, with some skipping the PS3 altogether. Thanks to Codename Revolution for the link.

Falafelkid said...

Oh, and MSNBC also favours the Wii in the next-generation console war.

Thanks to Infendo for this one.

Falafelkid said...

And, finally, please welcome Wii Connect Magazine back in the midst of our community, run by one of the original Nintendo Revolution bloggers: Archaic aka Fletcher.

Without him and his support back then, this blog would not be what it is today. Please go check it out.

Anonymous said...

It's nice to see that Falafelkid is taking things easy.

No really Falafelkid I have been here from day one.

It makes me happy when I see how you don't give a ish about spammers. And how you ignore them.

It only shows that you learned your lesson.
My therapy was successful.

I made you stronger.
You should be thankful.

That was my intention from the get go.

Congratulations.

Andi hau rein!

Lass dich net stressen!

Peace.



-IALS

Falafelkid said...

Another quick update. I have added a link to NexGen Wars to the list, who compare sales figures for all three next generation consoles. So far, PS3 has sold just less than 250.000 worldwide, according to the site.

Anonymous said...

Gamedaily on Zelda :"The game’s visuals fail to surpass PlayStation 3 graphics quality"LOL


Are they on crack or something???

As if it ever was supposed to.. lol


Thats the same as saying Range Rover Jeep fails to surpass Lamborghini in terms of speed.



LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

Stupid!!!

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz


-IALS

Falafelkid said...

For those of you who have not managed to pre-order a Wii, try the WiiSeeker tool, which helps you find available Wii consoles in your area, based on your ZIP code.

Of course, the same tool helps you find a PS3, as well.

Anonymous said...

NEW IALS IGN THREAD IS UP

IT'S CALLED:

"I trust Greg Kasavasin !he gave Metroid Prime a 9.7! Red Steel is rushed crap. "

Find out more inside:

http://boards.ign.com/nintendo_wii_

lobby/b8270/131484410/p1/?14


-IALS

Blizz419 said...

I love seeing all this negative PS3 news, i'm just waiting on hearing about all the crashes and freeze's, hey maybe some will blow up like those sony batteries lol.





its quit amusing to see someone so obviously obsessed with me, but sorry IALS i'm not gay you cant have my cock, oh and do yourself a favor stop trying to act american show your own country some respect, its very amusing how try to learn how to act like us by studying our hip hop culture, do yourself a favor and act like your self you know nothing of what its like to live the culture you pretend to be apart of

Anonymous said...

Looking at your icon it really speaks volumes about your knowledge as far as Hip Hop is concerned.

Where I live, Hip Hop is still not as plastic as where you come from I'm afraid to say dula.
Hip Hop started in New York but it's all over the world now.

You are a fool if you honestly think that you understand more about Hip Hop than people like 50 Cent.

ALso note that I'm not even into Hip Hop anymore as I used to be.

I'm past that.
I have grown out of that.

Hip Hop is a young, wild movement.
It's good.
But it's not the holy grain or somehing.

Music is so much older than Hip Hop.
Without the music that came before Hip Hop there wouldn't even be something like Hip Hop.

It's funny you think like your something special because you "live" Hip Hop or what in a society thats merely 2-3 hundred years olsd or what!

Well, as I said you are a fool.
Grow up.


Ther are so many cultures that have been there for thousands of years and they already had music back then.

Let me tell you something
The little thing called "hip Hop" that you are so proud of is not even a drop in the bucket when you compare it to music from other old cultures like the Persians,Chinese,Greeks.


Your American pop and Hip culture is not even the needle in haysack compared to other old and wise cultures.

Don't act like you are something special laddi.
You are the new schoolers.

Your whole culture is still in one its' swaddling clothes.
You ain't shit kid. Millions have died.

Your little Hipydihoppy is laughable 20 years old.

Dont pretend to be buddha or something.
Your bitch ass country has skeletons in the closet.
You think you are high end or something?
Other cultures have soooooo much more knowledge, wisdom and understanding.
You are a tard a fool a farmer and nothing else.

Hip Hop is nothing I repeat NOTHING compared to other cultures music in terms of mellowness as much as I like it.

Your whole brainwashed media nation can't hold a candle to the elders of the big and proud cultures of past times.

Again, you ain't shit.
Don't pretend to be the mack or something.

You are pulling a fast one on yourself with your "verbal diereha"


Aöways keep that in mind when you want to start shit with the Infamous Anonymous Light Shedder

Shift lanes dula!

-IALS

Anonymous said...

The holy grail! sorry


-IALS

Blizz419 said...

wow that post was amusing IALS and completely full of assumptions that you made, you dont think i know about this countries skeletons lol trust me i know (most of the U.S.A.'s history is shady being the first masonic state, genocide of the native americans plus many many other things including recent things such as the war in iraq), did i ever say my culture was better than any others no i did not, did i ever say rap is the only music no i did not, and i also listen to other music as well, did i ever say i am as you said special lol and i sure as hell dont pretend to be buddha, and yes the majoprity of people here are brainwashed by the media and i am not one of them, and why use 50 cent as an example, he's a fool another example of shit artists that are destroying hip hop turning it into hip pop, your whole post there was utter shit a bunch of shit you made up and assumed, and back to my country having skeletons in the closet which sounds to me like you were assuming that i look apon my country as higher than others i have never said anything of the such and i'm sure your country has skeletons in the closet as well, my whole point is your a front you act like something your not, and your whole post proved how much of a fool you are as all your claims about me were false and you have absolutly nothing to back them up, and i still find it amusing how you continually use the term "verbal diareah" which you had never used till i said it to you a few months ago, use your own original shit you anal avenging flamingo fucker. LMAO

now i am doing speaking to you i'm sure i have annoyed enough people even responding to your trolling but it was fun while it lasted so in the future dont act like you have anything on me cuz you are the one who is nothing dont get it twisted.

to everyone else i apologize for responding to this fool.

Anonymous said...

"use your own original shit you anal avenging flamingo fucker. LMAO"

Blizzi boy you have just prooved how much attention and respect you deserve lol lil child!

As I said you ain't shit!
Millions have died.
All the words you use are actually from the artist on your icon/logo.
Logo.

Thats education through media in America!
LOL

Just like Schindlers Liste!lol

Ha ha

Blizzi boy the whining bitch in you ouzez all out over your entirte fancy tard text!

I just set the record straight.

You should hear yourself.
lol

Did you forget to drink your milk and eat your veggies or what??

Matter of fact is you probably don't even know who Minnie Ripperton or the likes are...

You clearly tried to act like you are the Hip hop mack or something.
And that it's YOUR culture bacause it started there..

Lol

I bet you I have "lived" Hip Hop in A much "realer" way than you will ever be able to do.
YOu are a tard.
Come to terms with it and don't waste my time.
Your whining is annoying as hell.
Again the bitch in you is ouzing all out.


zzzzzzzzzzz fancy clown


-IALS

Anonymous said...

well... i've never been blizz's biggest fan, but c'mon ials. we have to give apathy credit. apathy *IS* hip hop to the fullest. anyways, give me pink floyd or something any day. fuck hip hop.

so far i've read about 10 shootings/muggings over ps3s. fucking insane. i really hope that makes people feel like... "oh... i won't be safe buying a ps3! i better not buy one!" hahahah just kidding.

but i gotta say, i remember back when DS came out, and all everyone could talk about was how ugly it was, most especially once the psp came out. i remember thinking "thank god all the 'cool kids' think my DS sucks, so i won't feel nervous playing with it on the bus..."
i'm seeing the same thing here. i'm not at all worried about picking up my preordered wii tomorrow morning, because all the 'cool kids' think it's "kiddy bullshit" or whatever.

works for me.

can't wait to play wii tomorrow :)

-"superfan" tactics.